The Times Square Kiss: Victory over Japan

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Recommended: The importance of symbolism

The United States declared victory over Japan. Soldiers are coming home from war, Times Square fills up with people cheering and shouting the great news. With the excitement of the celebration, Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped a picture that would soon be the kiss seen around the world. The couple Eisenstaedt took a picture of wasn’t even a couple! There has been a lot of speculation about who was actually the smooching duo. Alfred Eisenstaedt shared a gift to the World. The gift of joy and celebration after the declaration of victory over Japan. The gift was a photograph known to the world as the Times Square Kiss. The iconic picture is of a sailor kissing a nurse in the celebration of the soldiers return home from the war. The Time’s Square Kiss is Eisenstaedt’s most famous photograph. The picture has had books written about the event, referenced by movies and as well as an infinite amount of blogs. The photograph has also caused a great deal of controversy about the whole event. As in who the people in the picture are, if they were an item, if the two even knew one another, and why would were they kissing and how does a photograph get around without consent of those in the picture. Many people were crawling out of the woodworks to claim that they were the people in the picture. But when so many people are state their “truths” how does one differentiate throughout the lies to find the real truth? The main point of the Times Square Kiss wasn’t about who was in it, but more of what they were symbolizing. Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the symbol of hope, love and chaos. The Times Square Kiss was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt. This iconic photo is his best known work. Taking rapid fire shots with this 35mm Leica Camera (Wikipedia Alfred... ... middle of paper ... ...ebration of what everyone else was feeling. The Times Square Kiss may cause controversy, but it also calms people down. Looking around the picture and seeing the chaos is scary, then looking in the focus of the lens and seeing love? That’s relieving. Alfred Eisenstaedt wanted to relieve America after a horrible war. The celebration is still going. References Page Alfred Eisenstaedt. (2014, July 5). Wikipedia. Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Eisenstaedt Carey, A. (2012, May 2). Book Names Iconic Times Square Kissing Couple From World War II. ABC News. Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/05/book-names-iconic-times-square kissing-couple-from-world-war-ii/ V-J Day in Times Square. (2014, March 5). Wikipedia. Retrieved May 7, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-J_Day_in_Times_Square

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