Christmas Celebration of Life - Assignment Example

Picture Analysis Picture, page 10 The picture s back to the 1919. The picture belongs to an advertisement issue of the Navy. The advertisement aims at persuading people to join the navy and it offers them opportunities to join the navy and learn new things as well as see new thing in the Navy. The offer indicates that people will enjoy ample shore leaves for inland sights (Life Magazine 10). In addition, the advertisement assures its targeted populace that they will visit exotic places as well as get good jobs. The background of the picture includes a variety of objects as well as people. The people displayed in the picture are in their navy uniform and one is of female gender among them. Some men are in blue shorts and they seem to be operating the technology involved in the ship. A man and woman in navy uniform in the picture seem to be viewing something that interests them. The picture has some buildings in is background as well as an audience viewing two men in Navy uniform as one of them feeds an animal standing beside him (Life Magazine 10). In my opinion, the advertisement shows the targeted populace the variety of jobs they can get in the navy as well as the fun that they will experience while at their jobs in the navy. The navy offered such good opportunities back in the days. Joining the army was the easiest way for someone to travel to new and exotic places (Life Magazine 10). Currently, those who join the navy not only visit exotic places but also have the opportunity to acquire job training from all over the world. Those who qualify have the opportunity to choose from three hundred jobs ranging from computer technology and electronics to nuclear science and aviation mechanics. 2. Picture, page 25 The painting in the page titled Joys of Christmas dates back to 1965 when Georges de la Tour painted it in his native province of Lorraine, France (Life Magazine 25). The artist named the painting ‘The Newborn’ and people have regarded it as a sacred image since it displays the birth of Jesus. In the painting, Mary is holding her son Jesus alongside her mother, Ann (Life magazine 25). The expression they have on their faces display happiness and the way Mary holds her child shows the love a mother gives to her newborn child. The painting shows a holy scene and it has a black and white shade that shows the painting meant to express something that happened in the past. This reflects on the birth of Christ and the painting displays the joy the birth of Jesus brought as well as relevance to Christmas celebration. The painting displays the value of life and the goodwill that Christmas comes along with such as bringing family and friends together (Life Magazine 25). The picture means a lot to me since it exemplifies the birth of a child as a treasured life passage, which is also a theme for Christmas. The bonds created amongst family and friends on Christmas go beyond a day, a season and even beyond a special faith (Life Magazine 25). Christmas is a day put in place to celebrate the life of Jesus and over American traditional past, Americans have always observed and celebrated Christmas. 3. Picture, page 4 The page that displays the picture has the title, Give Americans whiskey. The picture displays American Christmas history and shows how Seagram’s 7-crown whiskey always accompanied the occasion (Life Magazine 4). As much as Americans served a variety of drinks during Christmas, they served the Seagram’s 7-crown whiskey brand more than any other brand during Christmas time. This was because of the great taste the whiskey had. It had consistent lightness and smoothness hence becoming the ultimate brand to many (Life Magazine 4). The background of the picture displays different people celebrating Christmas together. They are probably family and friends who have come together and there is an array of activities going on in the picture. The picture shows one couple happily reading a book and another couple holding one another as they chat. The picture also displays different groups of people chatting and there is another pair that seems to be doing some decorations. One common thing in the picture is that almost everybody is holding his or her glasses filled with whiskey (Life magazine 4). Whiskey bottles are as present on the table. This exemplifies how much whiskey used to grace Christmas occasions. Gift boxes are evident from the fact that the picture displays a lass holding one of them (Life magazine 4). Gift boxes also show that there is a lot of giving and receiving that accompanied Christmas. According to me, the picture means that a lot of joy accompanies Christmas and it creates long lasting bonds as well as many reconciliation and re unions. In addition, the long conversations and catching up seem more interesting when accompanied by the drinks. 4. Picture, page 29 The picture relates to Christmas 22 years ago from the publishing date of the magazine. The picture therefore dates back to1950. Christmas at that time brought mixed feelings of comfort, joy, and despair. Despite the celebrations, all that was in peoples mind was the happenings of South Korea (Life Magazine 29). The US marines were in South Korea. An unexpected onslaught of Chinese men in South Korea had tuned a victorious US advance towards the Yale River into a retreat that resembled a rout (Life Magazine 29). It was a monumental setback that the US troop had difficulties in getting over it. The setting of the painting is during South Korean winter. In its background, there is a hilly geographical terrain that has a snow covering. In the artwork by David Douglas Duncan, the marines who have put on warm attires to avoid the cold seem exhausted as they walk up a stiff ground. The marines are carrying heavy bag packs on their backs as well as guns (Life magazine 29). In front of them, there is a truck carrying their dead fellow troops. The picture points out the difficulties the navy experienced since despair is visible form their look and the fact that they have lost a number of their colleagues. The situation can be generally termed as a disaster. To me the picture displays a lot of selflessness in the troops. The struggles and efforts the soldiers go through for the sake of their fellow citizens. They must be strong-hearted individuals to see their friend’s dead but still manage to keep up with the uphill terrains as well as the unbearable winter in Korea. The marines deserve acknowledgment and honor. 5. Picture, page 45 The picture displays a chronicle of events that have taken place during Christmas day over years. It dates back to many years and shows that in the year 800, Charlemagne, King of the Franks and Lombard got the crown as Holy Roman Emperor in St. Peter’s (Life Magazine 45). The picture displays two men; they are dressed in royal ancient garments and the younger of the two who seems to be Charlemagne is ready to put on the crown. He is already comfortable on the Royal seat and the older man tries to put the crown on Charlemagne’s head. Another picture demonstrates that in the year 1190, there is winter in Sicily on the third crusade; Richard the Lionhearted throws numerous banquets with jeweled plates (Life Magazine 45). The picture indicates the proposed Richard on a boat and a woman who has stretched her hands in a manner to suggest that she is receiving the jewels Richard is throwing (Life Magazine 45) this indicates part of the Christmas theme that emphasizes giving and receiving. In 1645, riots erupted as means of protesting against a Puritanical parliamentary decree that demanded people to fast and observe pertinence during Christmas (Life magazine 45). In its background, the picture indicates a man with a sword that seems to be punishing people for drinking and eating on Christmas day. This is evident from the fact that the people being punished are lying down while holding mugs on their hands. According to me, this pictures show that Christmas was a day where people celebrated by eating and drinking what they liked and they could not accept the fasting decree on Christmas Day. Work Cited Joys of Christmas. Life Magazine, special double issue. Published by Time Inc. 15 Dec 1972. Assessed April 28, 2014. Read More