“Contrasting Grounds”

Rhetorical Analysis of 

Thomas Hoepker’s 9/11 Photograph

David Agbato

The City College of New York

ENGL 21003: Writing for the Sciences

Professor Voisard

February 24, 2021

Rhetorical analysis is a type of essay where the writer analyzes the text or image for rhetoric. These essays are different from argumentative essays in that instead of developing an argument in support or against something, you are paying attention to specific factors that influence how the audience may perceive the text/image. The image that I will be analyzing is a photo taken on 9/11. 

In the image, the photographer, Thomas Hoepker, captures a very controversial photo of a group of people on September 11. In the foreground of the image, there are a group of friends enjoying a worry-free afternoon day in New York City. However, in the background, the dreadful September 11 terrorist attacks were taking place. While the Twin Towers were being attacked, with the atmosphere being filled with smoke, it seemed like the group of people had very little worry or care about what was going on in the background right behind them. In the photo, the author wanted to show the major difference between the foreground and background. The audience is mostly the general public, more specifically the American people, to show how people react in difficult situations. Closely analyzing the photo taken by Thomas Hoepker on 9/11 reveals the clear contrast between the front portion of the photo and the background.  

Through taking this image, the photographer captures the juxtaposition of the scenario. Juxtaposition is the placement of two things that have very contrasting effects, right near each other. In the photo, the group of friends and the Twin Towers are juxtaposed. As previously explained, in the foreground of the photo are the friends gathered in a little circle, enjoying an afternoon in the city. However, when you take a closer look at this front section, we can look at their facial expressions. When doing so, it may seem as if the people have very little care for what was going on in the background. With such massive destruction going on near, these people should have been more concerned about what was going on. However, instead of seeming attentive and trying to find out what was happening, the friends continued to converse among themselves. On the other hand, the background is the complete opposite of the foreground. In the background, the planes had already crashed in the Twin Towers. Everyone in the city was consumed with terror as the towers came toppling down. That very moment changed the city, and the country forever. Thousands of people died from the attack, the economy was negatively impacted, there was increased international conflict with the Middle East, and so much more. Shown in the background of the photo is the thick smoke that filled the atmosphere, which was also visible from space. The fumes that polluted the air are a good representation of what occurred on that day. The amount of smoke that was in the air made it almost impossible to miss from anywhere near Lower Manhattan. It is almost certain that they saw the smoke circulating through the air, yet it seems as if they were trying to ignore it. The juxtaposition between the friends enjoying themselves as the city was falling apart behind them was the major contrast that the photographer wanted to capture through this image. 

Although we can’t tell what the feelings of the photographer of the image are, the tone of the photo helps to give a good explanation of his thoughts about the scenario. Through taking this image, the author’s tone can be seen as critical and displeased. One thing that contributes to the author’s tone is the position at which the photographer took the photo. There were many places that the photographer could have captured the events that occurred on September 11. He could have taken the photo at any other angle, whether it may have been closer to the attack, or at a position where the people are not in the way, taking some of the attention away from the photo. Instead, Hoepker decided to include the group of friends in the photo. The color of the whole scene also contributes to the author’s tone in the image. The foreground of the image appears to be very pleasant and light. The people relax in a nice environment; they sit by beautiful green trees as they are illuminated by the glowing sun. However, the contrasting background is very gloomy. What was once a blue sunny sky became dark and somber, covered with thick grey fumes. Both the position and color of the photo were most likely an attempt to show how ignorant the people seem to be from another point of view, thus contributing to the author’s critical tone. 

Thomas Hoepker uses pathos to appeal to the audience’s emotions. Pathos can evoke many feelings in the author’s audience. In this case, the photo evokes anger in those that view the image. The friends were perceived as being callous by the general public. A critic, Frank Rich, even weighed in, claiming that some Americans had already moved on from that day, and stated how great of an American failure this was (Jones, 2011). The author tried to rile up his audience through the ignorance of the people in the photo. In doing so, he most likely wanted to raise awareness of the seriousness of the situation. This would prevent people from taking it lightly, just as the group of friends did.

In taking the photo, Thomas Hoepker’s goal was most likely to highlight the ignorance that some people can have in certain situations, such as those surrounding the image. He did so through the juxtaposition of the scene, his tone, and appealing to the audience’s emotions through pathos. However, it turns out that the photographer and the audience had generally gotten the wrong idea of what was happening in the image. One of the people that were in the photo actually came forward to say that they were in a “state of shock and disbelief” (Ibid). Consequently, while the author was successful in raising controversy surrounding this image, the photo was not what it seemed, therefore not making it as effective as it was meant to be. Overall, through taking this photo, Thomas Hoepker wanted to capture the clear contrasts between the foreground and background.  

References

Jones, J. (2011, September 02). The meaning of 9/11’s most controversial photo | Jonathan Jones. Retrieved March 01, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/sep/02/911-photo-thomas-hoepker-meaning