Now it is time to submit a final version of your paper. For complete details on the Media Analysis Project please see the Media Analysis Project - Introduction page in Week 03.

Danielle Moore

Rasmussen College

Visual Communication in the Media

Author Note:

This assignment is being submitted on December 6, 2015 for Janessa Gerling for Visual Communication in the Media Course

I have chosen one picture from medium photography named as “Abramovich's partner sits on 'black woman' chair on Martin Luther King Day” this picture depicts a well-dressed Caucasian woman using an African-American woman as a chair. The image is: high-quality, clear, crisp, flawless, offensive, racist, and degrading. Associative words: offended, harsh, rude, good, quality. The most important associative words are: offended and harsh. The inner symbolism of this picture is intended to show the power and respect that the CEO business woman holds within her company. However, I believe this message is lost in the highly offensive manner the artist chooses to portray the message.

This is evident in the quality of the image. The image imitates recent modern photography produced for news and media stories. The message in the media itself is reminiscent of slavery and racism from over a hundred years ago. The image was probably produced using a professional digital camera and lighting equipment in a corporate office. The image has definitely been photo shopped to apply different lighting techniques and achieve clarity and optimal lighting. The image is of very high-quality and looks like the work of a professional. This is certainly a modern photograph, produced with modern and up-to-date technology.

The creator of this image is absolutely socially irresponsible; the image is highly offensive to African-Americans (and other minorities). The image fails to consider the feelings and reactions of the viewers via a blatant neglect to consider the past. Though the colors, pose, and overall quality of the image are stunning; the photographer loses all credibility in the message the image portrays. The image is unjustifiable in many ways. Even though the chair is obviously a mannequin, the message that the image sends is absolutely unacceptable. It causes unjustifiable harm by disrespecting African-American men and women.

The image was probably intended to reflect upon the power of the successful business woman who has worked her way to the top of the company. However, this is not how the image comes across. If the image was received the way it was intended, a viewer might feel proud of the women in our country who are now working, instead of homemakers. However, this image ultimately sends the insensitive message that our culture believes Caucasians is better than African-Americans, which I don't believe to be the case. Our culture embraces differences and is working toward a future together. Either way I look at it, this image sends messages of inequality in all the wrong ways. I think the quality of the image is wonderful, but the message the image sends is terrible and unacceptable. If the message was intended to show how powerful the modern successful business woman is, why have her sitting on another human being. I see this as callous. Even more callous, though, is that the woman is sitting on an African-American mannequin who has equal rights and opportunity to be successful. The image was created in the utmost poor taste. Though I commend The creator of this image is absolutely socially irresponsible; the image is highly offensive to African-Americans (and other minorities). The image fails to consider the feelings and reactions of the viewers via a blatant neglect to consider the past. Though the colors, pose, and overall quality of the image are stunning; the photographer loses all credibility in the message the image portrays. The image is unjustifiable in many ways. Even though the chair is obviously a mannequin, the message that the image sends is absolutely unacceptable. It causes unjustifiable harm by disrespecting African-American men and women.

The image was probably intended to reflect upon the power of the successful business woman who has worked her way to the top of the company. However, this is not how the image comes across. If the image was received the way it was intended, a viewer might feel proud of the women in our country who are now working, instead of homemakers. However, this image ultimately sends the insensitive message that our culture believes Caucasians is better than African-Americans, which I don't believe to be the case. Our culture embraces differences and is working toward a future together. Either way I look at it, this image sends messages of inequality in all the wrong ways. I think the quality of the image is wonderful, but the message the image sends is terrible and unacceptable. If the message was intended to show how powerful the modern successful business woman is, why have her sitting on another human being. I see this as callous. Even more callous, though, is that the woman is sitting on an African-American mannequin who has equal rights and opportunity to be successful. The image was created in the utmost poor taste. Though I commend the photographer on his skills in his profession, I think that the message of this image is in poor taste and not very well thought out.

Reference

“Abramovich's partner sits on 'black woman' chair on Martin Luther King Day”, extracted at 23 Jan 2013 from