http://www.lightstalkers.org/galleries/contact_sheet/32592 The project 'American Dream' stems from my exploration of the relationship Pakistan and America share at the moment. It is a complicated one. There is hostility, warmth, patronage, need that binds us together. There is a great deal of expectation. A lot of give and take. The images in this project were produced as part of a workshop with Magnum Photographer Christopher Anderson in Charlottesville, Virginia. It explored the way I, as a Pakistani, as 'the other' react to the American experience. This being my fifth or sixth visit to America, I did not have any expectations of feeling anything out of the ordinary. But something happened. The instability of living in the country that I call home, has changed me. I felt like I was carrying the burden of all that trauma even when I was in America. The suicide bombings, the economic downfall, the drone attacks, the changing perception of 'us' in the world.. living in Pakistan is all about dealing with bad news on a daily basis in the past few years. This project has come from so many questions about identity and the main strategist of the story; America. http://www.lightstalkers.org en-us http://images.lightstalkers.org/avatars/44938/10_small.jpg http://www.lightstalkers.org/Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303754/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-1_small.jpg' /><br />'And it all makes sense..'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303754'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303754 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:57:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303754 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303754/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-1_small.jpg' /><br />'And it all makes sense..'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303754'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303778/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-2_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303778'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303778 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:34:21 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303778 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303778/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-2_small.jpg' /><br /><br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303778'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303781/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-2a_small.jpg' /><br />'an age old obsession..'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303781'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303781 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:35:08 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303781 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303781/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-2a_small.jpg' /><br />'an age old obsession..'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303781'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303784/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-3_small.jpg' /><br />Pawn.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303784'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303784 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:36:12 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303784 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303784/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-3_small.jpg' /><br />Pawn.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303784'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303787/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-3a_small.jpg' /><br />'Two worlds; two realities..'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303787'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303787 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:36:44 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303787 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303787/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-3a_small.jpg' /><br />'Two worlds; two realities..'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303787'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303790/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-4_small.jpg' /><br />'Public enemies over time.'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303790'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303790 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:37:30 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303790 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303790/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-4_small.jpg' /><br />'Public enemies over time.'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303790'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303793/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-5_small.jpg' /><br />'Representation.II'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303793'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303793 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:38:05 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303793 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303793/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-5_small.jpg' /><br />'Representation.II'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303793'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303796/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-5a_small.jpg' /><br />'Representation.'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303796'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303796 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:40:10 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303796 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303796/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-5a_small.jpg' /><br />'Representation.'<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303796'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303799/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-6_small.jpg' /><br />Games people play.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303799'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303799 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:41:42 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303799 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303799/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-6_small.jpg' /><br />Games people play.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303799'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303802/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-7_small.jpg' /><br />Golden ticket.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303802'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303802 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:43:01 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303802 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303802/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-7_small.jpg' /><br />Golden ticket.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303802'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303805/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-8_small.jpg' /><br />The Monster outside the Picket fence.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303805'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303805 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:43:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303805 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303805/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-8_small.jpg' /><br />The Monster outside the Picket fence.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303805'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303808/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-9_small.jpg' /><br />Surveillance I<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303808'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303808 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:44:11 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303808 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303808/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-9_small.jpg' /><br />Surveillance I<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303808'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303811/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-10_small.jpg' /><br />Surveillance II<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303811'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303811 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:44:37 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303811 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303811/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-10_small.jpg' /><br />Surveillance II<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303811'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303814/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-11_small.jpg' /><br />Consumerism meets war<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303814'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303814 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:45:03 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303814 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303814/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-11_small.jpg' /><br />Consumerism meets war<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303814'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303817/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-11_small.jpg' /><br />Consumerism meets war<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303817'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303817 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:47:40 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303817 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303817/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-11_small.jpg' /><br />Consumerism meets war<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303817'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303820/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-12_small.jpg' /><br />Status update I<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303820'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303820 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:49:25 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303820 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303820/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-12_small.jpg' /><br />Status update I<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303820'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303823/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-13_small.jpg' /><br />Status update II<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303823'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303823 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:52:39 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303823 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303823/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-13_small.jpg' /><br />Status update II<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303823'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303826/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-15_small.jpg' /><br />The Happiest place on Earth.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303826'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303826 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:55:56 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303826 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303826/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-15_small.jpg' /><br />The Happiest place on Earth.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303826'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303829/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-15_small.jpg' /><br />The Happiest place on Earth.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303829'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303829 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:57:54 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303829 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303829/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-15_small.jpg' /><br />The Happiest place on Earth.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303829'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303832/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-16_small.jpg' /><br />Representation III<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303832'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303832 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 15:58:43 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303832 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303832/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-16_small.jpg' /><br />Representation III<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303832'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303835/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-18_small.jpg' /><br />Glory.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303835'>view full-size image</a> http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303835 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:01:13 +0000 http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303835 <img src='http://images.lightstalkers.org/images/1303835/Ansari_Nariman-American_Dream-18_small.jpg' /><br />Glory.<br /><a href='http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/1303835'>view full-size image</a> Nariman Ansari