Friday, February 1, 2013

Nothing Lasts Forever



The photograph by Scott Krycia displays an abandoned bowling alley. The image explains the fact that hardly anything lasts forever. In the words of Robert Frost, “nothing gold can stay.” The picture relies strongly on emotional appeal and positioning to convey its message to whomever sees it.
                Krycia’s artistic technique in this photograph is the ability to relate to the audience. Bowling is something that most people in our nation have done at least once. Usually the game is played by the younger, adolescent generation. The depiction of a sport that most people have played when they were younger bridges the audience to their past. This makes the audience think back and feel a sense of nostalgia as they recall the joyous times they had in their youth. Some that look at this photograph might even smile in their recollection. The ability to make an audience smile is a powerful way to convey a message. People like to smile, so they would feel more connected to the image. This pathological connection between the audience and the picture is what attracts people’s attention to the photograph.
                Once the audience’s attention is attained, the picture reveals to them what is happening in society. The picture conveys how everything must come to an end. Even the things that once had a golden age must slowly taper out of existence to yield to the new generation and whatever comes along with it. The angle from the photo was taken shows a broader picture, revealing an ambience of a building almost in ruins. With this, it brings the realization that the bowling alley’s time of popularity and enjoyment has long come to an end. The positioning in order to show how dirty and non-pristine the alley has become gives the feel of how long it had been abandoned by everyone. This logic strikes a nerve with the audience. This is what makes them come to a realization of the message that Krycia conveys. This leads to a worried emotion in the audience as it makes them wonder what else will soon come to an end. With yet another pathological connection, Krycia makes a lasting impression after seeing the photograph.
The bowling alley had once been a location for fun and games. But as society grows and progresses, it was left in the dust (almost quite literally). Krycia displays how all good things must come to an end as well as the fact that nothing lasts forever.

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