Image Analysis

I was unable to find any images in the databases, however the image I found appears to be from a reliable source, as it is from an online gallery from the University of Wisconsin, and contains several of the images we looked at yesterday in class.The image is s spread celebrating the successful conquest of the capital of Ethiopia by Italy. All of the small dots in the center of the image are soldiers, with guns and tanks, looking very victorious. Together with the other parts of the image, the war theme is very celebrated, and fascist ideals are evident in the image. The door, which looks very heavy, possibly to symbolize the difficulties Italy has undergone in the aftermath of WWI, is being opened by an angel. The angel not only softens the picture, making the guns and violence suggested by the background less noticeable, but also serves to make the fight seem more noble, as if Italy is so rightful and their intent so pure that even the angels come down to Earth to aid them in their cause. In the background is a Greek or Roman temple (most likely Roman, as this IS Italy). Going back to the glory days... way back, that is. The Ro man Empire was so widespread and successful that anything Roman is automatically associated with glory, especially if you are living amongst the remains of their society, so the Temple in the top of the image serves to further justify the war. Upon close inspection, the soldiers lookr ather violent and modern, but because the human eye is naturally attracted to white your attention is drawn mainly to the angel and the temple, stressing goodness and success rather than simply violence.