
    The visual text selected depicts a female soccer player in the middle of the picture that is on her knees and both arms flexed in the air. The soccer player’s jersey is tightly grasped in her right hand while her teammates can be seen in the foreground. Faces of the teammates are distorted so only the detailed facial expression of the soccer player in the center can be viewed. Bright green grass surrounds the female soccer players and is the surface of the photograph except for the seating area holding the fans in the background. An array of colors is visible due to fans wearing different color shirts in the stands and Hyundai and McDonalds advertisements being placed near the soccer goal. The combination of color, camera angle and focus in the photograph establishes a theme of national pride while also challenging society's traditional view of women.          

The woman who is in the center of the photograph is American soccer player, Brandi Chastain. The setting of this photograph was the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on July 10, 1999. The United States Women’s National Soccer Team was competing against China in the World Cup and the two teams were tied at zero after regulation which forced a penalty shootout. After China missed their penalty kick, Brandi Chastain scored the game winning goal giving the United States their second FIFA Women’s World Cup Title. This picture captures Brandi Chastain sliding on her knees and shouting moments after scoring the winning goal and the other members of the Women’s National Team can be seen sprinting in Brandi Chastain’s direction.

The visual text was produced by Sports Illustrated photographer Robert Beck and has been the cover page of SI, Time and Newsweek. Brandi Chastain’s facial expression and body mannerisms epitomize the target audience which includes sports enthusiasts and passionate Americans. The picture focuses in on Brandi yelling with her eyes nearly closed to reveal the intensity involved with the sport of soccer. This demonstrates the rush of emotions experienced by an athlete following a signature moment. Individuals who have competed in any type of sport are able to relate to the elation involved with winning a game. The only difference with Brandi Chastain’s moment is that it was on a worldwide stage. Sports fans embrace the reaction of an athlete following a game because it reveals their true motivation of playing. Passionate Americans gain a deep sense of patriotism when viewing this image because Brandi’s goal allowed the United States to declare themselves as having the best women’s soccer team in the world. Americans who were not interested in soccer before, became intrigued by the sport after the Brandi Chastain image appeared throughout the media. This is due in part to Brandi showcasing a state of euphoria by yelling and showing her athletic figure to the entire world. Many athletes play for money or fame but it is evident through her facial expression in the photograph that Brandi Chastain competed to represent her country and love of the sport.   

Color and camera angle enhance the Brandi Chastain photograph by establishing an exuberant mood. The luminous colors from the advertisements and shirts worn by spectators in the background generates feelings of joy and happiness that are being felt by Brandi Chastain and her teammates. The picture was during the daytime which improves the overall lighting and causes Brandi Chastain’s face to shine in the sun. As a result the viewer’s eyes gravitate toward her face because it is in the foreground and the brightest aspect of the photograph.  Furthermore, the visual displays Brandi ripping off her jersey revealing her black sports bra while her teammates are in the background still wearing the all white United States uniforms. This contrast in color between Brandi’s black sports bra and the white Women’s National team uniforms shifts complete focus to one individual rather than the entire team. John Beck chose to take the iconic photograph at this exact moment to celebrate the incredible achievement of Brandi Chastain. People who believe an image of the entire Women’s National Team should have been used for magazine covers instead of this image which focuses on one player are unaware of the adversity Brandi had to overcome to achieve this feat. After experiencing two ACL injuries and being cut by the Women’s National team before the 1995 World Cup, Brandi defied all odds to score the game winning goal in the most important game in women’s soccer history. Even though winning in any team sport is a group effort, Brandi’s goal single-handedly lifted the spirits of Americans and sports fans around the world. John Beck skillfully produced a photograph that is a culmination of Brandi Chastain’s dedication to soccer.             

The key symbol portrayed in this image is the strength of women. Prior to the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, female sports did not have a large viewing audience. Additionally, there was only a low percentage of the male population that attended or watched female sports on television. However, over ninety thousand people were in attendance during the United States World Cup victory against China and women’s soccer grew in popularity following this game. An important concept of the visual text is Brandi Chastain flexing her biceps while wearing earrings. The media typically portrays men as the stronger and more dominant gender but this image shows that women can display both masculinity and beauty at the same time. Focusing on this aspect of the photograph also reveals the shift in America’s view on female sports. People started to realize that women compete with the same ferocity and passion as men. In addition, Brandi Chastain’s toned physique is evident in her abdominal muscles shown in the image. This facet of the image demands the viewer to respect the commitment and training of Brandi Chastain and proves to skeptics of female sports that women are world class athletes. In conclusion, the iconic Brandi Chastain photograph combines color, camera angle and focus to promote American patriotism and demonstrate the aptitude of women to achieve anything they set their mind too.

 