Visual Analysis of a Beuford Smith Photograph

A detailed Summary of Visual Analysis of a Beuford Smith Photograph

The piece which I will analyze was shot by Beuford Smith, and is titled These Colors Don't Run. It was taken in 1999 and is a silver gelatin print. It is displayed in Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery in the Schine Student Center at Syracuse University.

The issue at the heart of Smiths print appears to be race and racial tensions, as with many of the other works on display. However unlike some of the others it was not taken in the period during and before the sixties. Rather than this time, which we view as the era of racial change and the peak of racial tension in America, it was taken in 1999 a time were less attention is given to any remaining tension. Nor does the print depict an actual event which we view as a symbol of racial tension, like Million Man March in Washington D.C. and Three Placards, June 14, Anti-Apartheid Rally, Central Park, New York New York City. How exactly is Smith commenting on our current situation and what is he saying?

The print is done in black and white making one think that it was in fact taken during the civil rights movement. However this assumption is quickly found to be wrong as one investigates the boy's shirt which has the words Operation Desert Storm. By having viewers make this assump

tion and then find out that it is not so the color serves to emphasize that this is about a current issue. Also the black and white coloring makes it feel more like a factual documentation.

Visually Smith's print is full of symbols and allusions. It is with these techniques, as well as a carefully constructed mood, that Smith comments on our current state of racial equality. He points out the presence of and the harm done by invisible boundaries of segregation, prejudice, and unfairness. He highlights the changes that have been made and shows a confidence that more changes are in the future. The essential message of the piece is that we have come a long way but still have a way to go.

The woman is drinking coffee at the counter. She is fairly old, old enough to have seen changes in the treatment of minorities. She is old enough to have lived in a period when racism was more wide spread; she may possibly be racist herself. She has sun glasses on but the tilt of her head makes in feel as though she is looking at the boy through the window even though we can't actually tell. She is fairly harsh in appearance and is frowning. She can easily be viewed as a symbol of lingering racism. The two characters ages must also be taken into consideration; one representing the old and one the new.

The two focal points of the piece

Some common words found in the essay are:
Desert Storm, Harlem Renaissance, African American, Syracuse University, Visually Smith's, York City, Civil Rights, Don't Run, civil rights, rights movement, desert storm, civil rights movement, , Placards June, harlem renaissance, operation desert storm, black white, looking boy, makes feel, racial tension, invisible boundaries, colors don't run, african american,

Approximate Word count = 895
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Arts