This piece of photojournalism is from 1930's America, a time
of real hardship for Americans especially blacks. The photo shows a line of
poor black people in a queue waiting for something, either food or a soup
kitchen etc. Behind them we see a large billboard showing the 'American Way'
which seems to show you have to be white to enjoy this way of life. Across the
top of the billboard it states; 'World’s highest Standard of Living'. This
again is declaring that if you are a white American you are going to live a
much better life than anyone else. Other denotations are; the wealthy white
people are happy compared to the poor black people and the white people have a
car and a pet. This photo is showing juxtaposition. It is showing the contrast
between the white people and black people, also it could be showing the
contrast between fantasy and reality of 1930’s America.
The connotation of this
photo is slightly different. The slogan on the billboard says ‘There is no way
like the American way’. So this is saying to be in the American way you must be
white. Because if you are white you will be; wealthier, happier, and have a
nice car. However the connotation of this billboard is showing the true reality
of 1930’s America. This was a time of racism and segregation, which is what the
juxtaposition is showing us. From my own knowledge, I would say that this
billboard could have been shown in southern states of America, because this is
where racism and segregation was at its highest and worst. For black people in
1930’s America times were bad without the addition of the depression and I think
this is what the photo is showing us. Certain
messages you get from this photo is the obvious slogans on the billboard; ‘World’s
Highest Standard of Living’ and ‘There’s no way like the American Way’. These
are the messages the billboard was used for, so it just gives the billboard
better anchorage.
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