Running Head: Photo Analysis

Visual Analysis
Marina Chong
University of Texas at El Paso

Running Head: Photo Analysis

Visual Analysis on Hate Crimes

Abstract

The image analyzed is a picture taken by Builder Levy, in Memphis

in 1968. The analysis will consist on examining the picture with the elements of
ethos, pathos and logos. The audience will be analyzed as well.

Audience Analysis
The audience of this photograph is wider than what it was the year
it was taken because it can now be found on the internet rather than only on a

Running Head: Photo Analysis

newspaper. The photograph is directed to any viewer with the objective of creating
a conscience and reminds people of what happened during that movement.

Ethos
The element of ethos is present on the image because the origin of
this image can be tracked to the person who took the picture. The author of the
image is a well-known photographer that has won many awards for his photographs
and has been mentioned in some books. The credibility of this image is due to its
spontaneity because it is not a picture that was staged, but it is a snapshot of a point
in history. Also the picture was not set to scandalize or to provoke; it is only
capturing a moment that happened on its own. Also we must take in account that
this is an old photograph, meaning that the scene is not altered or enhanced in any
way. It can also show credibility with the fact that it was taken during an important
movement that happened in the United States.

Logos

The element of logos presented on this photograph can be proven given that
the image was taken during a well-known point in history of the United States. The
photograph was taken during the Civil Rights Movement where many African
Americans were taken away from their rights. This photograph clearly shows how

Running Head: Photo Analysis

black people are marching saying they are people too, and the soldiers sent from the
government aiming guns at them taking away their right of freedom of expression.
One can also see in this picture, the threat that black people suffer in that time and
how other people saw them as a menace or threat against them.

Pathos
The element of pathos is strong in this photograph and it is the most present.
The first things you notice about the image are the guns that the soldiers are holding
and aiming at the African Americans, representing how white people saw them as a
threat. It can also be observed in the background of the photograph some tanks and
it gives away the feeling of being attacked. Then one can see how the black people
are holding signs that say I Am a Man trying to express that they are people too.
One can feel the sadness and frustration they felt because they werent treated like
people, they were treated like slaves and animals and didnt have any of their rights
respected. During that time, segregation was very common and black people
couldnt express themselves because their opinion wasnt valued, if they expressed
themselves they were responded with violence towards them. The photograph
shows a peaceful manifestation that was made to show that they count as well and
they are people and have rights, with this it transmits a feeling of rejection, sadness
and the feeling of being attacked.

Running Head: Photo Analysis

References

Photograph:
Sentesy, M. (2011, January 1). Dear White Men Defending Black Studies. Retrieved
from
http://open.salon.com/blog/msentesy/2012/05/11/dear_white_men_defending_bl
ack_studies

Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.builderlevy.com/bio.html