This shift in authority starts with this image, in which two large hands are shown in tandem. In frame is a white and clean hand with a large jeweled ring on its finger, contrasted with a textured dark hand strangling it. The darker hand appears to belong to the working class, strangling the elitist hand of the jury, and the white other oppressors within the narrative. The perspective and placement of these two hands within the scene create a resemblance to actual human figures, suggesting a death of this oppression. The images following this one replace the large portrayal of the oppressors hands, with a growth in relative size of hands belonging to the working class. Through this repeating aesthetic and depiction of hands, authority and power hierarchies are reinforced throughout the progression of the story.
I think noting the size of the hands is a very interesting concept and could be taken in many different directions. Noting that the hands demonstrate authority and hierarchy while also symbolizing the solidarity of the masses is an important element of the text.
ReplyDeleteSomething that you could touch on with this particular image here is how the death of the oppressor could mean two different things. One, the death of the oppressor symbolizes a working class victory or conversely, this image could also be another means of perpetuating black violence as the black hand violently strangles the white hand. Since art is such an interpretable medium, touching on these two possible meanings could create an even deeper analysis to this already interesting topic!