Introduction
There are numerous ways to remember someone or an event. Artists compose or sketch images to commemorate a significant event or individual. Through its size, purpose, material, and location, an image efficiently offers homage to deep sacrifices made by individuals in history. Several images sprout following the. Besides, history builds empathy in the study of others’ lives and struggles. Exploring diverse human experiences enables people to appreciate others’ ideas, cultures, and traditions and recognize them as meaningful.
From oil and cave paintings to carved bones, statues are perfect images that people use to convey various messages: to mark key events in life, comment on the passage of time, celebrate a milestone, or interpret the political and historical meaning of an event. In my assignment, I will discuss three images that are vital in the history of the Chinese. The image of Chinese women and children waiting at the Angel Island Immigration Station, by California Historical Society, Political cartoon from “The Puck” in 1882: “The Anti-Chinese Wall The American Wall Goes Up as the Chinese Original Goes down” and the Chinese gold miners in California, at the head of the Auburn Ravine c. 1852 are three images that aimed to highlight the widespread hostility and hatred towards the Chinese people following the Chinese Exclusion Act (American Experience).
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The Chinese gold miners in California, at the head of the Auburn Ravine c. 1852
Rhetorical situation
This image of the Chinese gold miners in California, at the head of the Auburn Ravine c. 1852 by J. B. Starkweather of Boston, created what is arguably the finest surviving series of open-air daguerreotypes of individuals seeking gold. The iconic image was taken in California in 1852 and housed in the California State Library (American Experience). The image was directed to the public and was meant to capture the moment of international cooperation, where a group of three Caucasians combined effort with four Chinese miners to mine gold. It also depicts the type of odds that minority groups in the U.S were subjected to (American Experience).
Description
In the image, seven miners, a group of three Caucasians, combined effort with four Chinese miners to mine gold standing on the right. The image was meant for the public, and it takes them through history to the era of the gold rush. The Image package includes Plate, cover glass, and preserver. It has a case of leather, 4 3/4 x 3 3/4 in, a geometric Motif, and an embossed red velvet pad (Head of Auburn Ravine). The image is in black and white. The black and white color of the image creates a timeless and nostalgic look and evokes the reader’s emotions. There is no writing on the image (American Experience).
Discussion and Evaluation
The image of Chinese gold miners in California, at the head of the Auburn Ravine c. 1852, appeals to logos. The image tries to convince the audience about the gold rush and its aftermath. In the image, three Caucasians combined efforts with four Chinese miners to mine gold (American Experience). This tries to inform the audience of mining gold and how it brought people from different ethnicities together. The author uses image details that make it look real and unique by making it seem to the audience that gold mining was so easy. There are economic attitudes reflected in this image. In the image, the gold mining people engage in is an economic activity. This image lays claims about the California gold rush in 1848 (American Experience).
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Chinese women and children waiting at the Angel Island Immigration Station
Rhetorical situation
This image of Chinese women and children waiting at the Angel Island Immigration Station was produced between 1910 and 1919 in the United States. The striking image was meant for the whole world to see the racism and discrimination, and detention that non-Americans have been trying to fight for centuries. The image was designed to highlight what the author considers the dreadful act that banned immigration and naturalization for the Chinese. The Chinese Exclusion Act made it illegal for Chinese workers to come to the U.S – and for Chinese nationals in the U.S to become citizens. The image was published in the National Library of Medicine (American Experience).
Description
The image of Chinese women and children waiting at the Angel Island Immigration Station still shows Asian women and children detained at Angel Island Immigration Station in California. The women and children sit in a lengthy, wire-enclosed corral. In their midst is an American charity worker. The technique used is a black-and-white glossy image. The primary colors used are black and white (American Experience). Black and white colors create a natural motive. The author uses black and white to create a more timeless and nostalgic feeling that transports the audience back in time. It also makes the audience focus on the image’s story without being distracted by colors. The image is one photograph on a 21 x 26 cm frame. The photograph does not contain any wording. The visual sends a strong message to the audience about the exclusion policies geared toward Chinese immigration and their adverse impact on the Chinese people. The other relevant information is the images NLM’s unique ID OF 101547036 and OCLC no 45893590 (American Experience).
Discussion and Evaluation
The image of Chinese women and children waiting at the Angel Island Immigration Station mostly appeals to pathos. The image depicts a deep emotional appeal. The portrayal of the Asian women and children detained at Angel Island Immigration Station in California convinces the audience to imagine the harsh treatment and oppressive conditions in this facility. Besides, the women and children seated in a row make the audience instantly judge its emotional value and relate to the women’s suffering. The image reflects the political move where immigrants were detained, which negatively affected them. This image makes claims about the immigration and deportation of Chinese people from the United States following the declaration of the Chinese Exclusion Act (American Experience).
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The Puck” in 1882: “The Anti-Chinese Wall The American Wall Goes Up as the Chinese Original Goes down”
Rhetorical situation
The Political cartoon from “The Puck” in 1882: “The Anti-Chinese Wall: The American Wall Goes Up as the Chinese Original Goes down,” is an image of the economic, cultural, legal, racial, and political dimensions with a deep story of immigration and identity. Authored by Friedrich Graetz in 1882, the image’s audience is the public. The cartoon is political, targeting issues of government responsibility and calling upon the public for political change. The image is found in the form of a Lithograph in the National Museum of American History, U.S. the image is found in the Library of Congress Online Catalogue (American Experience).
Description
The image depicts a group of laborers who are Irish, African American, French, and Jewish. They are shown erecting a wall against the Chinese while the Chinese remove their trade restrictions. The text on the blocks reads, among other things, “Fear,” “Non Reciprocity,” “Law Against Race,” and “Congressional Blunders.” They are meant to show how the Chinese Exclusion Act, passed by Congress in 1882, used prejudice and fear against minority populations to push anti-Chinese trade policies. The image uses chromolithography which creates a multi-color print. The image uses ivory color on the wall, which contrasts with the people’s mix of colors. The iconic image boldly uses deep red with 35.2 cm x 52.2 cm; 13 27/32 in x 20 9/16 length. The wall being constructed is brighter than the one being demolished, which brings to the viewers’ minds the struggle the people went through. The different shades are meant to evoke feelings and influence thoughts. The image is a one-print chromolithograph. The image is found in the Library of Congress Online Catalogue. The image contains writings like “Fear,” “Non Reciprocity,” “Law Against Race,” and “Congressional Blunders” in undefined font (American Experience).
Discussion and Evaluation
The Political cartoon from “The Puck” in 1882: “The Anti-Chinese Wall The American Wall Goes Up as the Chinese Original Goes Down,” image uses ethos to bring up a much larger issue in the U.S. It makes simple statements citing through writing such as “Fear,” “Non Reciprocity,” “Law against Race,” and “Congressional Blunders” to convince the audience on the state of the country and the prejudice and discrimination against Chinese in the 1800s. It also uses ethos to reinforce the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on Chinese people and other minority groups. Political ideologies are highly reflected in the image. A mortar branded congress is used build the prejudice, non-reciprocity, anti-race laws, and terror blocks. The image claims that the Chinese Exclusion Act should be abolished because it creates a long-lasting widespread hostility and hatred towards the Chinese (American Experience).
Conclusion
Images continue to provide a glimpse of past events. The image of Chinese gold miners in California, at the head of the Auburn Ravine c. 1852, The image of Chinese women and children waiting at the Angel Island Immigration Station, and The Political cartoon from “The Puck” in 1882: “The Anti-Chinese Wall The American Wall Goes Up as the Chinese Original Goes down” helps the audience to learn great lessons and understand how past events have influenced today’s living. Furthermore, in this era of discrimination and racism, the history in these images reminds the viewer of the harsh realities that immigrants and refugees have long experienced as the images through the uncovered experiences of the early Chinese immigrants.
Works Cited
American Experience. (2018, May 2). Impact on Chinese Immigrants. American Experience | PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/chinese-exclusion-act-impact/
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