IB Lit and Lang Blog 1: Atta girl, Atwood
Huie, Wing Y. Fourth of July, Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, MN. Digital image. Wingyounghuie. N.p., 1997-2000. Web. 20 Sept. 2018.
Atwood, Margaret, 1939-. The Handmaid's Tale. Toronto :McClelland and Stewart, 1985. Print.
This photograph, taken by Wing Young Huie, was taken somewhere between 1997 and 2000 at Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, MN. The picture is taken during Fourth of July, and therefore, has fireworks in the background. It is black and white and is taken far away, showing a lake with 3 people a couple yards away, and the fireworks on the other side of the lake. The people closer to the camera are alone, however, which could be how Huie depicts othering in this picture. It can be assumed that the fireworks were launched at a party or at an event with lots of people, and these 3 people are not included.
Both Margaret Atwood and Wing Young Huie present the concept of othering with color. In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood depicts the handmaid's dresses and clothes as red. This allows other people to know that they are a handmaid, and therefore are treated differently compared to everyone else. Meanwhile, in Huie's Fourth of July picture, it is taken in black and white, and the only people in it are the 3 people standing alone and watching the fireworks. The black and white could symbolize the loneliness of the 3. Their experiences are all dark and dreary because they are away from the rest of the event the fireworks are potentially being launched from. The differences between the 2 approaches, however, is that in Huie's work, the color representing the concept of othering is added as an addition to the finished product, meaning it wasn't originally there. In Atwood's book, the color red for the handmaid's clothing are there in real time, their clothes are actually red, it is not a manipulation of an image.
Atwood, Margaret, 1939-. The Handmaid's Tale. Toronto :McClelland and Stewart, 1985. Print.
This photograph, taken by Wing Young Huie, was taken somewhere between 1997 and 2000 at Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis, MN. The picture is taken during Fourth of July, and therefore, has fireworks in the background. It is black and white and is taken far away, showing a lake with 3 people a couple yards away, and the fireworks on the other side of the lake. The people closer to the camera are alone, however, which could be how Huie depicts othering in this picture. It can be assumed that the fireworks were launched at a party or at an event with lots of people, and these 3 people are not included.
Both Margaret Atwood and Wing Young Huie present the concept of othering with color. In The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood depicts the handmaid's dresses and clothes as red. This allows other people to know that they are a handmaid, and therefore are treated differently compared to everyone else. Meanwhile, in Huie's Fourth of July picture, it is taken in black and white, and the only people in it are the 3 people standing alone and watching the fireworks. The black and white could symbolize the loneliness of the 3. Their experiences are all dark and dreary because they are away from the rest of the event the fireworks are potentially being launched from. The differences between the 2 approaches, however, is that in Huie's work, the color representing the concept of othering is added as an addition to the finished product, meaning it wasn't originally there. In Atwood's book, the color red for the handmaid's clothing are there in real time, their clothes are actually red, it is not a manipulation of an image.
The statement that the three people are alone and are being left out has great insight, but it is not a very strong analysis. While I agree that they are likely not where the action may be taken place, I think you could have expanded on it more. I really like the contrast between the way Huie and Atwood depict othering as you stated that Huie is physically placing them outside while Atwood uses real time to convey to the reader that the Handmaids are different. Overall, you had a pretty good stance but you could have expanded and made the argument stronger.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the people are separated from the fireworks and may want to be apart of the celebration, but I disagree with your thoughts on how this event is related to color in The Handmaid’s Tale. I would have focused on the water and how it is a barrier preventing the people from reaching the fireworks. This is similar to how the handmaids are wanting to read, write, or own property as they had in their former lives. In relation to the photo the handmaids are the people on the shore, the societal rules are the body of water, and the fireworks are the wants of the handmaids.
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