Miracle On Ice

This picture was taken after the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team won the gold medal in an upset victory against Finland. Known as the “Miracle On Ice” USA beat the Soviet Union, who were the returning champions from previous years, as well as Finland in the championship. Despite being the underdogs in both games team USA prevailed against all odds. In 1980, the United States were emerging from a troubled decade. The 1970s had been marked by a gruesome end to the Vietnam War, Watergate scandal, extremely high inflation, unemployment and energy crisis. Furthermore, the Soviets started the rebirth of the Cold War. Therefore, it was no surprise that the Miracle On Ice became known for “giving the country a reason to feel good again.” How do the players and fans facial expressions make you feel? How does this picture symbolize America?

This is a picture I took in my home town New Orleans, Louisiana.  As you stand on the corner of Burbon and Royal street in the french quarter you can see the St. Louis Cathedral.  In front of the Cathedral there is a statue of Jesus, and when the light shines on it just right you can see a giant shadow of Jesus on the church.  It has been amazing to see this in person so many times, but the picture captures it just as well.  After hurricane Katrina hit many areas and families, even some of my own family was left devastated and with absolutely nothing. New Orleans has come so far since Katrina and is not stopping any time soon.  The city and the people in it are so strong and have battled through so much.  This picture to me shows that God is watching over the city and of course all of us.  I truly believe everything happens for a reason and even though this was a horrible incident I think God is watching over us.  How do you view this picture? and what do you think this statue means?

Female circumcision is a tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years in some African and Middle Eastern countries. In this photo, this young girl is undergoing female genital mutilation. Several women take hold of her and open her legs wide. After separating her outer and inner lips, the operator, usually a woman experienced in this procedure, sits down facing the child. With her kitchen knife the operator first pierces and slices open the hood of the clitoris. Then she begins to cut it out. While another woman wipes off the blood with a rag, the operator digs with her sharp fingernail a hole the length of the clitoris to detach and pull out the organ. The little girl, held down by the women helpers, screams in extreme pain; but no one pays the slightest attention. The operator finishes this job by entirely pulling out the clitoris, cutting it to the bone with her knife. Her helpers again wipe off the spurting blood with a rag. The operator then removes the remaining flesh, digging with her finger to remove any remnant of the clitoris among the flowing blood. The neighbor women are then invited to plunge their fingers into the bloody hole to verify that every piece of the clitoris is removed. It is also done to demonstrate their virginity on their wedding night; and because "uncut" girls with the ability to enjoy love-making are considered more likely to be promiscuous, unhygienic, and prone to diseases such as Aids. In this age of political correctness, do Americans and other people have the right and authority to say this practice is barbaric and should be stopped?

This is Nate Robinson in the 2006 NBA Slam Dunk Competition. He is shown here dunking over the one time NBA Dunking Champion Spud Webb. Both players are known for their jumping ability despite their size (5.9 and 5.7 respectively).

Now that you know a little bit about this picture, how do you feel the athletes of today in all sports honor the past, while still setting a good example for the youth and future of the sport?

Eddie Anderson...

My photo is in "The Photo Book" on page 117. The photo was taken by Philip-Lorca DiCorcia. Be sure to read the caption.

Altough this photo is "somewhat staged", I thought the photo makes a impression. What do you think the photographer is trying to say with this photo? Why do you think that the man is looking into the window but not at the food?

Amanda and her cousin Amy, Valdese, North Carolina, 1990

This picture from "American Beauty, " a series by Mary Ellen Mark, shows two young cousins in a small wading pool. "Mark saw the young rebel smoking a cigarette in the wading pool as her mother watched. The girl defiantly blew smoke into the camera as Mark captured the moment." Notice how much older the girl with the cigarette looks than her cousin. What do you think Mark's purpose was in capturing this image? What do you think it says about life in America? Does it make you feel anything specific?


photo from:http://www.pcnw.org/facultyPages/maryEllenMark/memark01-big.jpg
quote from:http://influx.uoregon.edu/2004/html/mem.html

The United States of America

How does this picture portray the United States as both united and divided?