These three images are by British Photographer Richard Billingham of his alcoholic father, Ray. Billingham wanted to create images in response to the traditional family portraits with a more realistic view of his middle-class life. Billingham claims that these images were not intended to focus on the poverty of his family or make a political statement. However, he is aware that the dust and dirt aspect of the images as well as the subject matter gives the viewer this perception(as well as his muted colors). Rather he intends to provoke an identification in viewers of what's normal, seeing as this is his real life. His interest is not in more significant issues, simply "boredom and addiction."
The first and third images can be taken somewhat more seriously than the second one, which is quite comedic. His father is seen imitating the mid-air cat in superman position...hilarious. At the same time it's kind of sad, in relation to the other images, it seems as though Billingham's intention might not have been to make the viewer laugh, rather to feel pity for this grown man still acting like a child. Although it could be seen as him "just having fun," it can just as easily be seen as him being a drunken fool. And in relation to the other more personal romantic-type portraits of his father, the second idea becomes more realistic.
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