Money runs the world. Everything essentially relates to money and that is why the average person’s desire for currency starts at a young age and is a strong force. Nirvana noticed the power of currency and made it the focal point of their album cover. It features a naked baby underwater reaching for a dollar bill. This image is in line with the band’s style, and it shows their view on society. Nirvana’s usage of lighting and setting demonstrates the water birth of a new born child a symbol of innocence which is contrasted by the baby’s desire for currency, a clear symbol of corruption. 

The first main element that catches the viewer’s gaze is the naked child in the water. The colors are enhanced in the image and the baby’s bright white skin has a strong contrast with the light blue water all around. This causes the baby to pop and catch the viewer’s attention.                       

It is also significant that the lighting is uniform whereas if the setting were underwater in a pool there would be streams of light in the water from the sun. The water seen here is not of a pool but instead is associated with water birthing. The viewer can see that there are no clear boundaries of where the water is contained to and this intentional. Nirvana intended for the setting to look endless to show that this naked baby is leaving the womb and entering the world. In conjunction with the baby being naked, this idea is verified.

The second main element concerns the baby and how although it is interesting way to convey their message it is actually quite meaningful. The meaning behind the baby’s nudity is to show that the baby is coming out of the womb already corrupted by money. The water-birth point becomes connected with this message because it shows the viewer that the baby is coming out of the womb, which emphasizes the innocence symbolism, and already reaching for a dollar bill. These two elements complement each other because their presence together is what formulates this whole idea. It’s meaning is not to distract but instead to convey the battle of innocence and corruption. To have an exposed baby in the image adds to the overall meaning being displayed here. Nirvana wants to create a strong contrast between the stereotypical symbolism behind a naked baby and their implied meaning behind the naked baby in the image. There is a strong clash between innocence and corruption on the album cover. The movement of the child towards the money is the exaggeration Nirvana intended. It is quite ridiculous to say a newborn child has ant concept of money but it is what exemplifies that contrast and clash between innocence and corruption. When the viewer sees this symbol of innocence, the contrast sets in and they can better see the negative effects and corruption that money can bring onto people. It shows the viewer that money has a strong enough effect to defy common logic and can even take hold of a newborn baby who has just been welcomed into the world. The second element in connection, as mentioned above, is the setting of this image. 

The last element of this image that has notable significance towards the theme is the dollar bill. The dollar bill is what makes the theme identifiable in the image, as it is part of the focus in the image. The dollar bill in the image is in the foreground and the baby is clearly reaching for it. The currency note compiled with the baby’s outstretched arm is what shows the reader the theme. It shows the reader that this newborn baby wants money already. He is freshly out of the womb and his first desire over breathing in this world is to reach towards the money. Nirvana is showing the viewer that money has this strong of a hold over people. Its effects are so intense that it can defy the laws of common sense and even a newborn baby is already looking to obtain money. This also adds to the idea that money has negative effect on us. This image speaks truth to why people kill, rob and do unspeakable things just to acquire a piece of paper. It is instinct for humans to breath but in today’s society the desire for money trumps instinct and this image illustrates that.

Every single day there is a new story of someone doing inexplicable and heinous things all for money, and Nirvana illustrated currency’s hold over individuals with this album cover. Hyperboles oftentimes blow things out of proportion but the over exaggeration used in this image speaks volumes to the theme at hand. The contrast between the common symbolism and the symbolism intended for the naked baby is extreme and that is because the theme is talking about a very intense force. That is the force behind money obviously. Kurt Cobain was known for his off stage issues but he was very animate about his dislike of fame and fortune because he had an in close look at how the people who have acquired riches act because of the net worth. That is why the image under analysis carries the theme that it does. He wanted the world to see money’s negative effects and used a very powerful image to broadcast this message. The elements used in this image have a strong and significant connection to each other and to the message of the album cover. If the desire for money can defeat a newborn's instinct to breath than what morals and values can’t it defeat?
