The main thesis of this essay is to critically analyse two images from the contemporary mass media, in this case both images have been taken from broadsheet newspapers. References to certain topics will also be included, such as power, representation and ideology. Each image will be analysed in terms of the content, the qualities used, the composition and structure, the relationships between image and accompanying text as well as the relationship between image and current, recent and historical events. ‘A single image can serve a multitude of purposes, appear in a range of settings and mean different things to different people.’ The role of society connected with mass media will also be considered. ‘Through looking we negotiate social relationships and meanings.’

Image one is a black and white photograph that has a clear focused foreground and blurred background, (see appendix 1). The photograph was taken on the first of November 2003. The content of this photograph includes a coffin being carried down the street passing an example of graffiti with the letters ‘IRA’. It has an emotive and subjective moral high ground.

The hand on shoulder representing family support (the DAD ring dennotates family), the coffin is orderly and established and represents Catholisism (note the small crucifix at the front of the coffin) in contrast with the ‘IRA’ in the background, the ever-present and unofficial vandalism is intimidating even in just a photographic image. The composition and structure of the image is the coffin and coffin bearers in the foreground with the IRA graffiti in the background. The photographer was beside the funeral procession facing the vandalised wall; they would have deliberately picked this angle to add an ironic edge to the image due to the fact that the victim in the coffin was killed by the IRA thirty-one years previously. The image places the viewer next to the funeral procession witnessing the pain and suffering on the coffin bearer’s face. The image’s accompanying text is “Michael McConville helps carry the coffin of his mother Jean, to St Paul’s church in west Belfast at the weekend”, which explains to the viewer who is in the coffin that they are looking at. The relationships between the image and current, recent and historical events include all issues of terrorism war throughout the world and its history. The current issues that the corresponding article refers to are ‘With the Stormont elections on November 26 and Gerry Adams, the Sinn Féin president, pledging to lead republicans away from violence towards democracy, her funeral, at St Paul’s church on the Falls Road, was an embarrassing reminder of the IRAs evil deeds’ and ‘Monsignor Thomas Toner said: “In the his

Some topics in this essay:
, Jean McConville, Middle East, St Paul’s, George Bush, Thomas Toner, Sinn Féin, Falls Road, mass media, recent historical events, image current recent, recent historical, relationships image, historical events, image represents, composition structure, current recent historical, image current, current recent, accompanying text, american troops, historical events include, st paul’s church,