Make Love, Not War

     This week during dance we were given an assignment to bring in a picture that inspired us. The goal was to look at all the pictures as a class and ultimately chose one to create a dance about. Below is one of the pictures that a girl brought in.

     To be honest, at first, I didn't really like this picture. All I saw was a couple making out on the ground and a man nearly blocking the view of them. However, as we discussed the picture further and I learned about the context the picture was taken in, I slowly started to love the photo more and more.

     This is a picture taken during the riots that broke out after the Vancouver Canucks hockey team was defeated by the Boston Bruins in a championship game. The women in the photo got trampled by the crowds and broke her ankle. Her boyfriend decided to kiss her and comfort her. 

     The first reason that I like this picture is because it is a candid shot. It was obviously not posed and the actions depicted in it were spur-of-the-moment and full of truthful passion. I also like all the contrast in the photo. There are contrasts in the colors-the police officers wearing black, and the couple in lighter colors. There are contrasts in levels-the police are all standing vertical, while the couple is lying down horizontally. All of these visuals contrast highlight and reinforce the overall idea of love versus war. The couple is unknowingly making a very strong statement about how we should always try to find some love and kindness amidst all of the violence and hatred in the world today. In a way they are demonstrating that love is more powerful than hate because it prevailed throughout the chaos of this event.

What do you think about this picture? What ideas does it inspire in you? What else do you notice in the picture?