An icon is an image that refers to something outside of its individual elements, something or someone that has great symbolic meaning for society. Icons are often perceived to represent universal concepts, emotions, and meanings. Iconic images are recognizable yet, known not for their origin, time of production or for the people who created them, but for their great symbolic and historical meaning. Iconic images have an important role in American history that has shaped our identity through controversy, cultural awareness and historical events. A single image can trigger memories of a moment in history that the universe will cherish for a lifetime like the “Time Square Kiss” photograph. The Times Square Kiss, was taken with little known information to begin, so today it is even more of a mystery. For this reason, there is a significant amount controversy today over what is really going on in the photograph. Much can be said about The Times Square Kiss that captured a moment in time. The photograph shows a couple, an sailor and a nurse passionately kissing in New York's Times Square. The photograph became an iconic image frozen in American history because it represents the end of war and a new beginning. Every shade and line of the photograph will be analyzed, the time period when the photograph was taken and how society views itself through images will be discussed.
In the case of the Times Square Kiss, the photograph was taken with little known information to begin, so today it is even more of a mystery. For this reason, there is a significant amount controversy today over what is really going on in the photograph. At a glance, the photograph depicts a couple kissing in New York's Time Square. The young man is wearing a form...
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...ing love, hope, peace and the end of World War II. The photograph told the story proudly.
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I stopped here because idk what this stuff is below the “Time Square Kiss”, photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt. Eisenstaedt was a photographer for Life magazine, who traveled to Times Square after hearing that Japan surrendered to the United States. Eisenstaedt wanted to capture the end of war celebration in Time Square for Life magazine. He took several spontaneous photographs that day but only one photograph was published in Life magazine. The photograph depicted an American Navy sailor and a nurse passionately kissing in New York's Times Square celebrating the end of World War II. The photograph of the American Navy sailor and the nurse signified a
Works Cited
Rose, Mrs. "The Kissing Sailor." Personal interview. 18 Apr. 2014.
It also represented that this a new day and the world will rebuild. This picture promises that we will stand together and build from the bottom. The location of this image plays the major role on the overall message. The deeper meaning is clear once looking a little
photographs of the pictographs and talking about them to several people. His second visit to the
Having such an image before our eyes, often we fail to recognize the message it is trying to display from a certain point of view. Through Clark’s statement, it is evident that a photograph holds a graphic message, which mirrors the representation of our way of thinking with the world sights, which therefore engages other
I glance amusedly at the photo placed before me. The bright and smiling faces of my family stare back me, their expressions depicting complete happiness. My mind drifted back to the events of the day that the photo was taken. It was Memorial Day and so, in the spirit of tradition my large extended family had gathered at the grave of my great grandparents. The day was hot and I had begged my mother to let me join my friends at the pool. However, my mother had refused. Inconsolable, I spent most of the day moping about sulkily. The time came for a group picture and so my grandmother arranged us all just so and then turned to me saying, "You'd better smile Emma or you'll look back at this and never forgive yourself." Eager to please and knowing she would never let it go if I didn't, I plastered on a dazzling smile. One might say a picture is worth a thousand words. However, who is to say they are the accurate or right words? During the 1930s, photographers were hired by the FSA to photograph the events of the Great Depression. These photographers used their images, posed or accurate, to sway public opinion concerning the era. Their work displayed an attempt to fulfill the need to document what was taking place and the desire to influence what needed to be done.
Keathley, Christian. "Trapped in the Affection Image" The Last Great American Picture Show: New Hollywood Cinema in the 1970s. Ed. Thomas Elsaesser, Alexander Horwath, Noel King. Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press, 2004. 293-308. Print.
portrayal of the horrors of the War. This is an anti war story and it
The mass media carries with it unparalleled opportunities to impart information, but also opportunities to deceive the public, by misrepresenting an event. While usually thought of as falsifying or stretching facts and figures, manipulation can just as easily be done in the use of photography and images. These manipulations may be even more serious – and subtle – than written manipulations, since they may not be discovered for years, if ever, and can have an indelible and lasting impact on the viewer, as it is often said, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. One of the most significant images of Twentieth Century America was the photograph of a migrant mother holding her child. The photograph was taken during the Great Depression by photographer Dorothea Lange, and has remained an enduring symbol of the hardship and struggle faced by many families during the Depression Era. This image was also an example of the manipulation of photography, however, for it used two major forms of manipulation that remain a problem in journalistic photography.
represents. The sixties pictured to cultural finish of the shadow of warfare II that was
...ca. 1943. 1943. Franklin D. Roosevelt Lib. Public Domain Photographs, 4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY. Archival Research Catalog. Web. 22 Feb. 2010. .
When deciding on what paper to write this option of analyzing symbols in memorials really caught my attention I personally have always been intrigued by the history and life of John F. Kennedy so of course I chose to analyze the symbolism behind his memorial. I believe I get this passion of learning about JFK’s life directly from my father; he has always been interested in the story of John F. Kennedy and was in fact was born the day the beloved president was assassinated.
Wierben goes into great detail about the power of symbols on Pennsylvania Avenue, “These few examples show more than the power of symbols which encourage a citizenry to respect its government. They also demonstrate the growing strength of local interests and the intent to have the city symbolize that residents are also people. The battles recorded here show that national symbols still have great power.” (Wiebenson 20) He believes that the power of symbols is not only about respecting its government but how each symbol demonstrates the growing strength of the people in it.
...e has lost. Set in the gymnasium of IKM-Manning High School, this funeral accurately portrays the devastation felt when a loved one has perished in war and is returned in a casket. This photo focuses on the home coming of a soldier, but unlike “V-J Day in Times Square”, it’s shown in a negative way. The vivid colors of the U.S. flag’s stripes as well as the blue from the VFW flag are bold against the seemingly monochrome photo. Red, white, and blue are distinct in this photo, representing the Americanism and freedom that this soldier has brought. The balance of colors is split: bold colors of freedom on one side, and black of the garments of mourners on the other. Although there is freedom, there was a price to be paid; a life. People all over the country lose family and friends to the perils of war. Unfortunately for this soldier, he came home resting in peace.
From 1941, when the United States joined the war, to 1945 when they finished the war, American citizens stayed loyal and pushed through the hardship of WW2 gaining the title of “victor”. With this victory the United States of America suffered losses in deaths and suffering that will always be remembered throughout society. The men, women, and children that changed the United States forever during World War 2 will now and forever have a special place in the heart of America. And be remembered as the “greatest
The importance of this photo is on the story of a sailor getting news of the war being over and expressing his joy of not having to return to war. The two subjects of the picture have an interesting look upon them. At the time this photo was taken, the Japanese had surrendered and this photo in its most general terms exemplifies the happiness of the military, the medical staff and of all the civilians. The men and women serving our country no longer had to risk their lives in this war. A male sailor and a female nurse are the most prominent and embracing aspects of the war coming to an end and thus those who served in the war celebrating in its completion. This kiss is seen as an act of love, celebration and happiness; the people in the background show joy and relief, the sailors are happy to not go back to war and the civilians are reveling in the return and joy of their victorious m...
Without a doubt, Times Square in New York City is a unique experience, but the image created by TV and movies does not show the gloominess that accompanies the euphoria of being in the Big Apple. The atmosphere is so exhilarating and exciting, you don’t even know what to do for a few minutes, but it is tinged with the bitter reality that sadness and melancholy also trail closely behind the positive. With most, if not all, of your senses being stimulated – sometimes all at once – Times Square creates a memory that will surely be cherished, and haunt you for the rest of your life.