Flower Power Stasis Theory
The counterculture movement involved an emphasis on
peace, love, and end to war among other things. As the first televised war, the
Vietnam War shocked and horrified people across the country. This picture
entitled Flower Power depicts an antiwar protest held at the Pentagon. As in
many protest, law enforcement, in this case the National Guard, is called in to
subdue or get rid of protesters. This is usually the beginning of how protests
become massacres. However, the protesters’ response is not the typical one.
Instead of responding to force with violence, they reinforce the reason they
are there, to promote peace. This idea of peace was not deemed important enough
for newspaper. The photograph received recognition after the photographer,
Bernie Boston, entered it in contests.
I think it's interesting how this image wasn't captured in newspapers at the time because it promoted peace. I guess it makes sense because lack of action rarely sells papers. Though still, such a variation in attitude of protesters during wartime compared to those who condoned the war should have been somewhat newsworthy.
ReplyDelete-Tylar
Similar to what Tylar said, I also find it interesting that the photograph didn't originally get recognition due to it's promotion of peace. I think captures the national attitude towards the counterculture/ anti-war movement of the 1960s, which was overall a negative one. I'd imagine for a country trying to promote a patriotic, "Support our Troops" kind of agenda, an image of someone defying the military would not be one they'd want to publish. You mentioned the photograph really received recognition only once instigated by the photographer. Do you think this was due simply to the shock factor, or did it really impact people's attitudes towards those involved in the counterculture movement?
ReplyDelete-Natalia de Gravelles
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree again, the backstory of this image is interesting and one I never knew of before. I think mentioning what could have been, the possibility of this protest turning into a massacre, but instead becoming a peaceful demonstration that no one will now forget, has a truly powerful impact on the significance of this picture. The fact that it wasn't shown in newspapers shocked me at first, but it does make sense, as they were and are supported by capitalists and showing an example of peace wouldn't sell as many papers as would an article or photograph demonizing those "anti-American, crazed hippies." Lovely post
ReplyDelete-Danielle