The Chronicles of Max Hanson: End the madness process analysis

Max Hanson

Mrs. Cardona

Process Analysis

Block 1

1/3/12

When constructing a visual argument favoring an end to the atrocities of war, and thus in favor of world peace I attempted to look at every aspect of the constructs that make up my visual argument and be very selective of what pictures I wanted in my visual argument. I was also very selective when searching for pictures because my topic is quite common I wanted to make it as original, genuine, and raw as possible.

Instead of addressing similar things in every picture I would like to look at some overlying tones that can be seen throughout all of the pictures in my visual argument include…

· Bloodshed- pictures of blood and bloodshed help to push the viewer right into the picture making them feel as if they are part of the moment. It does this by showing the viewer how alive the person once was and how during every second that passes, how the vitality is seeping out of them.

· Children- Children were used in my visual argument to help show the unintended consequences of war and the universality of war as it affects everyone

· Bodies- Bodies obviously represent death as they are used throughout the argument in an attempt to show the both the finality of war for the individual as well as the fact that wars end in only one thing, a loss of life.

· Weapons- Show the cause of death. However, the fact that they are held by soldiers helps to show that it is not the weapons that do the killing it is the wielders of the weapons.

· Fire- Fire represents destruction and the orange/red color helps to alarm those who are viewing it. Also, fire helps to draw attention to a certain point in the picture like in image one where the body is the first thing you look at as your eyes rest on the flames.

Now to address certain pictures and themes within my argument…

Background: I chose water, because it helped to not only provide a subtle sadness to the sadness that would already be prevalent in the argument but I thought that the blue represents peace and tranquility, the goal of the argument. I also chose this background because I felt that the spatters of color that surround the pictures could be interpreted as both water and blood. Water: because water is the source of life. Blood: because that is what is being shed in most of the pictures.

Music: This song is called Videotape by Radiohead, it adds a slow pulse with its piano chords and helps to drive the presentation. The pulse ending near the end of the presentation was a symbolic attempt to show that unless we do something that we will be without life in the near future. Its lyrics also talk about watching your life back in heaven, “at the pearly gate” and the regrets you experience, a perfect match for my message.

Lyrics:

When I'm at the pearly gates

This'll be on my videotape

My videotape

When Mephistopheles is just beneath

And he's reaching up to grab me

This is one for the good days

And I have it all here

In red blue green

You are my center when I spin away

Out of control on videotape

On videotape [x6]