Cultural Convention

Description

This photograph was captured by ISB student Beam Lertbunnaphongs titled "This is Because of YOU". Within this photo, a person is gaping with his mouth wide open under a clinging sheet of plastic. Immediately, the red colouration of the image stands out at you, emitting a sense of danger, pain, and anger. The image also contains contrasting shapes as the round oval of the person's mouth contradicts the stretched out lines of plastic, adding more dimension to the image and exemplifying the tightness of the plastic. The crinkly texture of the plastic also creates visually interesting shapes and lines that draw your attention across the image. Overall, the theme of pain stands out with the choice of colour, expression, and use of plastic.   

Analysis

To me, the bright red element in the photo greatly sets the mood of it by immediately giving the viewer a sense of urgency, reminding them of ambulances and sirens. Additionally, the different shades of red within it help unify the image while simultaneously ensuring that the image remains engaging and varied. Playing around with the usage of shadows, particularly in the face to morph features like the eyes and nose into darkness, helps draw the viewer's eye directly to the screaming mouth. Furthermore, the dark background ensures that there is nothing distracting in the image and that the spotlight is completely and entirely on the subject of the image. By forming a sort of dance with the red shades and varying shadows, the photograph has an abstract feel to it like there is an underlying, implied darker theme beneath it. 

Interpretation

I believe that the message the artist portrayed had to do with suffocating under the pressure of your problems. To me, the plastic could represent a number of issues we face in our world whether that be betrayal from certain friends, academic pressure from parents, peer pressure, or simply the weight of society's problems slowly choking us. The pain of the person in this image is apparent and in a sense, I feel like I can affiliate with him and understand how daunting the future and stressful living in the present can be. I feel like the reasoning behind this photographer's choices to capture this image was to showcase to us the immensity the effects of pressure can have on us, to the point where we feel like we are suffocating. Perhaps, the purpose was to then incentivize and urge people to support others or to explain to some that they are not alone in feeling the pressure in this world. 

Judgement 

I think that this work has intrinsic value for several reasons. To begin with, the originality and uniqueness of the photograph helps draw the viewer in and overall, makes it an interesting piece of art. Additionally, because this photograph is expressionistic with an exaggerated expression of pain, the tone of the image is clear and dramatic. Because of these emotions, a message on how all consuming and suffocating the issues in society can be is portrayed, either helping call people to action or reminding others that they aren't alone. Thus, I find this piece valuable and insightful.