Many authors often use images to partner their writing to further make their point. When an author uses imagery in their writing, they are explaining their story to the reader by showing them instead of telling them. It is much easier for a reader to understand what the author is trying to say when they can see an image in front of them instead of trying to interpret the meaning of the author’s writing. In addition, authors, like Mark Russel and Shannon Wheeler, often use relatable scenarios and settings to make their point even easier to understand for their readers. Instead of looking at an image and being confused by an unknown setting, the reader is then able to understand the picture and interpret it as if it were almost their own life. Mark Russel and Shannon Wheeler use this technique in “God is Disappointed in You” when they are trying to explain the Last Supper to their readers. Mark and Shannon also use different color shading, unique scenery, and captioning when explaining to the reader a question they have for God. After a deeper examination of “God is Disappointed in You” by Mark Russel and Shannon Wheeler, one can see how authors use relatable scenarios, creative settings, and captioning in their imagery, which is important because it makes the meaning of their writing easier to understand.

“God is Disappointed in You” by Mark Russel and Shannon Wheeler is a modern day description of the Bible. Mark and Shannon try to explain various scenes and lessons from the Bible with their own words and imagery. When describing Jesus’ Last Supper with his Apostles before he was crucified, Mark and Shannon use an image of the icon Jesus sitting at a bar with his apostles. Like the real image of the Last Supper, the focus is on Jesus. He is in the center of the photo and the photo is almost perfectly symmetrical around him. Because of the contrast in colors and shading, Jesus is emphasized. Jesus is found in a bright white doorway with dark wallpaper surrounding it. The texture of the piece also emphasizes Jesus because he is the most detailed character while the rest of the photo is a solid color or less detailed apostles.  In addition, the Apostles around him are sitting in very similar positions than the Apostles in the real image, creating a sense of realism. By putting Jesus in a bar with modern day draft beers, Mark and Shannon use a different setting to make The Last Supper more abstract. They also caption the image “The Last Call,” which means that even Jesus stays at the bar until the last minute some nights. After analyzing “The Last Call,” we can see how Mark and Shannon use color shading, symmetry, and realism, which is important because it makes the photo more relatable and understandable for the reader.  Mark and Shannon use similar imagery when they question why God created the world when it would eventually mean nothing. 

Mark and Shannon use shading, character traits, and captioning in the image of a God-like figure and man in heaven. When comparing the shades of the two figures, the human is in darker clothes and has darker hair while the iconic God-like figure is in a bright white robe and has shining white hair. The God-like figure is also sitting in a dark black chair, which makes him stand out even more. In addition, the God-like figure is much larger than the human and is looking down on him, which helps the reader realize that he is God. It looks as if the man is approaching God and is uncomfortable while God is in his chair with his angels flying behind him. These character traits almost guarantee that they are located at the gates of heaven.  Mark and Shannon also caption the image with the question, “What’s up with all the planned obsolescence?” By using this caption, we can assume this is the conversation the man is having with God. Instead of using words as an explanation, both authors felt this visual image was a perfect way to depict their question for God and wrap up their story. If Mark and Shannon deleted the two images from their short story, the story could’ve lacked necessary details like modernization and clever captioning which are needed to fully explain their points. 

Authors often use imagery to visualize the points they want to make in order to assure the reader understands it clearly. Mark Russel and Shannon Wheeler use two images, “The Last Call” and “God in heaven,” to try and explain the Bible to modern day readers. They use various techniques to try and make their images more relatable and understandable to their viewers. They put God in a modern day bar to make Jesus’ life more modernized, just like the reader. They also use detailed character traits and intense black and white shading to insure the read understood that the human was speaking to God. After a deeper examination of “God is Disappointed in You” by Mark Russel and Shannon Wheeler, one can see how authors use different color shading, relatable settings, and personal twists in their writing, which is important because it gets their thoughts across to the reader in the clearest and easiest way possible. 

 