Now try the same activity with this photo which comes from an effort to combat another instance of what many see as an unjust law. In 2011, the Wisconsin legislature considered (and ultimately passed) a law that stripped state employees of their right to collective bargaining. In other words, the law limited employees’ rights. The right to bargain collectively was officially endorsed by the federal government in 1935, with passage of the Wagner Act, so the Wisconsin legislation led to large-scale protests in the state capital. You can read about the protests here.
- How do you describe the person in the photo?
- Why do you think he is holding a skull?
- What is covering his mouth? Why do you think his mouth is covered that way?
- Does the photograph make you feel sympathetic to the person and his cause? Why or why not?
Now try the cropping activity:
How would cropping the photo in different ways change your feelings about the man and the injustice he is protesting? Since this photo is just of one person, imagine that this person is among the people in a group shot, similar to the Prop 8 photo. How would his placement in such a photo affect you as a viewer? Would it show the protests in a more positive light? A more negative light? Neither? Why do you think so?
HW: REDA/LOG/POST IT
