Carlos Figueroa

Ways of Knowing
May 16, 2015
Reading Journal 9
Image 9b and the Power of Images
Visual imagery is probably the most powerful technology humans are subjected to.
Because we rely on what we see so much throughout our lives, images can have a powerful
impact on our lives by making us feel certain emotions, persuading the way we think, calling us
to action, or simply drawing our attention to the subject of the image. Images are so impactful
because of how we draw meaning from them. We socially construct a meaning from images by
determining what the subjects and other aspects of the images symbolize to us. Often times the
observer can conclude that a work of art such as a movie, painting, or a photograph has no real
meaning, but in my opinion, that is merely their own personal interpretation or simply the result
of seeing versus looking.
It is one of mans inevitabilities that we will see, whether we choose to look or not is our
choice. Looking is paying attention to the complexities of what it is we are perceiving; noticing
texture, color palettes, perspective, setting, etc. in an image. By identifying how different parts of
the image are working to effect how we interpret the piece, we construct meaning from the
image.
Image 9b is a photograph taken by photographer Ana Mendieta in El Yaagul, Oaxaca,
Mexico and depicts a naked human body overwhelmed by a heap of flowers and other plant
wildlife. The flowers that blanket the human form in this photograph are white which has a
connotation of purity or innocence. The way the body is lying down; arms to the side and legs

together resembles a lifeless body, yet has a peacefulness or gracefulness to their death, because
of the simplicity of how they are lying down in such an orderly or calm manner. Another part of
the photo which reminds me of death is the stone walls which surround the body, resembling a
grave-like shape as the body seems to be inside the confines of the stone wall. The theme of
death is especially ironic because of the abundance of life which is sprouting from atop the
human body. The way the plant life overwhelms the body creates a sense of transparency
between the human and the plant life as if they are in fact one being, like the flowers have
permeated through the body, creating this effect of singularity between the human and the
flowers. This effect of singularity can relate back to the white of the flowers as depicting purity;
returning to a time where the relationship between man and nature was much closer. The fact that
the face is completely covered, leads me to believe that the face is not important and this body is
representative of all humans. Thus, portraying the relationship between man and nature.
The shape of the hips implies to me that the body belongs to a woman. The significance
of the body being a woman might add to the irony of death as women are the creators of life. The
whole image develops this relationship between humans and life, especially as we begin to
notice that on the human body is where there is mostly any plant life at all, the rocky
surroundings make me think of a cold, deathly space; where the body full of life is a rarity
amongst its surroundings. The theme of life and death seem to play off of each other and develop
a continuity of life after death, and portray the human body as a tool which has the ability to
nurture life even after death. It almost reminds me of how a body decomposes and as it breaks
down, the nutrients of the body are absorbed by the soil and other wildlife, yet there is a life like
aspect to the body as it still has skin. For some reason the quote that comes to my mind when I
view this image is his mind a soil deep and fertile. The analogy between the human mind and

soil seems to directly correlate with how the face is completely permeated by flowers and
wildlife.
Word Count: 699