There are two main points of ethos in the Chicago picture: the placement of the picture and the overall setting of the picture. First, the picture being posted to head an article on the New York Times add ethos to the picture because the New York Times has been delivering news to the people since the 1850s. This newspaper could have gotten any photo they wanted to represent this article but the writer(s) felt this was the best picture to describe the mood and ideas being presented in the article. The setting of the picture also adds ethos to the picture. Being in "Chiraq", anyone who lives in Chicago knows that this scene is all too common in certain areas where gang violence is prominent. Also, it is common knowledge to most that a memorial on a sidewalk implies that a person was killed there or somewhere nearby. The flowers, balloons and other items suggest that there are many people who cared for her and show how this death has, at least in some way, affected the community. Finally, this picture being taken on the Fourth of July weekend, a holiday of celebration and jubilance adds ethos to the picture. While most people were having fun with their families, watching fireworks, and barbecuing this teenage boy was alone, mourning over his lost friend. Pictures and stories like these create a sense of urgency because of the drastic contrast between what people expected to see and what they ended up seeing in the news for this holiday.
-Derien Scott
This is a very sad, yet powerful picture. The fact that it was the 4th of July creates a even more somber picture. Your idea of the people seeing this picture and wanting to stop all of the violence is very true and honest.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with both you and Derien's thoughts on the picture being taken on July 4th. It creates a strong juxtaposition since you would believe that Independence Day is a holiday to celebrate our freedom and liberation from Great Britain, yet there are people suffering under our own government and no one is doing anything about it. The context of this photograph makes it an appeal to ethos because the viewer feels as if these people shouldn't be oppressed by racial discrimination on a day dedicated to celebrating freedom and liberation.
DeleteIt's a good point to make that the photo was published in the NY Times. The Times is a very reputable paper lending a great deal of credibility to the photograph. The weight of being published by such a source as the Times is immeasurable.
ReplyDeleteI agree that featuring this photograph in the New York Times automatically gives the photo extrinsic ethos. I also agree that the photo's message thrives of the viewer's knowledge of sidewalk memorials. Unfortunately, we are all to familiar with these kinds of memorials; however, I think that this photo shows that no matter how familiar we become with such events, it will never become less haunting.
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