The placement of Ella in front of the flag with obvious distance between her and the flag portrays a sense of isolation from this iconic symbol. The "American dream" of freedom and equality is demonstrated as just that, a dream. Ella is represented as unhappy and stiff, the cleaning tools surrounding her, almost hiding her, or better yet, allowing her to appear as just another object to be used as a means to some other end symbolizes the reality of a black woman in the 40's. At first glance, the subject almost appears to be fading into the flag being lost between the lines. Ella worked nights, which could be speculated that the employers may not have wanted her seen in a public space during business hours. Overall this photo captures a dichotomy of both the victim and survivor of racism and segregation, showing the strength of perseverance to overcome and work with the given in order to sustain life.
In this photo Ella doesn't look particularly pleased. She has a stern expression on her face and she seems stiff and uninterested. I think even without knowing the background on this photo you can that she isn't happy. Ella had applied to work at the office and was given the janitorial position instead. The position she applied for was given to a white woman instead. As is pointed out Ella is standing far away from the American flag indicating that for her the American Dream, is just that, a dream. Although in black and white all of the colors of this photo seem to blend together and instead of Ella looking like the focus she almost turns into another object much like the ones she is holding. I agree that she is fading into the American flag behind her and this compares to her fading into her job at the office. She was but on the nighttime cleaning service, away from the peoples view. You can see the pain and nonhuman heir of this photo, Ella almost turns into just another disposable object instead of a human being.
ReplyDeleteGreat job on this analysis, James. I like how you highlight the distance between Ella and the flag, critiquing the fact that many do not view her as a citizen and should. Your analysis suggest that although she falls under its shadow, she does not reap any of the benefits of that, but instead is marked invisible, as Ashleigh comments.
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