Seeing and Writing Assignment 1

Rhiannon Austgen

Writing and Rhetoric

Seeing Question 2

The photo of the Mendoza family and the photo of the Fernandez family have many things to compare and contrast. First, I will explain their similarities such as the food the are consuming, the appearances of the two families and the quality of the food. The similarities of the food they consume consist of similar vegetables such as potatoes and lettuce and similar meats like chicken. Their expressions seem somewhat similar also, most of them smiling and happy with their way of life. Lastly, the two families are similar by the quality of food they both seem to have fresh vegetables and clean water. While these two families have somewhat similar lives they have extremely different lives as well. These differences include, the types of food they eat, the clothing they are wearing and their surrounding in the photo. The Fernandez family eats more prepared foods, whereas the Mendoza family makes everything from scratch and doesn't use any preservatives which is a big contrast. Another major difference was the clothing they wore. The Mendoza family all seemed to be wearing homemade clothing with vibrant colors and patterns that represented their culture but the Fernandez family are wearing dull colors and seem as if they were bought at their nearest Kohl's or Target. Their last main difference was their surroundings. The Fernandez family photo is taken in their kitchen where they have nicely painted walls and a pantry stocked with more food items. However, the Mendoza family photo is taken outside of their home on a larger wooden table placed on the dirt in their backyard. These are the similarities and differences that I noticed most in the two photos.

Writing Question 1

Reality

Inspiration

Menzel's photographs give me a sense of reality because they show four extremely different families living completely different lives. For example, the family from the United States has the most abundant amount of food which complies with the stereotype of "fat Americans," making it less of a stereotype and more of a fact. Menzel has also made me realize that there are a lot of families that have less than us such as the family from Chad. That family had the bare minimum, which really makes me realize that hunger is a real thing and as an activist I need to do something for the good of man kind. Which leads me into my next word, inspiration. These photos give me inspiration in many ways. They give me inspiration to eat healthier, to help others in desperate need, and to be thankful and appreciative for all I have. These photos have inspired me to eat healthier and in smaller portions because seeing the family in the United States having the most on their plate it is shocking that the American stereotype is coming true we are "fat Americans." Also, these photos have inspired me to help as many people as I can. Specifically, the photo of the Chad family makes me inspired to help those in need because it makes me realize hunger in other countries is a real issue and needs to be stopped. Lastly, these photos have inspired me really appreciate everything I have gotten in life, because for me it may have been extremely easy to go get a glass of water from the sink in my kitchen but for others it could be extremely hard or even impossible to obtain. 

Seeing these photos in a different context, I think would completely change the way I seem them. Such as in an advertising view these photos would mean nothing to me, they would not inspire me or make me realize anything in any way because I would only be thinking about what is being advertised to me.