    In the end summer of 2016 an event occurred in a place where I used to call home. Another instance where the killing of an African American male by a White police officer occurred. The image gives off a feeling of a silent peace, war, and apology through the looks of despair in the eyes of the protestor and the police officer dressed in riot gear. The image is taken from the recent riots that occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina, where a trending incident of a police officer shooting and killing an unarmed black male occurred. An incident too common in American society has finally had a light shed in its area, after years of it happening but not receiving the deserved press and attention of all citizens in the country. There are several words being spoken with none of them being said. The major elements in the design theory of the image are color, shape, line, and texture. The major principles in the design theory of the image are unity, hierarchy, contrast, focal point, and balance. The different elements and principles of the design theory are all major parts of the image when noticing what is going on directly in the image. 

      The feeling of silence in the image is apparent when first glancing at the image. Both mouths of the two men in the image are covered and it does not appear as if any words are being said, or that they need to be said. They appear to have reached a sort of coming to terms of how long and hard this night is about to be, as if it has just begun, and has not become anything near its potential. The silence of the image is deafening, you look at the image and almost feel as if you are there and there is nothing to hear, but plenty to see that does not need to be spoken of because the events taking place are speaking for themselves. Both of the individuals in this image are taking risks in the aspect of their safety. In a sense both are taking a risk by simply standing very close to each other in this environment and atmosphere of utter chaos. 

The peace of their silence in their image gives onlookers a sense of the two men saying: “you stay over there and I’ll stay over here”. Challenging their peace is the feeling of anger, the black male’s anger of the maltreatment of his people and the anger of the police officer for even having to be there staring the source of the problem in the face, not knowing whether those beside or in front of him are the real problem. The peace in the photo shows outside of the events that occurred in Charlotte are not necessary, this individual at this moment is simply taking a stand for what he believes to be a moving cause, in a different manner.  The war that is occurring in the background and in the country as a whole is being battled and those who could have the biggest impact in an issue being brought forth in a different situation every day, week, or month, are the ones most silent. While at war, from the clothes or gear being worn, to the incidents happening. Some take a different method toward the issue against those who are supposed to 
protect and serve us in a warlike manner. Fighting, rioting, and even killing in some instances, has occurred but all of those ideologies have been shunned in the instance of this image.

    In the eyes of the police officer you can almost sense a feel of empathy. He did not do the killing of the individual and he is looking into the eyes of an individual who could have been the victim of the incident that occurred in the city he so happens to work in. The protester gives off the sense of sympathy but sympathy through anger. His eyes show levels of pain, the unequal treatment and the constant reminder daily that it could be him or even me next, any black individual really. The look of sympathy he is giving asks the officer how he could possibly understand that sense of fear, the sense of not being another victim, but casualty in this war within. 

     

      The shape of the image gives off a silhouette of two individual indifferent in the instances occurring in their own neighborhoods. The lines in the helmet of the riot gear the officer is wearing makes it appear that with this amount of protection he is more important from the dangers that may occur that night. The undeniable shape of their two heads, the same, round, facing one another as parallels in alternate universes where one is considered safe and the other with less gear is considered the threat. The lines in the image create the shape that is made for viewers of the image to see. The texture of the riot gear the police officer is wearing is very rough and has many layers to it, where protestor is bare skinned and has a smoother appearance blending with the background in contrast to the police officer and his riot gear.

     The color of the image is symbolically dark. The darkness of the image gives a portrayal that these two are the only individuals in this plain. In the foreground of the image the two gentlemen see opposites, the officer seeing protests witnessing firsthand, while the black male is staring into into the eyes of those who have caused all of this to occur in the first place. The color brings out out the contrast in the photo. The light being put onto these two brings out the obvious opposites in the two gentlemen. One black wearing light colored apparel, the other white wearing dark colored apparel, the simple observation that the police officer is in fact a white man and the protestor is black and very close. In the background there are little splotches of light that appear to be candles or little instances of fire ironically which represent in many cases peace. Despite all of the out of control incidents that took place, the small spots of yellow give of the image feels of peace and hope, which the color yellow often gives off. There is peace in the contrast of the bright splotches on the dark black background.

     

     The hierarchy in the photo is right at the focal point of the officer and the protestor in the foreground. The two are at the same level, same height, and performing the same actions making them equal. Neither one of them supreme to the other by the means of a leveled plain. The officer and protestor are in the center of the photo which not only makes them the focal point but gives the image an easy balance. The colors worn by the two individuals that contrast one another, so one is not more dominant than the other also is another element of balance in the image. The two men staring at one another gives a since of unity, they are on the same page. Frustration, no resistance, and direct confrontation is very mutual among them. 

     Through their eyes there are several interpretations that can be taken. The issue that is being faced in the country right now is a sense of unequal behavior by officials being held to a higher standard than the common individual is occurring. The means necessary are not being taken in any of the cases that have been put into the press. Whether it has been the killing of innocent, submissive men, women, and children of the black community in the United States or simply the maltreatment of the population, it has gotten out of hand once again after it was perceived to have progressed over time. In conclusion the image represents the struggle and adversity faced by individuals on both sides of this war waging in our home.  

 