Kikerpill 1 Jonny Kikerpill Mr.

Peterson ENGL- 1101 23 November 2013 Rhetorical Analysis For my rhetorical analysis I am reviewing the famous picture: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. This portrays a very historic moment in time and is still capturing the hearts of Americans today. The picture was taken on February 23rd 1945 during World War II. The Americans were trying to overtake all the islands in order to defeat Japan. The flag was raised on Mt. Suribachi, which was very important for the war. The picture is shown below:

The fact that it takes part in history means that it appeals to logos. WWII was a very memorable war that has been brought to attention by all Americans. The citizens at that time did not have the same resources that we do today to get the news, so this picture was a very effective way in communicating what was going on during the

Kikerpill 2 war. It is a logical setting for the picture to be taken in that offers more credibility or ethos to the author. The author, or in this case, photographer Joe Rosenthal won the Pulitzer Prize for this iconic photograph. The award establishes ethos, which is a very persuasive technique to capture the audiences attention. The Pulitzer Prize is given out in different categories but Joe Rosenthal won it for photography. There is only one given out to each category so it gives credibility to him as the author. The photo was reproduced throughout America because it showed patriotism and gave hope for all Americans. The picture gives many impressions but the one that stuck out to me the most was struggle. It shows U.S. Marines putting it up after struggling to capture the island. It appeals to pathos due to the symbolism of unity, which we can relate to the country as a whole. The soldiers are putting it up together. This adds to the sense of unity, because it is not the effort of one man. The audience was the citizens of America, which includes the soldiers and average Americans as well. They looked at the picture as a paradigm of hope and mindset that we can accomplish anything as a country. The picture is famous for the effect of unity that it exhibits, through the joint effort of resurrecting our nations flag. The picture uses pathos with black and white. It gives it a tone of struggle, but ultimately perseverance through struggle. It adds depth to the historical context and a serious mood. It is not a picture to be taken advantage of. It implies for the audience to offer respect to the soldiers that died and endured for the goal of freedom. The picture is taken in the process of erecting the flag instead of the flag already standing because this action represents the struggles of our country. I think

Kikerpill 3 that makes it more relevant to us because there are still struggles our country is enduring today. The colors of black and white create a vintage atmosphere enveloped in the tragedies and successes of war. It separates it from the rest of what society would look like. The obvious parts of the picture that allude to the war such as the army clothing, the battlefield, and the debris reiterate the reoccurring message of the struggles faced during the war. More factors that contribute to this tone are the shrapnel on the ground and the cloud-filled sky. The fact that the ground does not look like a solid foundation makes it more of a struggle. The clouds that fill the sky symbolize the lifeless setting that seems to be overbearing the soldiers. I think the photographer is giving praise to the soldiers in the picture. He could have focused on the flag itself, but instead, he takes it with the soldiers being the focal point of the picture. The soldiers were recognized for their action, especially the ones that died shortly thereafter. I think this adds praise to them as well. He is appealing to the audiences values of honor, loyalty, respect, and patriotism. This picture assumes a love for its country and offers an example that should be followed by soldiers and American citizens altogether. I think that is why it was so popular at the time. The at home American may have looked for some hope through the war because they were afraid. I think this picture offered a sense of security that we were doing fine as a country in the war. It brings me back to the point of hope. I think it brought hope to many U.S. citizens whether in the war or not because it symbolizes the start of our victory over Japan.

Kikerpill 4 The stereotype of the American soldier in this picture is brave. Getting it out to the public may even be a way of advertising to everyone else. It serves as a promotion to the U.S. army. The average person can see the brave soldiers and think: If they can do something so important for our country with such bravery, I should too. The emotional appeal may have even caused a sense of guilt to the citizen not in the war. I think the picture brought more men and women into the army for feeling bad that they were not contributing to help fight for their country. In relation to the praise Joe Rosenthal gave the soldiers, I think he is defending our position as a country too. I think the picture suggests that we are not incapable of or afraid to stand up for what we think is right. The effect it has on us could be used against opposing countries too. If Japan saw this picture during the war it may have brought uneasiness to them. I think that was another intention the photographer was trying to promote. Knowing we won at the end of the war is also iconic and relevant to the picture. It would have had a different meaning if we lost. The fact that we won gives even more persuasion to the audience because the struggles of the soldiers paid off. It is a picture assuming they were going to win the war. This is a good mindset to have as a nation. We should be brave and go into war knowing we will win. That is one thing the audience is taking from the picture. Even the audience today (us) is aware of the meaning behind this picture. There are many memorials and statues placed around the world representing this picture as a symbol of freedom in our country. The flag that was raised that day is still preserved and shown in a museum today because it is so iconic in America. This adds to the appeal of the picture. The

Kikerpill 5 fact that there are so many memorials or replicas today is because the photographer made such an impact on his audience. All the rhetorical elements work in unison to relay the message to the audience. The tone is used with pathos because the mood gives it an emotional setting. The historical offers logos and the Pulitzer Prize offers credibility or ethos. Overall, each element succeeds in persuasion and making an impact.

Kikerpill 6 Works Cited Marines Raise the Flag on Mt. Suribachi. History.com. A&E Television Networks, 1996-2013. Web. 23 November 2013. http://www.history.com/this-day-inhistory/marines-raise-the-flag-on-mt-suribachi