

    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 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. 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. 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. Both of 

the figures in the photo give off a sense of strong emotion. 

    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 looks of anguish on the faces of the two allows onlookers of the photo to assume 

there is not any conflict between the two besides their almost necessary involvement, one being a 

job and the other being social. Other elements help define and add importance to the photo, 

giving it significant elements that stand out.

     

      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. Other elements 

like color provoke feelings of dark emotions like pain, evil, bad; words with bad connotations.

     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. Ironically the relation of the colors are opposite of the message 

the photo is sending. The black individual or protestor is wearing the lighter colors that are 

usually associated with positivity and pureness, while the white officer is wearing the dark black 

clothing associated with negativity, when he is the one who is assumed to be there to keep the 

peace. 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 aspect of them both being in a night scene and wearing dark 

colors brings forth feelings despair and pain. The color black never is associated with positivity, 

so the darkness in the photo helps viewers’ perceptions. The perceptions of negativity in the 

photo, pain and struggle between the two individuals. There is an obvious difference of power 

levels in the photo, there is an immediate sense of dominance and power between the two 

individuals based on apparel.

     

       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. Despite the difference in apparel and sense of dominance the officer gives off when 

compared to the protestor, neither one of them are supreme to the other by the means of a leveled 

plain. By which I mean they are on the same level, neither doing actions that trump one another. 

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. All of the elements of the photo work together to bring forth a 

powerful image that can be interpreted in many different ways. It is an image that has plenty 

importance in our current society. In conclusion the image represents the struggle and adversity 

faced by individuals on both sides of this war waging in our home.  

 