Photography vs. Text

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Photography vs. Text

Man's first step on the moon, the Hindenburg Disaster, The Gold Rush of 1849, The Great Depression, and the realities of Vietnam are all in our memory because of one thing: photography. Many may not remember what literature and history books say about the war in Vietnam, but what about the graphic photo of a South Vietnamese Buddhist burning himself alive? Some may not recall the words of news anchor Walter Cronkite as he announced the death of President Kennedy, but may reminisce on what film captured-- first he took off his glasses, next he looked you straight in the eyes and delivered the message in a straightforward and serious matter: "Three shots were fired at President Kennedy's motorcade in downtown Dallas." (qtd. in Bestor) Cronkite remembers it as "the only time (he) ever broke down while on the air." (qtd. in Hayes)

An hour and a-half later, According to the World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia, photography froze history as Lyndon B. Johnson made his presidential oath on Air-Force One. Jackie Kennedy watched on with ineffable emotion. ("Kennedy").

Two days later was the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald, captured by a photographer at the exact moment that Jack Ruby pulled the pistol and shot Oswald point-blank. The picture-- depicting the horror on Oswald's face and Jack Ruby's expression of anger-- won the 1963 Pulitzer Prize for photographic journalism.

Edward Steichen said to TIME reporters in 1961 that "photography records the gamut of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created. It is a major force in explaining man to himself." (Eurlich and DeBruhl 505.) Steichen was a pioneer in ...

... middle of paper ...

...t to lose." (Eurlich and DeBruhl 126) These great pieces of art are primarily so for their ability to freeze time in a split second. No other art form in the world, not even literature, can match that.

Works Cited

Eurlich, Eugene, and Marshall DeBruhl. The International Thesaurus of Quotations New York: HarperPerrenial, 1996

World Book Multimedia Encyclopedia San Diego: Ivid Communications, 1997

Bestor, Mary Jane. JFK Death: Sunday Was 35th Anniversary News Article 21 Jun. 2000 <http://www.wcco.com/news/stories/news-981123-055109.html>

Hayes, Ace R. A Reporter's Lie: Cronkite and the Party Line (Book Review) 22 Jun. 2000 <http://www.radio4all.org/pfp/cronkite.html>

Newmann, Renee M. Dyslexia: Explanations from Science Dyslexia & Dyscalculia Support Services of Shiawassee County. 24 Jun. 2000 <http://www.shianet.org/~reneenew/dysl.html>

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