Evaluating the Messages from Images, Essay Example

Introduction

Media literacy concepts have been around for many years; since the appearance of written newspapers. There are some basic concepts to be examined through one of the recent images published about the 2012 Hurricane Sandy in the Caribbean. The image selected is found at: on the BBC website (online, page two). The thesis to be examined regarding the image is:

“Media are most powerful when they operate on an emotional level.”

The image depicts a man and a woman struggling through the wind and the flood to leave their home for security. Although the faces are not clearly visible, there are some strong messages to be found in the picture on an emotional level. There are three emotional levels on which the image connects to the audience: empathy, fear and hopelessness. (UNESCO, 2009)

Evidence to support the thesis: poverty and empathy

It seems like the house in the background is not finished or damaged. The image is captured with the storm in the background and the waves reaching the houses. The dark and colorless image delivers the feeling of hopelessness and poverty. Still, it is clear from the image that these people would either not be prepared for the change of weather or are in a hurry, as they are dressed for normal Caribbean weather, or have no other clothes.

Latin America and the Caribbean area are often covered in the news magazines as places where poverty is high and infrastructural development is very basic. By featuring the house in the background, with no pavement, missing windows, very basic architecture, the publisher reminds viewers to the other issues in the area. By creating a direct contrast between the organized and landscaped front gardens of the United States, and the New York Coast full of skyscrapers, the message is clear; losing everything, including hope would cause long term suffering for these people.

One of the strongest powerful features of the image is the depiction of the house. People can connect to the two people leaving their homes, as everyone lives in a flat or house and can imagine how it would feel like to go through the same.

More evidence to support the thesis: fear as an emotion within the image

The person viewing the image might think that the people on the image are a couple, however, they seem to be going their way. Fear is the strongest emotion at the point of capturing the image, and fearing for life is more important than taking care of each other or making physical contact. It is evident that the hurricane is endangering the lives of people and both of them have taken on a protective posture. The two people seem to be determined and in panic. The photographer and the news media publishing the image alongside with other pictures on their site might have wanted to create an objective perspective about the natural disaster. However, by featuring real people on the photo (and many of the other images in the series) adds an emotional level to the messages.

The high waves created by the storm in the background create fear and danger. As they look as if they were heading right towards the people depicted on the picture, the power of the photo lies in the depiction of immediate danger. Although the by-line says that Sandy has not hit yet, the audience would think that the two people need to hurry to safety in order to avoid the waves behind them.

Fear is also depicted in the posture of the people on the image. Both have covered their heads; a standard reaction in case of danger.

Further evidence to support the thesis: hopelessness

As the two people are not looking either back or ahead, it seems like they only have one thing on their mind. There is no use looking back because they would only see the source of their fear. They do not look ahead, as there is possibly nothing awaiting for them. They might have no shelter set up in the local school, relatives living further inland, or charity organizations coming to rescue them. They need to find their own way away from the danger, and it looks like they have no idea where they are going or what would happen in the next hours. They are, however, not looking back because they are sure Hurricane Sandy is going to hit and cause further damage in their house; something they built with their own hands for years.

Refutation

As news sites are considered to be delivering factual information, some analysers would conclude that there is no emotional message to the image. Images in news media, like BBC are supposed to be taken as factual reports of the events covered in the article. The by-line of the image suggests that this theory might work; “Wave levels along the coast were high even before Sandy hit, with many people forced to abandon their homes until the storm passes.”

Still, the authors of the current analysis would argue against the statement that the pure purpose of the image is to provide an objective report on the natural disaster. Using the words: “forced”, “abandon” and “homes” would add an emotional tone to the by-line, and creates a connection between those viewing the image and those depicted. As people are able to imagine what it would be like for them to be forced to abandon their homes, the message is definitely emotional and the image works on a deeper level than a report.

According to the Globalization 101 report, (2009), emotional effects on the public can influence decision makers in a global scale.

“In 1992, the U.S. government was induced to intervene militarily in Somalia to help avert a famine. Administration officials at the time cited one of the reasons they felt that action necessary was due to immense public pressure that had been generated based on news coverage of the crisis.” (p. 14.)

Conclusion

Although the news images are firstly serving the purpose of documenting the effects of Hurricane Sandy, the initial thesis statement concluding that the power of the image lies in its operation on an emotional level is confirmed. The main objects of creating emotional effects are:

• Featuring people
• Depicting the waves endangering residents and buildings
• Depiction of poverty
• Posture of people

Sending emotional messages through images does not only make the picture more powerful, but can also create a change in the way the audience thinks about different places, cultures or events.

References:

Culture and Globalization. Online. http://www.globalization101.org

UNESCO Conference (2009) International Conference on Knowledge Networking in ICT Era January 2222??2424, 2009 2009 Chennai, India. Online. http://portal.unesco.org/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_6BEB7E0987E768D4743FC5DAB3142F3E4F            201D00/filename/special_session_presentations.pdf>

BBC Coverage of Hurricane Sandy (10/25/2012). Online. < http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20071080>