Image Analysis: PTSD Military Soldier

Question 1

Source:

Answer 1

This image is from a blog discussing the ways Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome affects military personnel returning from service, specifically US soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Question 2

Rule of thirds:

Answer 2

soldier positioned at bottom of image with people towering over him, disempowered

Question 3

Salience

Answer 3

distressed soldier is main part of the image, viewers drawn to him first, therefore their immediate response to the image is based upon the soldier (feelings of sympathy created)

Question 4

Colour:

Answer 4

no brights, all dim colours such as navy blue, dark green, browns (provokes sadness)

Question 5

Ideas

Answer 5

Also challenges ideas of masculinity as it is not considered ‘masculine’ to show emotions or sadness as it can often be related with a sense of weakness. Can also challenge masculinity to show emotional support in the case of the other two figures within the image.