Eric Lawrence

Professor Padgett
ENGL 101
10/14/2015
Mushroom Cloud
This visual text depicts the atomic cloud created by the Uranium bomb that was dropped
on Japan by the United States in retaliation of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The image shows

Commented [1]: Be specific, especially when starting

an essay. In general, it is best to avoid starting any
sentence with this since it is pretty non-specific.

Hiroshima City, a heavy populated area of Japan, being completely destroyed by the massive
explosion. The written text makes the image even more emotionally taxing by showing the
viewer the wideness of the angle and the timing of the photograph. The image is taken from 80
kilometers away, an hour after the bomb was dropped on the city. These numbers serve the
purpose of accurately depicting how large the explosion was and the terrible effects it had. This
image is used to show the world the true strength and destructive ability of the United States and
assert the country as a global power.

Commented [2]: Okay, so you are saying that the

images are pointing out the United Statess destructive
power? I just want to make sure that you are saying
what the images are saying. In other words, make sure
you are interpreting the essays message, regardless of
whether you agree with that message or not.

This image draws out a vast array of emotions from its viewers that vary based on their
own personal perspective. This image can invoke emotions of pride for citizens of the United
States. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, many Americans had a thirst for Japanese blood and the

Commented [3]: Are you asserting that American war

policy was based on a bloodlust?

atomic bomb was seen as a sort of payback. For other Americans, this image may cause feelings
of sadness because the bombing of Japan, so many people lost their lives and affected
generations of the Japanese people. The most important emotion that this image creates is a sense
of fear to all other countries in the world. The United States created and used these bombs not
only to end the war in japan, but also to show the world its destructive capabilities. This event
proved that the United States was strong enough to be a world superpower. Also, the creation of

Commented [4]: Okay, so who do you think is the

audience for this? How were these images
disseminated? When were they disseminated? The
answers to these questions are critical in order to make
this claim.
Commented [5]: Now youre talking about the rhetoric
of bombing itself, not the images. Keep the discussion
on the images and what they communicate.

weapons with such destructive capabilities led to a vicious rivalry between the United States and
the Soviet Union. This emotionally invoking image was used by the American government for
two main reasons; to make the American people feel more patriotic and safe in their country and
to strike fear into any potential enemy that might have emerged because of the war.

Commented [6]: The images were taken by a

combination of several different people (some the US,
some by Japanese). So I want to know what the photo
essay is saying. In other words, this collection was
curated by someone. What was that someone saying?
Im not sure this claim holds up.

The true power of this photograph comes from the statistics provided in the written text
that better portray the destructive power of the bomb. At first glance, this mushroom cloud does
not hold much physical power because the photographer uses a lot of depth. However, the
written text provides the viewer with knowledge that is necessary for truly understanding the
significance of this event. The written text tells the reader that the photograph is taken from 80
kilometers away, an hour after the bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. This information
allows the viewer to properly understand the dimensions of the image. Also stated in the written
text is the fact that this explosion was equivalent to 15 kilotons of TNT being detonated. This
information allows the reader to better understand the explosion because of the general
knowledge about the destructive power of TNT. These facts give the image a dynamic
magnitude that would not be present without the written text. The written text also backs up the
argument that the United States used the atomic bomb as a display of destructive capability
because it states that this was the first nuclear weapon ever used in warfare. United States Army
officers used the bomb as an opportunity to put the country on top of the global world in terms of
military power. The destructive power of the nuclear weapon, as described by the written text,
proves to the world that the United States is a global force and attacks against the nation will be
met with intense retaliation.
This visual text is given most of its power because of the context in which it takes place
and therefore, its function would change in a different context. Before it was finally deployed on

Commented [7]: Keep in mind that this is a visual

analysis. Also, I dont think this needs to be pointed
out.

Japan, the atomic bomb was tested many times in the United States. This image, in the context of

Commented [8]: Im not sure what image you are

making reference to here.

a trial deployment, would not invoke the same emotions of sadness that it would in the context of
the bombing of Japan. However, in the context of a trial deployment, this image would still serve
its main purpose in stopping other countries from attacking the United States. If the bomb and
this image were to be created before the attack on Pearl Harbor, it is very likely that the image
would have been able to deter the Japanese attack. This simple change into a different context,
while still able to achieve the United States main goal of intimidation, would have saved the
lives of hundreds of thousands of Japanese citizens. This context also eliminates the suffering
that many more Japanese people had to endure because of the long term effects of the atomic
bomb. In a different context, this visual text would function differently but it would still be able
to achieve its main goal of intimidation.
This historic image marked the United States end to World War II and helped solidify
the country as a true world power. The enormous mushroom cloud created by the nuclear bomb
dropped on Hiroshima symbolizes the power of the American Army and compares the
destructive ability of a single bomb to the overall power of the nation. The distant angle of this
photograph, accompanied by the written text, strikes awe into the viewer and draws out a vast
array of emotion. This image demands that the viewer feels an emotion because it is so powerful
and the event affected everyone in some way. The bombing of Hiroshima was a necessary
decision that United States government had to make to win the war without further American
casualties, the United States Army seized the opportunity and used it to push themselves onto the
national stage. This image serves the purpose of intimidating the United States international
enemies and it powerfully displays the destructive abilities of the United States.

Commented [9]: Lots of conjecture here, and also, I

think youre going beyond the bounds of the photo
essay.

Eric,
I really like that youre making strong claims here. The ability to make claims is really important
in these essayistic kinds of papers, and that ability will be a great asset to you in the future. I am
struggling a little with the validity and the relevancy of some of these claims. For one, Id like to
talk about the rhetoric of some of your word choice. You use language like true strength and
destructive ability and a thirst for Japanese blood when describing Americans or the US in
general. This language left me a little confused with what your approach was here. What kind of
picture are you attempting to paint of the US? For me, as a reader, it sounds like you are
describing the US government (and Americans in general) as revenge and blood thirsty, with
little regard for the consequences for the atomic bombs. Is this your intention? Also, because this
photo essay is a curated collection from different sources, it is difficult for you to make these
claims, since some pictures were taken by Americans, and others were taken by Japanese. So
youll need to account for that discrepancy in your argument. So, with that in mind, theres a
disconnection in the logic here. If any of this is unclear, let me know. I can sort of ramble on
sometimes. Remember that you can revise for a new grade come portfolio time.

Work Cited Page

Levine, Philip. "A Photo-Essay on the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki."
University of Illinois, n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015.