Empty Chairs

     

This image is related to gun control issues facing our country today.  The image is divided into two frames.  The one of the left is smaller than the one on the right.  Text is important in both images.  Without the text we would not get the same message. 

     There are two elements in the left frame, a man and text.  The man has his left hand outstretched is somewhat of an orator gesture, indicative of the fact that he is giving a speech or speaking to a crowd.      The text tells the view that he is a member or congress who supports the NRA and not gun new gun control legislation simply because he doesn’t want to lose his job. 

     The image on the right side of the frame has three elements.  The first is the same congressman from a side view, the second is four rows of empty classroom desks and the third is text on a sign on the wall in the background. The 20 empty desks and the text on the sign, which says “Newtown First Grade”, tells the viewer that this is representative of the Newtown, Connecticut first graders who lost their lives when a armed gunman stormed into their elementary school.

This image is meant to evoke emotion in the viewer.  It is not a cartoon, which is meant to be comedic.  It is meant to evoke emotions such as sadness and anger and to encourage the viewer to look at the consequences of our current gun laws in America. 

     Although the elements present in the image are all important, what is not present is the most important part of the image.  The empty rows of chairs take up not only the majority of the frame on the right but the majority of the entre image.  The missing children, those who lost their lives in a senseless act of violence, are the most important and most powerful element of this image.