#5IMAG061W AdvancedMethods journal Task Further Research

[jacquelinemulvaney]

Exploring the Image

27.9.20

Learning about different methods that I can use to study and analyses photographs has shown me that by using some of them or the appropriate ones  can help me to understand the photograph a whole lot more. By using a series of mythologies, it will help me to come to a conclusion in my research. Mythology is the systematic analysis of the methods applied to study. All photographs are produced with a context, photograph are now part of everyday life and photography creates an image that provides a record of an event, I then must make sense of it through a series of interpretations and investigations. I can use visual mythologies to interrupt and understand the images which then add another dimension by recognizing signs that the image is giving me. A photograph will only make sense if I can read it, by using a series of different mythologies I will be able interpret different layers of meaning by looking at it and taking account if different aspects of it. Depending on what the image is, will decide on what methods I think will be suitable for my needs. history could be a good way to start, by looking at the past it can help me understand the now. If the image is an old one, by understanding the history it could lead me into areas of discovery. Theory will make me think in new ways and semiotics will give me signs. However, meanings are not always fixed, and it is for me to work these things. I will first try to find out about the photographer, I will look at why the photograph was taken, how it was taken, what was its purpose, did it achieve its purpose, what were the thoughts behind its composition and construction. by looking at all of this in a methodical way it will help me to understand and come a conclusion as to what I think about the image. 

       This image was taken in June 1963, of Vietnamese Mahayana  Buddhist monk Thich Duc who burned himself to death to show that to fight all forms of oppression on equal terms, Buddhism needed its martyrs. The photograph was taken by Melcolm Brown of the Associated press. Reporters were informed the day before (10th June 1963) that something important was going to happen. Most reporters ignored the message as the Buddhist crisis had been on going. Browne turned up along with David Halberstam of the New York Times. 350 monks and nuns walked the streets defiieing the government by flying their flags, they were fired at killing 9 of the protesters. Duc got out of a car, with two other monks, one of them placed a cushion on the road and Duc sat on the cushion in the Buddhist meditative lotus position while his colleague poured the petrol from a five gallon can over him. Duc rotated a string of wooden prayer beads while reciting a homage to Buddha, he the struck a match and dropped it on himself. As the flames took hold a monk on a microphone repeated in English a Vietnamese ‘A Buddhist priest burns himself to death, A baddest priest becomes a martyr’. John.F. Kennedy said in reference to a photos he saw ‘No news has generated so much emotion around the world as that one.