‘The Falling Man’ is the title of a photograph taken by Richard Drew on September 11, 2001, during the attacks against the twin towers of the World Trade Center at 9:41:15 in the morning. In the picture we can see a man falling from the towers. By jumping he is most likely choosing a rapid and violent death instead of slowly dying of burns and smoke.
The publication of this document shortly after the attacks angered some sections of the American public. Most media refused to include this picture in their vehicles, preferring to show pictures depicting acts of heroism and sacrifice. Some people are attempting to discover the identity of the falling man.
The picture depicts the weakness and fragility of man.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"The picture depicts the weakness and fragility of man."
ReplyDeleteI understand that with art we are all able to interpret an image and give it our own meaning, but I have to say I wholly disagree with the above quotation from the end of your synopsis on this image. I think the photo shows a man exhibiting bravery in the face of adversity. This man had the courage to decide his fate. This man looked at this surroundings, weighed his options, and took a leap of faith. He did not sit idly by whilst flames consumed him (though there is NO fault in those who so chose that method of death when faced with the heart wrenching options) I'm sure the decision was hard, but I would never call him weak for that decision. There is absolutely NOTHING weak about jumping from a burning building. There is nothing weak about this man. There is nothing weak about the human spirit.. To the contrary, there is only anything bravery in this photo.
.. a bravery that I do hope you, and I, and the rest of mankind never has to face. That may sound naive, because tragedy will continue to happen, but naive or not it is the sincerest of wishes.