Group Analysis of a Photo

The theme behind this photograph is a simple one: war is tragedy. Through the author’s utilization of landscape and background, the theme can be seen. Rather than the theme contributing to the purpose of the photo, I believe the purpose of the photo is to portray the theme. By exposing the recently deceased soldier’s name on a personal item of his, this picture appeals deeply to an audience’s emotions, therefore evoking some sense of reaction. It’s insignificant that the content of this photograph isn’t entirely included in the shot, for example, the toes of the boots. The reason for this is that the boots stand as a symbol for the tragedy this country is suffering through and even in its entirety, there is never a complete story given. Even without the toes of the boots, or a face to the name, the emotional appeal portrayed by this photograph is irrevocable and the theme is unmistakably revealed.

Space is a very important aspect of this photograph. The foreground is obviously of the pair of shoes. They are centered, which makes the photo semi-symmetrical. The tops of the boots slump to the right from the viewer’s perspective, shifting the viewer’s eyes toward the background. The tag on the boots, being in the foreground, allow the viewer to read who these boots belong to and that they have been taken off a deceased soldier. The grass is a constant image sloping up from the front to the back of the photo. This makes for a great transition from foreground to background, naturally moving the viewer’s eyes to the back. In the background is an ambiguous person blowing their nose, probably crying, at a gravesite/shrine to the departed (presumably from war). There is no vantage point in particular, the trees in the left side of the background sort of fade into the boots, bringing the focus back. This might make the viewer think about how uncertain the future is, there is no clear vantage point in sight for any of us. It’s a grim thought, but we will all someday end up like the soldier to whom those boots belong, we just don’t know when.

Lighting is a key component to this photograph. It helps bring out the image of shoes in a bright way so that they capture attention immediately. The lighting of the sky also appears to be cloudy and overcast with little sun, and somewhat blends in with the background of the photograph. This lighting of the sky makes the background of the photo (with the people and other pictures) seem blurry. This blurred effect also brings out the image of the shoes to capture a viewers attention. Texture is also a very significant and prominent part of this photograph. It is clear to see that the shoes are very worn away and have certainly been through the hardships of war. The detail and clarity of the shoes in the photograph is almost perfect. The shoes almost appear to tell a story with the way they are weathered away. One could only imagine the hardships that the soldier who once wore the shoes faced.


Obviously the most striking element in the entire picture is the boots. The boots take up half the picture but yet they emphasize such a strong sense of emptiness. The spectator starts to scan the boots from the bottom and as the viewpoint rises we expect to eventually reach the human legs filling them, however we don’t. Instead we find a vacant and flimsy top that lays collapsed on its fellow companion. The boots that were once filled with the feet of Lance Cpl. Kevin S. Smith, that once were scurrying across the Iraqi desert and stepping over the owners of other lifeless boots, now lay motionless and hollow in unfamiliar territory. The deflated boots are obviously a symbol of the man that used to fill them but they also express companionship in a field of boots that were also once filled by the limbs of brave soldiers.

By: Cat, Charlie, Janina, and Ryan

"...I'm a little bit rock 'n roll."

The South Park episode entitled, "I'm a Little Bit Country," deals with reactions to war. There are two main plot lines throughout this cartoon episode. In the first plot line, the townspeople are quarreling over whose opinion on the war is the right one; for the Iraq war or against it. The protesters of the war say that the war is unjust, while the pro-war crowd claim that the protesters are being un-American. The second plot line is of the kids of South Park (Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny) and their 4th grade class. Their teacher wants them to better understand the issue by presenting on what the forefathers of America would think of the town's conflict.

This cartoon episode offers multiple sides of the for and against war conflict. While it is a completely fictional comedy show, the view points of the townspeople are pretty close to real-life opinions. The town physically splits in half over the argument: The side for war and the side against war, separated by a line. When the townspeople realize that either side needs things from the opposite side, they all agree to share the town but just argue and fight all the time. This is basically how America functions. Because of our rights to speak freely, we can (and many do) voice our opinions very strongly. Each 'side' of the town gathers together and rally for or against the war, making picket lines and protest songs. Some people (the children) end up blindly protesting just to get out of class, and when asked what they are protesting, they just read off the signs they are holding. I feel like this is a reflection on a hefty part of our society; people protesting for the sake of protesting, not knowing all the facts on either side of the issue. At the end of the episode, the whole town gathers together at a concert/rally with one stage split in half. On the pro-war side is a country band singing about how America will kick everyone's ass if they don't support the war, and on the side against war is an alt-rock band singing about peace and equality. After an argument on stage, the two sides finally come together and create one side- the American opinion; this consists of going to war, but letting protests go on, "Having your cake and eating it, too." This is a very interesting way of looking at the ideals of freedom of speech and Democracy; in the episode, those exact words were used by Benjamin Franklin when Cartman manages to time-travel. It is a raw way to look at our political system, but it really is true. -charlie peck




Although South Park is mostly known for its comedy, and often sometimes despised by some viewers as too offensive and crude, the show often portrays common topics that occur in the real world. One such major topic would include the war in Iraq and how people in America often seem very divided. The episode first begins with the four kids (who are the main characters) leaving school to find a huge protest going on. They are given protest signs and soon a news crew rushes over to ask them their opinions about the war. At first, the children aren’t quite sure what to say, but soon they simply read off of their signs and eventually get more and more into protesting the war. This aspect shows how in real life, some people know so little about the war and don’t really have strong views, but are sometimes pushed into thinking one way or another by other people. Further into the show, the town draws a line where one side are the protesters and the other side are those who are pro-war. As the two sides continue to argue, they mostly forget arguing about the war and move on to other less important things. They start arguing about who will be able to use the town square on the weekend to hold their rally’s and other meaningless things, and soon it seems as if the argument of the war has been forgotten. Each side begins to sing “I’m a little bit country” but with new lyrics expressing how one side is a little bit pro-war, and the other is pro-peace. As said by Charlie, this is a very raw way to look at war, but at the same time a lot of the views expressed (although expressed in comedic ways) are very real and are occurring in our society now. While incorporating everyday ideas about war into the show, South Park still manages to make a joke about how these problems will be ever-continuing. -cat rutledge

video link: http://www.southparkzone.com/episodes/701/Im-a-little-bit-Country.html

Reflections on Nana

My Nana helped raise me. She was there for my parents when they had to work and I was still an infant. She taught me manners, good habits, she even clipped my tiny fingernails when I was too young to do it myself.

My Nana was a Rosie the Riveter during World War II. While my grandfather, worked at Raytheon here in Tucson, building missiles, planes, and who knows what else, Nana helped out as much as she could. She even literally bolted rivets into the sides of some missiles. She was that type of woman that not only said, "Yes I can!" but also, "Yes I will!"

My Nana lived her life this way. Born on a farm in rural Indiana, she did physical labor all throughout her life but I never once heard her reflect on those times bitterly. She was optimistic while maintaining a do-whatever-it-takes attitude. I am so proud that I can say that the same hands that put the rivets on the side of a World War II missile clipped my delicate fingernails.

 

Carnival

Come one, come all- men, women and children of all ages!

There are no height requirements for these rides.

Tall smoking spires of twisted steel, shells of structures from a past era,

Miles of rubble, both organic and artificial,

Jacks-in-the-box pop up more unexpectedly than in any children's toy to spray their surprise fire.

No room for clowns, this is the setting for a carnival with no joy.

And so, the question arises,

Whose carnival is this?

"Stairway to Heaven"

"Wirz, remember, Andersonville."

This photo was taken by famous photographer Alexander Gardner, at the same place where the people involved in Abraham Lincoln's assassination were killed. The person about to be hanged in this photograph is Henry Wirz, a Major in the Confederate Army. During the civil war, Wirz was stationed in one of the most notorious prisons, Fort Sumter in Andersonville, GA. This photo depicts a harsh scene: a man is having a noose tightened around his neck. The audience is looking at a man who is about to die. The main theme of this photograph is definitely retribution. The subject, Wirz, was a Confederate Major in this prison camp that pretty muich tortured its inhabitants. By not rationing enough food to the prisoners, Ft. Sumter ended up being the final resting place for many captured and wounded Union Soldiers. The lines created in this photo mostly seem to point down; the wood on the building in the background, as well as the structure from which Wirz is being hanged. This is a grim foreshadowing for Mr. Wirz's fate because shortly after this photo was taken, he would have fallen toward the ground with the noose around his neck. The Union soldiers surrounding the platform all have their bayoneted rifles pointing upward, creating lines which could be seen as a sort of spike pit. On a historical website about Major Wirz, it stated that as the noose was being tightened and even as Wirz hung, in his last few moments alive, the surrounding Union Soldiers and crowd chanted, "Wirz, remember, Andersonville."

Power in Photography

On November 5th, 2006, Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death after being proven guilty of many crimes against humanity. One photograph captures the moment when Hussein was given the verdict.

The content of this photograph is simply a close up of Hussein and a mystery arm holding him back. This picture captures his expression as the center of the photograph. The theme of this photograph is a struggle for power between Hussein and the people he murdered and the judge and Hussein. The angle that the photographer took when capturing this photo was straight on. This is interesting because the verdict was also straight on: death. His face is unavoidable and so is his sentence. The background is a typical courtroom, symmetrical and very geometric. This contrasts with the foreground which is organic and rather chaotic. Also, the photograph is shallow because the lens seems to be close to Hussein- even the background isn't far away. This closeness to Hussein relates to his closeness to death. Framing in this photo is key; it focuses on Hussein and not on the person who is holding him back. 

The major source of power in this photograph is the subject. The expression that the subject conveys shows a struggle of power between Hussein and the rest of the world.