This photograph was taken to show the suffering of a family during the Great Depression. I only know this because I have seen the picture before. Had I not known the background, I would have thought it was just a picture of a sad woman and her children. Since I know why it was taken, it does chnage theway I read it. I realize how there is no man in the picture, and that he has likely either deserted the family or died. It makes me think more on the suffering of the country as a whole and not just the one occasion photographed.
I find this picture extremely powerful. I think it was taken to show Americans how horrible war really was and the heartless brutality of many of the things that happened. The instance of this particular photograph did not change it so much as it did for the first one. I'm sure things like this happen in any war. It shows the chaos in the background. It was meant to move people and change public opinion about the war.
This photograph is a lot less famous than the last two, but it is just as powerful for other reasons. The contrast between the two hands shows that there really is a problem. the left hand looks like that of a frail starving person, the right, a strong, healthy one. The two peacefully co-exist, and the picture has a somber, but encouraging, rather than accusing feel to it. I think it is meant to promote peace between nations and make readers feel a responsibility to give others in need a helping hand.
No comments:
Post a Comment