Rhetorical Analysis

When first looking at these photos it seems as though the author is just trying to show the audience the life of the Native Americans. I think these stand out to me because they are so different from what we are use to seeing. Their faces are so somber and their clothing is very eccentric and and either very conservative of very minimal. When thinking about it more I think he also wanted to show us their wisdom and the peace that just seems to radiate off of them. They come from a different culture and they are just different themselves from the American people. So where initially I thought he wanted to show the audience some scenes from the Native American life, I think now he wanted to show us their wisdom and peace also. They seem to live such peaceful full lives. These pictures make them seem content and comfortable in their lives. I find these pictures calming because we live in such a high paced competitive world. It's nice to see a calm, peaceful picture.

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1. I think the Vertigo poster is probably the oldest being made in the 60's or so. Then I would say The Wizard of Oz not too long after Vertigo. Buffalo Soldiers was probably around the 80's or 90's and the Matrix only a few years ago. I am basing this on how vibrant the color is, the clothing, and technical advancements used.

2. The Wizard of Oz is a family movie, Buffalo Soldiers a comedy, Vertigo a mystery/ love story, and Matrix a sci-fi. I say Wizard of Oz and Matrix are what they are because I have seen them and know. I believe Buffalo Soldiers is a comedy just by the way he is standing and his smirk on his face. Vertigo I think is a love mystery because of the man and woman on the poster and it's a Hitchcock so there has to be some mystery or something weird.

3. I think they wanted the Wizard of Oz to be colorful to make it look bright and fun. Buffalo Soldiers of course had to be red, white, and blue plus the camo because it's about soldiers I'm guessing. The red in Vertigo makes it seem like a deep story line. I'm not sure why, but it just seems more serious. The green in the Matrix makes it seem more techno and sci-fi.

4. In the Wizard of Oz my eye first goes to the cartoon then the witches, then the main characters. I think the cartoon is first to show what kind of movie it is. They then wanted to introduce us to the characters. In Buffalo Soldiers first I see his face then the flag. He must be the main character so they wanted him to stand out. Same with Vertigo. The main characters (I'm assuming) are what stand out. The bridge might be showing some of the plot or setting. Nothing really stands out clear in the Matrix poster. Mainly just the green lines. It kind of hides the main characters, which makes them seem more mysterious like they really are in the movie.

5. I thin these poster were mainly made during the World Wars. I guess I used the little I know about history to make this assumption.

6. I would say the Uncle Sam, Skeleton, the lady soldier, and the An Appeal to You poster come from America. I think this because they just have an American touch to them. I think the London Opinion comes from London I guess because it says London. If it didn't I would assume Germany because of his mustache. It seems German to me. I think the Perstito and La Germania posters come from Germany. If not Germany then London I guess. I think the Buy War Bonds comes from maybe Japan. I'm not sure what nationality he really is so I'm not sure.

7. I think most of these posters chose red, white, and blue because it is supposed to be patriotic. I'm not too sure why they chose the brown colors for some of the photos. They don't stand out to me at all. The ones that have an orange/red glow in the back like fire really stand out though. I think this method works the best. It seems to glorify the poster and bring the soldier to center focus.

8. In all of the posters I see the soldier or Uncle Sam first then my eye travels to the words. I think the person draws us in like they are talking to us and this is why the creator wanted our eye to see the person first.

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1. I think the body positions are trying to glorify the person in the pictures. They stand tall and confident with many of them positioned in the center, which gives them all the focus. I think the posters of Uncle Sam pointing at us and the soldier reaching out grabs our attention more effectively. It's like they are directly speaking to me and trying to get my attention. I think these posters were trying to draw us in and inspire us to get out there. I believe that most of these photos were effective in doing so.

2. You need to know what's going on in the world and how the people feel about the war. You need to know the kind of language (terms and slang) the area uses to really get personal with the people you are trying to reach. Before starting a design for someone you need to do research for the area and time. Especially if outside your normal surroundings.

3. I think photographs would make the poster more real, but maybe too real. The paintings seem to sugar coat the reality of war and makes it seem safe. Photos make you see the real thing where paintings seem like a cartoon and not real.

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1. I think this is a very powerful poster. I often think about our problem with immigration now and wonder how much right we have to get upset. I know we need to keep our country safe and know who exactly we are letting into our nation, but we didn't get the approval of the Indians when the pilgrims came over. I also like it because photos of the Native Americans normally show them peaceful and calm, but this one shows their real anger towards this situation. It shows a different kind of anger though. It shows an anger that comes from sadness. Like they have been wanting to say it, but have kept it in for all these years. It really makes me stop and think who am I to say who can enter.

Nachtwey's article

Sometimes photography in the media bothers me. I think it can be very selfish and cold. Some moments are not to stolen from you. Some moments are meant to be kept to that individual. I think too often a photographer gets too caught up in getting the perfect shot that they don't think of the feelings of the people in the moment. I know it is needed for pictures like those taken at 9-11 to be taken, but some are unnecessary. I think you can show travesty without invading some one's devastation. Overall I love photography and think moments need to be captured, but I think there is a line. I think you can capture the feeling of devastation with out revealing one's own personal pain. The pictures I have posted here, I believe show the feeling without crossing some one's personal space.