Thursday, September 27, 2012

Visual Language Syntax

Veteran

This is a photograph of a war veteran standing before the monument at National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, reading the names of the solders that were killed in combat.  He is missing one leg and standing next to his wheel chair with his back turned to the photographer, supporting himself with crutches.  The veteran is dressed in a suit with a beret covering his head. The photo looks to have been taken during the daytime.


Responses/Feelings in terms of representational content.

Sadness
Pride
Sacrifice
Remembrance
Pain
somber



Symbols
Wheelchair = Injured in combat
Missing leg = amputated
Standing up = strength
Facing wall = reading
Suit = importance

The underlying composition of this visual representation contributes to the responses and feelings that come up when viewing this photograph. The veteran is standing still by himself, and appears to be remembering his fallen comrades and other memories from the war. His amputated leg suggests that he was injured in combat and may be in physical or emotional pain. With his back turned, the tone seems to be more somber. 



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