Iconic Photographs Understanding meaning through symbolism and symbols that traverse generations.

ALL students should first have note taking paper READY before viewing this PowerPoint. Using proper MLA formatting title your paper as follows: YOUR NAME ACTIVITY 1.8b ____Period TODAY’S DATE Your FIRST Note: take a moment and write down what ever you think when you hear the word ICON. Consider: What is an ICON? Write a definition for this word

According to Merriam Webster ( ) an ICON is: A noun \ ˈ ī- ˌ kän\ computers : a small picture on a computer screen that represents a program or function : a person who is very successful and admired : a widely known symbol : a usually pictorial representation (ie: image) *You should write this down….*

AS YOU VIEW THE NEXT FEW IMAGES, Discuss and Determine: FOR WHAT REASON or WHY they may be ICONIC?

Timothy H. O’Sullivan Battle of Gettysburg This photograph has become synonymous with The Battle of Gettysburg, which was the most bloody battle of the American Civil War. Photographer Timothy H. O’Sullivan documented and recorded the battlefield, and this picture became a sensation. For many, this was their first chance to see, first hand, the true extent of the Civil War. However, it was not until 40 years after the battle that the pictures were mass produced, as photo-engraving had not been established. The picture shows dead confederate soldiers on the battlefield, and has earned its place in history as an iconic photograph.

Joe Rosenthal Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an historic photograph taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal. It depicts five United States Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman raising the flag of the United States atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. It became the only photograph to win the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year as its publication, and came to be regarded in the United States as one of the most significant and recognizable images of the war, and possibly the most reproduced photograph of all time.

Moon Landing Possibly the most talked-about, debated and controversial picture in history, the picture of the moon landing has been seen as a feat of human engineering at its best, and has been speculated as a hoax by contractors of the event. Those in doubt of the authenticity of the picture have come up with many suggestions as to why and how it might have been faked. However, none of the accusations have been proved correct and the debate continues in some circles. For many, though, it provides a sense of accomplishment and acheivement by the human race to send a man to the moon, which for years was considered an impossibility. The American flag also installs national pride in the US as the winners of the so-called ‘Space Race’, and their establishment as the world’s one remaining super power.

Richard Drew – The Falling Man “The Falling Man” is a photograph taken by Richard Drew at 9:41:15 a.m., on September 11, 2001 of a man falling from the World Trade Center during the September 11 attacks in New York City. The man in the photograph remains unknown. Many people find the image disturbing because it is a horrific image of what people had to resort to during the attacks. The picture is deceptive, however, as it suggest that man was falling straight down, however, this is just one of many photographs of his fall. It is evident from these other pictures that he tumbling out of control.

Tank Man – Jeff Widener Often considered the most iconic photograph in history, ‘tank man’ or ‘the unknown rebel’ shows an act of courage and defiance and earned the anonymous man widespread fame. It took place during the protests at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989, and has subsequently become a symbol of the end of the Cold War era, and one of the most famous photographs of the 20th century. Four people claim to have took photos of the event, but the most reproduced image, and the most famous was by Jeff Widener.

DISCUSS: WHY ARE THE FOLLOWING PICTURES ICONIC? ( Notes should reflect class Discussion )