Acknowledging the rhetorical audience of the picture from
the Watts riot is crucial to rhetorically understanding the picture. This picture
is tailored to a specific audience which it engages with on multiple levels.
The photograph is meaningful to all its viewers, but to its intended audience; African Americans around the world who feel underprivileged and restricted,
the picture is a spark to a new mental state. The riot pictured above was taken
after an unlawful arrest of an African American man. Tension between both
parties escalated and the arresting officers got aggressive, sparking a riot. The
photograph shows a group African American people rebelling against the unfair
authority in their path. It serves as a lighthouse to guide their families and
friends onto a path of change. The intended rhetorical audience here was
specifically targeted to sew a seed of rebellion and advancement into its
people.
I disagree that the audience is simply African Americans. I believe this photo has the ability to targets entire countries, especially the repressors. This photo can be an image of resistance. It can be aimed at those who believe in segregation as a way to say "we will not back down".
ReplyDeleteI agree with Hannah in that the audience isn't exclusively African-Americans, but instead everyone who takes the time to listen. I agree with your analysis that it is meant to inspire African-Americans to bring about change for themselves, but also to inspire other races to help do what's right, and to shame the oppressors so they think about their actions and, in time, might stop doing what's wrong.
ReplyDeleteI like how you distinguished that despite this being a public photo, its intent is to reach a specific audience within the public, primarily activists of civil rights, however, I disagree that this is the only main audience. I believe the audience may also be the people in power (who were at the time primarily white) to demonstrate the the civil rights movement of the time was something that should be taken seriously rather than brushed off.
ReplyDeleteI also disagree with your assessment of the audience and I believe that it was directed toward all Americans. I also think your group should have picked a different photo for police brutality because you really can't tell that this photo is attempting to show police brutality or a riot. Nobody in the photo looks angry or upset, in fact one of the people appears to be smiling, and there are no police officers in the photo.
ReplyDelete