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The geographical perspective on the posters was
very different from the students' interests in individual character and
narrative. Race,
class,
gender,
national
identity, and other collective markers were important to geographers
who looked at the distribution of posters in different socieconomically
organized neighborhoods or ethnic enclaves.
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Missing persons posters were typically
standard 8 x 11" white sheets that included text (c.70-75% of area) and
photographs (c. 20-25% of area). Some were larger (e.g. enlarged photos
with minimum text) and some were smaller (e.g. photocopies of workplace
ID cards). Photographs generally included semi-formal posed portraits,
often taken in a workplace; there were also many wedding and party photographs;
some casual photographs; and a few ID photos from employment records.
Black and white prints were dominant but there were also many in color.
A few photographs showed more than one person. In these cases the image
of the missing person was circled or otherwise identified. Poster
text supplied standard "missing persons" details: names, employment, gender,
height, weight, hair and eye color, distinguishing marks, location and
circumstances when last seen; WTC workplace location by floor; as well
as "contact" information such as telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.
Many telephone numbers were 800 area codes and e-mails often included large
popular servers (e.g. hotmail) but others were more location specific.
Less usual, but still common, were additional data: ethnicity, skin color,
place of origin (e.g. Honduras, Bermuda, Poland), and lists of possessions.
In some cases the latter were highly specific, including brands and models
of clothing, purses, jewellery, watches, cell phones etc. It was noticeable
that a significant number of posters appeared to have been created
and placed by persons from churches with which immigrant minority victims
had been affiliated. (Mitchell) |
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