The photograph, Flower Power, establishes ethos through the style of dress the two parties are sporting. The visual credibility of the hippie, George Edgerly Harris, comes from his casual, almost boring, turtleneck, loosely fitted, either for comfort or lack of care. His hair is long, a sign that he does not conform to the social norm of the time. The police, the antagonists of the situation, are well dressed, well trimmed, equal. They come off boring in their own way. We catch a glimpse of the other protesters together with Harris, and we can see that they are all wearing different clothing. They're seen curiously looking at the action Harris is performing, making it look like Harris is their leader.
Meanwhile in Aquarius Let the Sun Shine In, Rado and Ragni establish ethos with powerful lyrics calling to action. This creates an idea in the listener's mind that the song's writers are leaders. They have the power to tell everyone to sing, and the skill to teach the listeners to be happy.
Pointing out that Harris appears as a leader to the others is something I hadn't noticed, but since i read your post, it seems quite obvious. I was wondering if you were able to find more background information on Harris to contribute even more to his credibility. Was this his first protest? Or had he been involved with hippie movement for years?
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with your description of ethos in "Aquarius Let the Shine in," I feel like the ethos in "Flower Power" is much stronger. This is probably because I've heard the song before, and part of me has never really taken it seriously. With the photo, however, it's hard to argue with a photo of the military. I've never looked at ethos through clothing, but you make a very interesting point. Do you think Harris and the other protestors consciously used dress to establish ethos?
ReplyDelete-Natalia de Gravelles