Assignment #2

(Arraf Ahmed)

Significance of the Soldiers’ Equipment

This photograph was taken by a notable photographer named Luis Vasconcelos, on the outskirts of an area located in the Brazilian Amazon, called Manaus. This picture represents the force that was being administered towards the native people of the land. What had once been the natives’ land, is now privately-owned. The presence of authority is evident within this picture in several ways. One way in which authority is displayed is through the use of the dark shields by the soldiers. The fact that the shields cover the identities of the soldiers is significant to me because it represents the idea that the government is not willing to take responsibility for their actions. The government, in my opinion, always tries to undermine their own people without being held accountable.  I also found it surprising that the soldiers would exercise such force using shields and batons on unarmed civilians and children. This shows the effect that authority can have on some people, specifically the government. “Order” has become so twisted worldwide that disregard for ordinary civilians seems to be normal. This photograph shows how authority in the wrong hands can have negative side effects, and it brings to mind how the government is prioritizing its land over the safety of its common people.

(Katherine Laurencio)

Symbolization of the Woman and Child

Is it possible for the vulnerable to fight those with more power, when they are being wrongly dominated? Us human beings are born into a world that has become cruel. Those with authority will abuse their power. Even while facing the heavily armed soldiers head on, the mother continues to hold her child. Holding the child shows that there is no other safe place than the mother’s arms, because like their native land, her child could easily slip away. The government and privately owned business chose not to be considerate of those who are lower than them. This is shown clearly with the image of the powerless mother and child. Bare and unprotected, like the baby, people become tainted with greed and power. There is a stark contrast between the naked baby and the heavily protected soldiers. The ones who do not need protecting are protected.

(Alisha Alex)

The Power of the Government over the Civilians

There is a fine line between authority and authoritarianism, in which both exercise power. In this photograph, it is clear to see that the armed soldiers are pushing out anyone that is in their way. This also can symbolize how these armed soldiers are mindlessly following the government’s commands not even taking into account that the people they may step on along the way have done absolutely nothing wrong. This type of authority of the civilians is aimed at reducing freedom through methods of violence although these civilians are unarmed. The mother is completely unarmed and vulnerable carrying her child, yet the armed soldiers still see her as an obstacle they must overcome. The young child seems to be completely oblivious to the whole situation that’s occurring between the mother trying to save herself and her child from the soldiers power. This photograph could be argued as a form of authoritarianism as it is enforcing strict obedience to authority, neglecting the individual’s rights and liberties to the favor of the government’s wishes. This photograph displays the usage of fear of disorder that, “people react to fear, not love.” In my personal opinion, although I don’t agree with this method, it definitely is evident that fear produces reactions that the armed soldiers desire.