Contribution of Visualization to Storytelling: Holocaust Pictures - Essay Example

? In many cases, it can be observed that photos play a significant role in storytelling. They help the readers or viewers of a story to visualise a certain situation or to see events as they happen. This paper seeks to evaluate this assertion through an analysis of two photos portraying Adolf Hitler and the other Nazi officials and the other one showing camp prisoners. The holocaust is probably one of the most horrific events in world history which appeals to our emotions and difficult to believe at times. During the holocaust, the Nazis committed a lot of atrocities that caused untold suffering especially on the Jewish community. Some of the pictures taken during this period help us to visualize the real situation that took place during that period. The paper will compare and contrast two photos showing camp prisoners and Hitler and other Nazi officials. The main similarity between these photos is that they are based on the same historical event that caused horrific suffering to the Jews under the ruthless leadership of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party. The first portrait shows Hitler and the Nazi officials and it can be seen that these people mean business about the seriousness of the people portrayed in the photo. A glance of this photo shows that these Hitler was a cruel and ruthless leader. On the other hand, the other portrait shows camp prisoners packed like bags of cement in the cells. By any standard, it can be seen that these people are not happy at all. Both pictures show a tense and emotional scenario. Viewers of these photos are forced to imagine the extent to which this holocaust caused untold suffering to the civilians. The other similarity between these two pictures is that they were taken in black and white colour. These photos appeal to the people to visualise the period when these events took place. Our minds are taken down the line of history particularly the development of photography which started in black and white only during the early days. People who see these pictures are forced to imagine the kind of life that was led by different people during this period. People are also forced to visualise the major changes that have taken place with regards to photography from the time of Hitler to the current period that is characterised by digital photographs. Digital photographs are colourful and they are very clear compared to black and white photos. Though the pictures are based on the same historical event it can be seen that there are many differences than similarities. Hitler and his officials are dressed in their military attire. On the other hand, the photo showing camp prisoners tells a completely different story. The prisoners are depicted in a sorry state of nakedness since the greater parts of their bodies are not covered by anything. This picture shows that the prisoners were exposed to unbearable suffering by Hitler and his Nazi Party. One is forced to imagine how terrible the situation was by simply looking at the photo of the prisoners who look so sad. The prisoners were exposed to harsh conditions in the camps since they were forced to sleep on concrete slabs without blankets as shown in the photo. They were also packed in small compartments like dead bodies. A critical analysis of this photo shows that life was unbearable for these prisoners since they were exposed to very harsh conditions. This helps us to visualise the real situation that obtained on the ground during the period of the holocaust. The other difference in these photos is that Hitler and the Nazi officials look strong and healthy while on the other hand the camp prisoners look malnourished and underfed. A close look at these photos shows that life was tough especially among the prisoners since they could not get enough food to eat. As a result, some of the prisoners would die of hunger and malnutrition while in prison. We are forced to visualise how Hitler’s regime was ruthless to deny prisoners access to food. This kind of evil is unimaginable and it is very hard to believe. Therefore, these photos appeal to our emotions and we are forced to sympathise with the prisoners in particular who were expose to harsh conditions in prisons. On the other hand, we are also forced to condemn Hitler’s regime in strongest terms for causing great suffering to other human beings. For instance, it can be seen that the prisoners are very slim and this can be attributed to the aspect of malnutrition and hunger. The other striking difference between these two photos can be attributed to the aspect of race. It can be seen that Hitler and his officials share a lot of similarities to suggest that they belong to the same race while the picture of prisoners is quite different from the former. This element of differences in terms of race helps us imagine how bad the situation was especially with regards to ill treatment of the prisoners. During the period of the holocaust, it can be seen that racial segregation was rife and it was the major cause of conflicts in different regions across the globe. This element also appeals to our emotions with regards to the ill treatment of other people by virtue of belonging to a different race from the dominant groups. Over and above, it can be seen that photographs play a significant role in storytelling. They help the readers to visualise the events in the story as they happened though they may not have witnessed them directly. The two pictures below help to illustrate this assertion that pictures are very important in as far as story telling is concerned. Pictures also make the story vivid and it becomes easy to understand what the writer will be trying to communicate. Adolf Hitler & Nazi Officials Camp Prisoners Courtesy of USHMM photo archives USHMM photo archives Works cited Jennifer Roosenberg. 2013. ‘Holocaust pictures.’ . n.d. Web. 13 July 2013. Read More