Vacancy

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

Altruism

1994: The Buffalo Bills win their fourth consecutive super bowl, the Winter Olympics are held in Lellehammer, a solar eclipse is visible in North America, O.J. Simpson flees from police, Netscape browser is released. It's amazing. It's amazing how as we lived through our normal lives, as insignificant headlines rolled across our tv screens, nearly a million people died in a time period of only a hundred days.

We spend our lives wrapped up in our lives. We work to obtain knowledge only to find how ignorant we are. As we went to school, rooted for our favorite sports team, and ate our fancy dinners, men and women's skulls were being laid in order.

It seems like Rwanda would be the perfect example to prove how war is never just. Many people firmly believe against war in every circumstance and in supporting their argument, they use examples of past wars. They use examples of wars that people gradually believed we shouldn't have entered in the first place: Vietnam, now Iraq. However, I believe war is justified by a war we never entered.

America stood and watched countless deaths all because it had nothing to do with us. It had everything to do with us. People around America riot against war while promoting peace, but I can guarantee there will never be peace in a world that sees no reason to defend another nation. Peace will never be attained with a selfish attitude. We must see the world from the world's perspective, not America's. If hundreds of thousands of people are dieing it is our responsibility to be there, if a nation is trying to conquer another that values freedom and democracy it is our responsibility to be there, if a nation is suffering under a ruthless dictator and may possess weapons that threaten the world, it is our responsibility to be there. You see it doesn't matter if we benefit as a nation. What matters is that we benefit as a race.

People ask American soldiers why they will go to war that isn't even America's war to fight. It's because they know it is their fight; it is our fight. We must learn to fight for the good of all people. Again people will say: why should we try to solve the problems of other countries when we can't even solve our own? That I believe is one of the most pointless questions to ask because it proves nothing. Look at yourself, as an individual; we all have our issues but does that mean we can't help other people around us? Just because we're not a perfect country doesn't mean we shouldn't sacrifice and make an example for the rest of the world how a group of people should truly behave.

It's funny. People would say peace is the opposite of war. This isn't true. The opposite of peace is selfishness. To attain peace is to attain selflessness. And there will be many wars in the name of selflessness and on the way to peace.

Naive

Peace or war. This is what it comes down to. It seems so cliché. While war is perfectly realistic and easy to envision; it is hard to realistically envision a world destroyed by war. At the same time we can envision peaceful relations amongst two individuals but fin impossible to picture amongst the world. Both these inabilities limit our capabilities as a race. We are naïve to not believe in a world destroyed by war and against common belief, we are naïve not to believe in world peace.

Sticks and Stones

Looking back through the ages of man, conflict has always been present. There have been wars since before recorded history. History has illustrated are capabilities and has exhibited the similar patterns we tend to follow. There has always been war and through time, war has escalated to greater and greater magnitudes. Luckily we haven't seen a war even close in comparison to the magnitude of World War II, but how long can that string of luck last? How much longer do we have until a strong nation assumes the role of enemy? What kind of war of epic proportions will be made?

It's scary that the world's fate lies in the hands of nations possessing nuclear weapons who just have decided not to use them. Of course many understand the consequences of such an action, however will these nations always remain responsible. The possibility of human emotion seems so unstable that it seems unlikely. I believe it's possible to find peace, but we will never find it with these catastrophic weapons always present in the back of political leaders' minds.

"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." -- Albert Einstein

Lung Cancer is the least of his Worries

Quietus

http://www.civilwarhome.com/chancellorsvillebattledescrpt.htm


This photo depicts the bodies of confederate soldiers although according to the article, the battle of Chancellorsville was won by the Confederates even though they were far outnumbered. In this picture, whether intentional or simply came to be through the aging of the photograph, the observer notices that there is a strong contrast in value between light and dark. As you can see the left of the image is very bright and easy to make out while the right side is very dark and dimmed; unsure. Seeing that all of the fallen guns point in one direction, it seems the Confederates had emerged from the right side of this image depicting the dark nature of their cause. The wall symbolizing the barrier between the two sides- the side fighting for equality and freedom and another fighting for whatever selfish reasons they could muster. For some reason when I looked at this picture, the rifles on the ground were a strong focal point and to me, the way they lay on the ground seems almost awkward. It seems like a line of people just walked up and gently placed them on the ground or as you can see one just leaning against the wall. I think this is only awkward to me because war in those times was far more orderly than the war we see today. I guess it's strange for me to see order in a realm where I imagine pure chaos. I think the trees in the background provide a significant symbol also. The trees on the right seem full of life and have plenty of leaves while the trees on the left, which is where most of the battle I believed occurred, are lifeless and naked. This further emphasizes the factor of death even in a civilized war.

Sunni Sunshine

In this photograph, the eye immediately notices that the two figures in front are much darker than the figure in the background who seems to be surrounded by an aurora of light. This range of value implies emphasis on the figure in the background which is a Sunni militia. The focal point centered on the Sunni soldier is referring to the suffering of Sunni militias who are now being targeted in assassinations and bomb attacks. The depth in the picture which makes the two figures seem much larger and far more intimidating seems to suggest the innocence and smallness of the Sunni soldier. The Sunni soldier’s face is the only one in picture you can actually make out which stresses the sympathy of the audience toward the one figure. The photographer could just as easily zoomed in on the Sunni soldier instead of darkening the American soldiers but this would lose the effect. Thus suggesting the two dark figures on either side play a prominent role in the picture and hold certain valuable characteristics. The two American soldiers appear as some form of statues on either side of the focal point. They appear to be protecting the figure in the middle, valuing his innocence and what significance he has. This photo’s natural eeriness seems to draw together the current American perspective of the Iraq War and suggests the present and future importance of these Iraqi soldiers.

Stick'em Up

On a Raid, 1940


Barrels pointed, guns drawn, war is imminent. Understanding this battleship to be American, it seems the intention is to reveal the strength of America, the intimidating power. However, without considering the actual setting, it seems the turrets are aimed directly at an American flag. This illustrates an objective that reveals the danger of war, the direct threat that was posed on the country. I believe this photo is meant to show both the danger of war while illustrating the awesomeness of a country overcoming fear and standing tall against a formidable foe.

The repetition of barrels I believe, further suggests the implications of war. The light and value of the barrels seem to indicate something more. There is a high contrast between light and darkness, however it seems more darkness encompasses the barrels. And the barrels, indicating war, reveal that war is mostly dark however, through it, we can find some light. The United States found light in World War II, they found unity through hope and became the savior the world was looking for.

Although the strong contrast in the barrels seem to initially attract the eye, immediately emphasizing war, I believe the true focal point is in the background. It’s a flag swaying gently in the wind. This flag represents hope, the only thing that can stand against the massive barrels of war. Although it is an American flag, the flag is dark in the picture which I believe exhibits that the flag isn’t just suggesting American hope but world hope; hope for any nation. The basic shapes of this picture, all directing at each other in this stretched range of space, all contribute to the very basic conflict being addressed: good vs. evil, war vs. peace, fear vs. hope.

Ignorance is Bliss

War seems to be a topic that is very touchy to many American citizens, especially since we are now in a war where a majority of Americans hold negative connotations. Now for many reasons all this conservation about war is great, citizens are attempting to become more and more knowledgeable of events involving our soldiers overseas. It’s great that so many people hold so much compassion for the men and women risking their lives in the name of us. So many of us want them to come home, want them to be safe, and stop the countless deaths that seem to be piling up next to our feet. However, there is a problem that evident in our dialogue. This compassion may be entirely real but many Americans do not actually hold independent opinions. So many are influenced by the media or simply believe what someone else believes. The truth is we are ignorant.

As a nation, we must become aware of all the factors in war. At first when America entered this war we were driven by revenge and fear of Saddam Hussein. Now, after five years, America wants out and we are driven by numbers of deaths and lack of hope to solve any problems within Iraq. I feel as a nation, we base our opinions on too little of data, and we fail to truly understand the consequences of our opinions. As Mark Twain once said, “Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self-deception." We make truth in our minds on very little data and just because now we feel we have realized our ignorance in the past does not mean we have realized our ignorance in the present.

matt rotando's 104 blog

www.104aboutwar.blogspot.com

What soldiers carry for good luck

ttp://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/04/07/luck.soldiers.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch

It's interesting that in a world of complete destruction and chaos with death and pain in every direction, people still find small things to value. Some have their teddy bears and some have their prayer book, but these things are more than just lucky personal items; they are hope.

Mrs. Jones

I remember sitting in my 4th grade classroom. Mrs. Jones was my teacher and we were all working feverishly on a project. She had a jar of Hershey's kisses and I remember whenever a kid from another class walked in, she would offer them a kiss. Of course many would hesitate on answering because I must say, Mrs. Jones wasn't the most attractive of teachers and having a pair of wrinkly lips touch your cheek isn't the most pleasant thought. The whole class would laugh at each kid's reaction for each of them were different, but for the most part they were all in some form a 'deer in the head lights' response. I remember there were some days when she would yell, and I hated her on those days. There were some days where she was incredibly kind, and I would love her on those days. However, what I remember most of all was a sign up on her wall. Of course, every elementary school teacher had posters up on their walls listing off study methods or the scientific method or maybe corny sayings like "reach for the stars." Her's was different though, for some reason it stuck out, popped out in my mind, engraved in my memory. It simply said "You can make a difference."

The Smile

I don't remember my sister being born. I was only a year and a half old, but it seems like such an important event to remember. She was my first sibling, my first family companion who would go through much of things I would go through. I don't remember her in the hospital for months. I don't remember her coming home and then rushed back to the hospital. I don't remember standing under her gurney and in full confidence believing she was going to live. I don't remember my parents crying or the doctors saying she only had a short amount of time to live. They said even on the remote chance she did live, she'd suffer from severe mental problems. I don't remember the surgery and I don't remember the time she died nor her second birth.
I do remember her smile. And I remember her today, all that she is, and all that she was predicted to be. She is a walking miracle and she will make her way.

Le Mal

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