Let them Eat Cake

Let Them Eat Cake
By: Dane Barland, John Gonzales, Alfonso Maytorena, and Priscilla Montes
Photography and edited with Photoshop

This photo depicts the darkest times of the French Revolution, with the peasants and sentry revolting against the nobility, and the nobility’s ignorance towards them. They are foolishly unaware of the death that awaits them as the peasants set them up for their own decapitation. The reason for this gruesome set? The unfair taxation unleashed upon the peasants because of the kings’ greedy intentions. The taxes were targeted only on the poor, which completely demolished Frances’ economy, which is why the lower class revolted so violently against the oblivious aristocracy.
Marie Antoinette was first to be killed by the guillotine. After the revolution, Robespierre sent anyone who disagreed with him to the guillotine. Charles Dickens showed the guillotine as a prime tool for revolting against the monarchy in his book, A Tale of Two Cities, which took place during the 18th century with King Louis XVI as monarch.
The background displays the darkest times of France. Alfonso and Priscilla, portraying the monarchy of the time, are ignorantly eating cake, something only they could afford. Christian, the executioner, is happy to finally be able to kill a noble. Isa, a peasant, casually looks up at the guillotine in anticipation of the execution as she knits. This displays how commonplace this gruesome death penalty was in 18th century France. Having finally been sentenced to death, Dane displays a face of surprise and terror with frosting all over his face.
The team constructed the guillotine from scratch using wood, rope, and aluminum foil for the fake blade and wood for the base. We wanted the scene to take place in France, and replaced the bland and gray classroom background with a picture of a French cathedral in Photoshop.