In the 1960s, the Gay Rights movement took a big step
forward beginning with the Stonewall Riots. After this event, the gay community
started to stand up for themselves and raise public awareness for the
oppression they faced. In the
photograph, gay people were storming the streets to encourage one another to
fight back and demand their rights. The
picture uses pathos to appeal to the emotion of its viewers. The main focal point of the picture is a huge
sign in all caps encouraging all people, especially gays to, “FIGHT BACK” and
“SMASH GAY OPPRESSION.” The people in this demonstration wanted people to get
mad and take a stand for their rights.
The protesters urged gay people to remember how they felt about the
Stonewall Raid and the discrimination they faced and use that anger to fuel
change. The people at the demonstration
carried the American flag upside down as a symbol of their opposition to the
current system. They are not
anti-American; they simply oppose the way that they are treated rights they
lack. By marching in the street, they
drew attention to their movement and caused a reaction
from every bystander. They gay community
wanted people to take their side and help change the way they are treated,
however, any reaction helped them. When
people are emotionally invested in an issue, it creates conversation and
awareness. By using pathos they gay
community was able to raise more awareness to the unfair way they were treated
and grow the Gay Rights Movement
Good analysis of the intent of the gay community in their post-Stonewall demonstrations. I think it would be helpful to look at HOW the photographer achieved pathos in his or her audience, however. For instance, I believe the upside-down flag is meant to shock patriotic Americans into paying attention to the movement, while the camera's straight-on shot of the banner highlights the emotionally charged words, "fight," "smash," and "oppression." Additionally, the angle showing the mass of supporters as a solid (stone) wall, if you will, conjures a feeling of solidarity between the viewers of the photo and its subjects.
ReplyDeleteThis was an excellent blog post. I think the only thing is that there could be a little more detail about how the demonstrations and pathos are related. Not a lot more, just maybe a sentence or two about relating the rallies and the emotions behind the people rallying.
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