These two photographs represent heroes. Both photographs define America. In photograph twelve, we are looking at a famous photograph that was taken after September 11. Thomas E. Franklin took this photograph and published it on September 12, 2001. Franklin was about 150 yards from the debris of the World Trade Center towers when he took this photograph. It is a photograph of three Brooklyn firefighters hoisting a flag at Ground Zero (http://digitaljournalist.org). After taking this photograph, he said that he thought of Joseph Rosenthal's image of U.S. Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945 (photograph thirteen). Because Franklin's photograph looks like Rosenthal's famous war photograph, it predicts that Americans would be in a war resulting from this event. The comparison of the two photographs tells us that there is a new war on.
This photograph seems to show hope and a sense of pride. The firefighters hoist an American flag amongst all the debris and filth. It is as though they are saying, "We may be down but we're not out!" The photograph shows that we, as Americans, are not ready to throw in the towel and give up. It may be a long road but we can do it.
The "punctum" in this photograph is the American flag. Not only is it in the center of the photograph, but it seems to be that important detail that simply "grabs you." The red, white, and blue of the flag stand out amongst the gray pile of debris. The flag is a symbol of patriotism. It stands for freedom, justice, equal rights, equal opportunity, and much more. The attack did not destroy our patriotism, instead it strengthened our spirit. After this photograph, many people displayed flags outside of their homes and places of work. It became an epidemic. After September 11, the flag truly became a national symbol.
The firefighters are covered with grime and soot. All three of them are looking up. They are carefully preparing the flag that sits at half-mast. The entire background of the photograph is rubble. The pile of debris is so "heavy" and enormous that it makes the men look dwarf-like.
My final photograph, Rosenthal's photograph thirteen, is a historic photograph. I wanted to show my students how history "repeats itself." These two photographs are very similar. They represent American pride. They also relay an important message; the message tells us that by working together we can achieve anything, we can be victorious.
Photograph thirteen was taken by Joseph Rosenthal in 1945 (http://www.iwojima.com). It is a photograph that defined American glory. It is a photograph of U.S. Marines raising a flag atop Mount Suribachi on the Pacific Island of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. This flag-raising occurred during one of America's bloodiest World War II battles with Japan.
It is a very famous photograph. This photograph is taken from a side view. We cannot see the soldier's faces in this photograph. What was important in this photograph was the raising of the American flag. It stood for victory and pride. The photograph captures the heroic.
The men are united in form and effort. The right leg of each man seems to be identical with the same bend. We do not see their faces, the faces were not important in this photograph. We simply see their bodies and their hands. The last soldier is reaching up to the empty, gray sky. The flag is positioned at a diagonal, mirroring the stance of the men below.