Kids from around the world and their toys/Anthropological photo-essays in general

http://www.featureshoot.com/2013/03/photos-of-children-from-around-the-world-with-their-most-prized-possessions/

So here's a recent set of photos that's been around the net. Kids from around the world show off their favourite toys. Thought it would be interesting to discuss this set of pictures and also the general idea of the 'people around the world' genre of photo sets - I remember one of 'families with their weekly food shopping'.

Like can they ever be representative? Are we mistaken to think we can 'read' images like this (without knowing all the background to the specific country, family, individual)?

Do they have a basic utility value for people (like me) who had it easy in global terms, in the sense of 'look, some people grow up just having one toy?'

Roland Barthes to thread, I guess.

reminds me of this photoshoot:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2013/04/09/jeongmee_yoon_the_pink_and_blue_project_examines_the_gender_specific_marketing.html

I've seen another similar photo project, maybe it was "kids in their rooms" and maybe not toy-specific? It was about a year ago iirc?

I think this one illustrates the problem better than any other that I've seen.

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519,00.html