TOW Post #9 (Visual): Day of the Dead

  Recently, the holiday El Dia de Los Muertos, the day of the dead, was celebrated throughout most Spanish-speaking countries. The meaning behind this holiday is to celebrate the lost loved ones who have unfortunately died. However, this holiday is viewed as a celebration; mourning and sadness is actually very offensive to the holiday's meaning. In the above picture, the photographer (unknown but picture was found on CNN) captures the simplistic yet meaningful celebration going on in Spain. The picture gives a tone-down effect to the audience while still maintaining the importance of celebrating the holiday. One of the strategies that allows the audience to feel this way is the simplistic viewpoint. In reality, this is a picture of a very hilly area in Spain with many alters and small establishments created throughout the area. Knowing how simply these people are celebrating while still cherishing their loved ones provides a new perspective for the audience. We are able to see how holidays really aren't all about the expensive décor or fancy events; a holiday can be celebrated simply by the basics. Another strategy that is effective in giving the tone-down effect is the use of small details. With a short glance, the photo looks pretty neutral, as far as colors go. However, the added pop of blue from the stands and yellow from the signs bring the whole picture together. The small addition of vibrant colors definitely helps to make the picture more alive rather than boring. The photographer used the details of the scene with the casual celebration of the holiday to create a piece in which the audience is able to see how simplistic a celebration can be. Looking at other photos from the celebration of El Dia de Los Muertos, they are definitely more towards the flashy décor side. Most of the pictures don't focus on anything serene or calm; it's all decorations, fireworks, gifts, etc. Therefore, aside from giving off such a tone-down effect, the picture also offers a different viewpoint on how the holiday is celebrated and enjoyed.