In the image, there is a hand that has been severed from a human body. This hand has been cut off at the wrist and the bloody, jagged cuts can be seen. The hand is wearing a large diamond ring on the left hand ring finger. Above and below the hand there is text and towards the bottom corner of the page there is the outline of the continent of Africa with a red diamond in the center.
There are several colors that stand out in the image and many of these colors create a depressing feeling in the viewer. The color red is seen in the cuts on the human wrist and is seen in the color of the diamond placed in the center of the outline of Africa . This color red clearly represents blood in the image, though the significance of blood has an even deeper meaning. These two symbols, the color red and blood, can represent pain, suffering, fighting and even death. The color black is used for the text present on the image and to fill in the shape of Africa . This dark color symbolizes sorrow, sadness, hopelessness and even death. When combining the representations of each of these colors with the presence of the human hand, it can be inferred that these negative situations, such as fighting, death and suffering have been placed upon human lives.
There are also several colors in the image that have either a positive or neutral representation. The ring on the finger of the human hand is a very light color and has a white tint to it. The color of the ring represents purity, innocence and peace, three things which are positive. The presence of the ring on the left hand also represents the idea of marriage. Marriage symbolizes the unity and love between two people. Purity and innocence can also be represented in the white background of the image. The color brown is also present in the image and shows the race that is being represented. Brown represents the African American race and this idea is supported by the outline of Africa that is in the bottom corner of the image.
Although the text on the image is in small font in order to allow the image to speak for itself, the words give strong meaning to the image. The text uses contrast in order to explain what is going on in the image. There are words with a positive connotation in the text, such as “marriage” and “beauty”, and there are also words with negative connotations in the text, such as “taken away”, “enslaved,” “cut,” and death. These contrasting words allow the viewer to realize that although something may appear good and beautiful to them, like the ring, there may be an unfair and unjust history beneath the surface of these materialistic things. The text also pertains to the viewer because it mentions an act that is very common among all people: marriage. It allows the viewer to realize that the symbol that represents marriage between themselves and their spouse may symbolize slavery, the loss of a limb and even death for another person. The idea that “For every hand taken in marriage, another hand is taken away” is not only saying that a person in Africa loses their limb for every ring that is made, but it also represents that for every ring that is made a person in Africa is enslaved and taken away from their own potential spouse. These people not only lose their limbs, but also the chance at marriage and a normal life.
The words at the bottom of the image are used to further inform the viewer on the issue presented in the image. It explains why, how, and in what context these people’s hands are cut off. This explanation describes a life of abuse, unfairness and fear. The text at the bottom of the page also introduces the idea of beauty versus death. This pertains to the viewer because it makes them think and realize that the beauty of a piece of jewelry, a materialistic item, is not worth the death of another human being.
The outline of Africa at the bottom of the page is used to tell the reader where the issue of blood diamonds is taking place. In the middle of the shape of Africa there is a red diamond. The color red of the diamond represents suffering, blood and death. Also, the placement of the diamond makes it appear as if it is the heart of Africa . This placement is used to represent that the issue of enslavement and abuse for the mining of diamonds is at the heart of many problems in Africa and is a large problem in the continent.
The image represents an idea and persuades people to take action regarding the issue that is presented in the image. It persuades people to live a lifestyle in which they research the history behind materialistic items and take responsibility to make sure the products they buy do not come from unjust systems. It also is used to educate people of the suffering people face in creating products that otherwise seem beautiful.
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