Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Rhetorical Situation of the Guitar Battle
This picture depicts two guitarists dueling it out at Woodstock. But, there is something about these guitarists that makes this picture important: their race. The 60s were filled with social change and, although conditions for African Americas were improving, they were still not completely equal in the eyes of many. At the time of the picture, the hippy movement is going strong and the hippies are participating in Woodstock, the epitome of "hippiness". The hippies are a very laid-back people who are very loving and peaceful. They, personally, had very little (if any) prejudice. Because of this lifestyle, they pioneered many movements, including the civil rights movement. This background created the situation in which this picture could be taken, where two guitarists are seen as equals, playing in front of thousands of people.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Interesting. If race was irrelevant to hippies though this photo would have been unremarkable. Doesn't this photo also say something about the racism that preceded this time? Isn't that part of the rhetorical situation?
ReplyDeleteAlthough it was not that important to the hippies, the masses were still slightly (or maybe more then slightly) racist, giving this photo importance.
ReplyDeleteI'm not american and don't know much about hippies. In that, I'm looking forward to learn about this movement from your blog. It definitely sounds interesting. The picture is very attention grabbing, i'm intrigued to know what was happening to create such intense expression of passion(implied by their facial expressions). So many questions, only one blog. bring it on
ReplyDeleteI too agree with the race comment, in that the message of the picture loses some validity if that were the case. But at the same time, maybe a zoomed out version of the picture could portray what is being said better? Maybe one that showed the reaction of the audience (if possible).
ReplyDelete