war photographer Flashcards
context
vietnam war, criticises how impact of war photography is depleting, not an establishment poet, has affinity for those whose occupations capture and crystallised emotions
“belfast. beirut. phnom penh. all flesh is grass”
biblical reference, extended dichotomy, semantic field of religion. harshly juxtaposes rhetoric of war, photographers role is ceremonial, exposes hypocrisy fo western world who claim to have christian values
“with spools of suffering set out in orders rows”
sibilants: agonies silenced, reminiscent of whispers or shushes, metaphorical imagery of war graves, paradoxical that chaotic suffering is in order, placated in western world eyes
“ a half-formed ghost”
detection of body ravaged by war, allusion ti faint, developing image, “ghost” ominous & harrowing connotations, suffering never becomes real for westerners as it is distant
“a hundred agonies in black and white”
metonym for photos, juxtaposition between western views & photographers, humans aren’t learning form past, emotive language, excruciating pain & suffering
form
equal stands length, regular rhyme, reinforces order imposed over war chaos, rigid structure shows photographers failure to change audience perspective, enjambment links to gradual imagery reveal
structure
cyclical, returns via aeroplane to war zone, cycle of war, detaches photographer alienated in the sky, cannot assimilate with those his original country, internal conflict
comparison: poppies
theme: perspective of those outside war, memory, affected by prospect of war
form: P- dramatic monologue, stream of emotions, raw WP- lack of regular rhythm, unfiltered
comparison: remains
theme: trauma with war, relentless & haunting, graphic horror never leaves. R- ex soldier WP- observer
form: regular stanza lengths, present tense R- dramatic monologue, unfinished WP- stanzaic
structure: caesura to depict separation from war zone R-no regular rhyme, PTSD WP- war chaos
