Here is the link to my presentation: Way of Life
My visual argument is essentially a juxtaposition of images of American consumerism and third-world poverty. By framing this juxtaposition within symbols of American values (the flag, the Statue of Liberty, and the dollar bill) I create this claim: Those with excess wealth should abandon the pursuit of status symbols and instead donate their extra money to those in absolute poverty.
I create this claim by starting with an image of the Statue of Liberty standing below the American flag. Having just read the title, “Way of Life”, the viewer (hopefully) feels pride and enthusiasm when confronted with these common symbols of our values. In the next slide, the presentation “zooms in,” revealing a hundred dollar bill. In following the previous image, the viewer then realizes that the hundred dollar bill is being connected with our more virtuous values (as represented by the flag and statue). This will somewhat dampen the sense of pride instilled by the first image, and serves as framing for the following barrage of images. Following the dollar bill, the viewer sees in succession, an iPhone, a Bugatti (one of the world’s most expensive cars), and a house in Los Angeles valued at $150 million. These increasingly extravagant symbols of status and excess wealth should bring slight feelings of resentment and agitation (in those who don’t pursue such symbols) and guilt or pride (depending on how shameless the viewer’s pursuit of excess wealth is). The images are configured such that the viewer experiences the string of status symbols in an upward arch that twists clockwise, making clear that these images indicate a progression toward more and more extravagant and unnecessary possessions. By the last image, a level of wealth is represented that the viewer will likely never attain, strengthening feelings of aggravation and outrage.
The spatial configuration then changes, with the next image reversing the clockwise progression and breaking from the arch. This serves to punctuate the already astronomical difference between the $150 million house and the tent which a homeless South American woman is using to shelter her child. After seeing the progression of excess wealth juxtaposed with the absolutely impoverished woman and child in the tent, this image invokes revulsion and contempt, aimed (again, hopefully) at the people who waste money on extremely superficial luxuries while others around the world are without real shelter. The next image is somewhat disturbing (and, consequently, I have it scaled down so that it doesn’t draw such an excess of disgust that the viewer feels desensitized, or shell-shocked, and rejects the argument). It depicts a child afflicted with Noma, an exacerbated, gangrenous facial ulcer. This increases the tension from the previous image, invoking torment, revulsion, and outrage. These emotions are punctuated again by an image of a malnourished African orphan. This is followed by another image of a bill; now a single dollar. This reminds the viewer of the images of status and wealth, suggesting that the kind of resources needed to better the lives of the people in the last three images is several orders of magnitude lower than the kind available to the extremely affluent. This suggestion is explicated by the text, a quote from Australian philosopher Peter Singer, which states that “The problem is not that the world cannot produce enough to feed and shelter its people… [but] is merely one of distribution.” The mention of resource distribution and the slight value of the dollar offer hope to the viewer, indicating that they can redeem (or exclude) themselves from our unsavory selfishness when it comes to wealth. By suggesting that the problem is solvable, the final image and quote invoke compassion, eagerness and optimism.
The presentation as a whole is designed to create guilt that can only be resolved by embracing charity and the sense of hope and compassion that comes with it. By being forced to recognize, in quick succession, both the desolation of absolute poverty and the greed of absolute affluence, the viewer is forced to either maintain their love of money and status symbols (and continue to suffer the guilt and shame) or recognize that they can make a difference (and embrace the hope and compassion).
I seek a change in attitude that should inevitably lead to a change in behavior. By suggesting that our pursuit of these material goods is shameful in reflection of the poverty that exists in our world, I hope that the viewer will adopt an attitude that material wealth and status symbols should be subordinated to the needless suffering and starvation of millions. The behaviors that will follow from this, if it is truly achieved, should include considering a donation to charity, and abandoning pursuit of wealth for the sake of status or greed alone.
Photo Credits:
1. American Flag:
2. One Hundred Dollar Bill:
3. iPhone:
4. Bugatti
5. USA’s most expensive house
6. Homeless in central America
7. Starving in Sudan:
8. Child with Noma
9. Dollar Bill
a. http://www.marshu.com/articles/presidents-on-us-united-states-paper-bills-currency.php
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