1. All Media are Constructions
This photo was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt and it was his mission to capture a story telling moment. Following shortly after the war he could have focused his photography on all the pain but he made the choice to capture joy and love instead.
2. The Media construct a version of reality
The meaning captured in this photo is raw emotion and a loving moment between a couple. In reality though, this photo isn’t a couple at all but a sailor kissing a near by nurse. Although there are different realities surrounding this photo, they all spark feelings of emotion, joy and love.
3. Audiences negotiate meaning in media messages
People can view this photo differently based on their own personal views. Due to the sailor not asking consent from the nurse and just kissing her some may view this as sexual assault rather than a spontaneous moment.
4. Media have commercial implications
Although I could not find much information on the money aspect of the photo, I can assume it was a factor. The photographer was hired by LIFE magazine, so he was making money off of this photo and the others he took for the company.
5. The media contain ideological and value messages
This photo shows a lot about the lifestyle of the individuals at the time. The man wearing his sailor uniform shows that many were still in hard professions following the war. The women also wearing a nurse uniform can allow the audience to assume she had a role in the war. You can also see that love and relationships were regarded highly because everyone in the background is happy for the young pair kissing.
6. The media have social and political implications
This photo really lifted peoples spirits. After the war being so hard and loosing many people, society was desperate to focus on more positive subject matter. This spontaneous kiss in the street became a cultural icon and was represented as a victory celebration from the war.
7. Form and Content are closely related
This photo could have turned out differently for many reasons. A main one I can think of is if the nurse was not into the soldiers advances and for example pushed him away the photo would have a very different meaning than it does.
8. Each medium has its own unique aesthetic form
I appreciate how this photo truly captures a moment in time. The people in the background are slightly in motion but the couple is stopped in place, as if fate. Also how the woman is truly swept back and the passion seen from the kiss also adds to the overall impact this photo had.
Photography Blog 2022 