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Ella Beth Southall

Professor Padgett
ENG 101
October 19, 2015
Destruction and Creation
The photo series, Children at Play During Wartime, captures images that
display children playing in war zones, forcing them to overcome the destruction of their
elders. Through no fault of their own, the children live in a reality of unrest and
destruction. The generations that currently affect decisions of war and peace are building
a corrupt and broken world for children. Using strong photographic elements and
principles, Children at Play During Wartime creates an effective, visceral series of
images. Children are the image of innocence and naivety, but are brought into reality with
war and destruction. Children at Play During Wartime asserts that though the children
are not at fault for their reality, they have to live in their leaders destruction. Children at
Play During Wartime, establishes images of the broken world, which displays the
innocence and resilience of children and the human mind, while creating a symbol of
destruction and creation.
Children at Play During Wartime uses pictorial elements and principles to
create more emotional and striking images. In the seventh image, children play on a
carousel that lies among trash and rubble. The photograph was taken in Syria after
bombings destroyed major parts of the city of Aleppo. The children continue to play on
the carousel, not noticing the rubble and destruction around them. Through color, the

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carousel contrasts with the dull debris that surrounds the object. The carousels bright
blues, ruby reds, and stark whites, stands out against the light greys and browns. The
carousel is aligned in the center front of the image, taking up the frontal space. The
frontal alignment of the carousel represents its importance. In the image, the first object
the viewer notices is the carousel, which makes the viewer only see the children playing.
The rubble is in the background and is not immediately noticed. Similar to the children
the viewer does not see the trash, but the fun. The carousel itself is a representation of
childhood fun and enjoyment, which contrasts with the ideas of destruction displayed in
the debris. Though seeming to stand away from the rubble, the carousel is in close
proximity to the waste. The childrens proximity to the waste suggests their closeness to
destruction, but their clear divide between the two represents the childrens ability to
disregard the trash and focus on the enjoyment. This image shows the resilience of
children and their ability to focus on the fun and enjoyment, over the destruction around
them. This shows that the photo essay is attempting to communicate that people need to
focus on the good around them, not emphasize on the bad.
The photo series, Children at Play During Wartime addresses the need for a
better world for children to grow in. The images create the idea that children represent
humanity and their resilience, which inspires the viewer to help create a better reality.
The sixteenth picture shows the desperate human attempt to assist and change the world
and reality. In this image, three girls are playing hospital among the war around them.
This image was taken in London during World War II, showing the timeless effort to
change and help the world. The lack of color in the image represents the dreadful and

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bleak situation around them, which creates a much more moving photo. This image is
very chaotic with very little empty space. The clutter around the girls is in close
proximity, showing their risk in playing in the dangerous destruction. The chaos in the
image represents the very real threat they live in. There is very little alignment, creating a
more unsettling image. The girls are in the forefront of the image, showing their
importance to the image. Their actions mimic the actions of those around them, showing
the viewer that they have seen nurses attempting to save people. The children are
attempting to help the war effort or practice for the future. The childrens reality is
dangerous, but they continue to persevere in hopes for a better future. Their efforts in the
image show the strength of the human character. The photo essay, Children at Play
During Wartime, is endeavouring to demonstrate the resilience and durability of
humankind.
The photo essay, Children at Play During Wartime, displays the flexibility and
perseverance. The tenth image in the series shows the resilience and adaptive
characteristics of humans. This photo was taken after a bombing in London during World
War II. In the photo, children create a makeshift swing set out of a broken street light and
rope. The spontaneous swing shows the children's effort to adapt to their current situation.
The swing set shows their resolve to persevere. The lines of the rope draw attention to the
children, who are smiling and having fun among the debris. The attention on the children
shows their attitude of hope in the time of war. The children stand in the forefront of the
image, which focus the viewers attention to them and their impromptu swing. Their
frontal position suggests that hope and strength will overcome any damage

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in the background. The lack of color in the image shows the dreadful and bleak situation
around them, which contrasts with their attitudes. Bomb destroyed everyday situations,
which similar to the image stripped the color from life. The space is chaotic in this image,
which represents the chaos in the time period. There is very little gridded alignment or
organization, making the space very disorienting. The chaos in the image creates an
overall feeling of worry and nervousness. This image creates the idea of human resilience
and hope, while children create and play in an otherwise dreary situation. The children in
this image strengthen the photo series as a piece by communicating the importance of
perseverance.
The photo series, Children at Play During Wartime, creates images that show
children playing in destruction, displaying their resilience, determination, and hope. Even
though they are not responsible, they are faced with a reality of destruction. The
generations in charge now have chosen to create chaos, which the children have to grow
up in. Through its strong photographic elements and principles, Children at play During
Wartime is a moving and visceral photo series. Children, who are the image of
innocence, are put in these images of destruction, which seems unnatural and unhealthy.
While living without knowing anything else, the children persevere in hopes of a better
future. The children live in a constant reality of unrest. Children at Play During
Wartime shows that through no decisions of their own, they have to live with the
incidents and destructions of others. Children at Play During Wartime addresses the
very real issue of children being forced into an unsure reality and their resilience in life.

Work Cited
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/19/children-war-photos_n_6904678.html
Robins-Early, Nick. 17 Haunting Historical Photos Of Children At Play During
Wartime. The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post.com, n.d. Web. 19 Oct.
2015.