From Majestic Beauties to Ashen Ruins

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Recommended: Media influences and terrorism

On September 11, 2001, the United States of America was dealt a horrifying blow to reality. It all happened so quickly that most of us did not realize that it was an actual terrorist attack planned far away in another country and carried out on American soil. The morning of the terrorist attacks will forever be emblazoned in the minds of all Americans and the World alike. It is hard to imagine a killer so callous and putrid who would bring the World Trade Center to the ground, a smoldering pile of metal and ashes; ashes of the buildings themselves and also the ashes from the remains of the victims of 911. This assignment will discuss the images, the symbols, the shapes and colors depicted pre-terrorist attack and post-terrorist attack of the World Trade Center. This assignment will reflect why each of these methods of visual communication is important in our reflection on why the World Trade Center will always remain dear to our hearts.

Before September 11, 2001, Americans were known as carefree, trusting souls who showed kindness to all. Without a doubt, the iconic symbol of the World Trade Center’s twin towers was easily recognizable to most people of the world. The towers towering 110 stories above the New York skyline is an image known to many for centuries. The stature of these mighty buildings symbolized America’s backbone, strong, unyielding, and never faltering. That was before the terrorist attacks. Now, as the tenth anniversary approaches us, we are all reminded of just how quickly something so strong and unfaltering can be brought down, reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye. In order for us to understand the method behind this madness, we must first know the true symbolism of the World Trade Center and h...

... middle of paper ...

...hown why each of these methods of visual communication is important in our reflection on why the World Trade Center will always remain dear to our hearts.

Works Cited

BOXER, S. (2002, September 11). EYEWITNESSES - One Camera, Then Thousands, Indelibly

Etching a Day of Loss. New York Times, The (NY) (Late Edition - Final ed.), 34. Retrieved August 27, 2011, from NewsBank on-line database (Access World News)

Ground Zero Retrieved from: http://groundzero.nyc.ny.us/photos/before/before005.html

Franklin, T.E., (Photographer) (2001) Retrieved from:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/123109_post.html

World Trade Center, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Retrieved from:

http://www.panynj.gov/wtcprogress/events-091101.html

New York Magazine, (2001), Retrieved from:

http://nymag.com/news/articles/wtc/gallery/2.htm

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