This image is one of the most iconic photographs of all time, and depicts one man facing down a line of huge tanks in Tiananmen Square in Beijing on June 5, 1989, the day after the Chinese Government’s violent crackdown on the Tiananmen protests.
The main subject of the image is the man, and because he is so far away from the camera we can make out very little about him. This works in the photo’s favour, as it tells us that he could be anyone, and that anyone has the potential to be him. The most striking thing about the image is the sheer size and amount of military vehicles in front of the man, and his defiance by not moving out of the way is a powerful visual metaphor for people vs oppressive governments. He is just one man and they are many, and yet despite the odds against him he still stands proud in front of them and this really resonates with the audience as a symbol of rebellion. As well as this, the way he casually stands and holds onto what looms like a shopping bag reinforces the idea that he is a regular citizen, and that anyone and everyone has the power to make changes if they have the will and courage to do so.
Furthermore, the streets are completely empty beside the man and the tanks, which makes their conflict seem central and ultimate. It suggests importance in what is unfolding in the image and the lack of anything else draws our attention to the man and the tanks above all else. The lack of bright colours in this photo sets a somber tone and shows how bad things were in China at the time. The subject of the photo also stands quite literally at a crossroads, suggesting he is making a difficult decision in the moment and in this case his life could depend on it, showing ultimate bravery in the face of an unstoppable force.
The Chinese Government are committed to censoring all media and information relating to the Tiananmen protests, and this only makes the image more powerful as it’s points about rebellion and taking down oppression are shown to be a threat to the system and must be suppressed as to not inspire anything within the people, showcasing the true power images can have.
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