Martin Hyers and William Mebane traveled across the
United States from 2004 to 2007, taking photographs of Americana. They
photographed homes, schools, museums, zoos and businesses and the contents of
these places. The result is a photographic record of the good, the bad and the
ugly of American culture (plus everything in between). And if you have a bit of
the Peeping Tom in you, this is the book for you. There are many exterior
photographs of modest houses, apartment buildings, shops and automobiles.
Interior shots include furniture, family photographs, books, computers and
printers, toys, games, wallpaper, carpeting, food, hobbies and collections.
Perhaps this sounds mundane but the photographer’s eye and the layout of the
book make Empire by Martin Hyers and William Mebane an entertaining and
informative record of modern American cultural history.
