Today, you will be researching your photo. Start by answering the questions below. (Example of expectations provided).
Questions:
1. Who took the picture?
2. Who is in the picture?
3. What is happening in the picture?
4. What is the title of the photograph (if there is no tiltle, simply write untitled?)
5. When did the picture take place and in what year (era)?
6. Where is the photo taken? If possible, where are they now? or What has changed since the photo was taken?
7. How does the photo effect you?
8. How does the photo contribute to making the world a better place?
9. What is the major conflict within the picture?
10. What is the theme (at least the theme topic) of the photograph?
Hemingway Posing with a Shotgun
Who took the picture? There is no official photographer for this picture. This picture was on the internet courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Library. He was living with his fourth wife Mary Welsh Hemingway, so it could have been her taking the picture.
Who is in the picture? In the picture Ernest Hemingway is holding a 12 gauge Scott double barrel rifle.
What is happening in the picture? Hemingway is posing with his gun. He is holding the gun in a ready-to-attack mode. He also appears to have two types of bandages on his arm and he isn’t wearing a shirt. He seems to be very serious. Probably drunk.
What is the title of the photograph (if there is no tiltle, simply write untitled?)
I could not locate the title of this photograph.
When did the picture take place and in what year (era)? The photo was taken in 1952 while Hemingway was living in Cuba. Supposedly a few nights after this photograph was taken Hemingway heard some noises outside his place, grabbed a .22 and fired into the night. Supposedly there was blood on the ground the next morning but there were no official reports of him killing anyone that night.
Where is the photo taken? If possible, where are they now? or What has changed since the photo was taken? The photo was taken in Cuba in what appears to be the livingroom of Hemingway’s place. 10 years after this photo was taken, Heminway would kill himself in Ketchum Idaho with this gun. I think today, someone in Hemingway’s condition would not be allowed to own/possess guns.
How does the photo affect you? Hemingway shot himself with this rifle in Ketchum, Idaho in 1962. Hemingway was one of, if not, the greatest writers ever to live. I think overall, I love the irony of this picture. Hemingway was just a bad***.
How does the photo contribute to making the world a better place?
This photo could serve as both an anti-suicide photo and a gun control photo. Hemingway, in 1962, should not have had access to guns. If a license is granted, it should be able to be revoked similar to a driver’s license. Hemingway had a history of depression and was a severe alcoholic, two aspects that should have caused his family to remove him from guns.
What is the major conflict within the picture?
The major conflict of this photograph comes from what I researched above. The major conflict is person vs. self. I believe struggled with his manliness. Not to say he was gay (though that has been written about), but Hemingway appears to go above and beyond what it means to be a “man.” He fought in wars, he reported for wars, he hunted in Africa, he married four times, he was drunk in Paris all the time and he had guns, guns, guns. To protect himself? Did his wife like that? Did she feel safe? Did he know that one day he would kill himself?
What is the theme (at least the theme topic) of the photograph?
The theme of this photograph is the end is always near. Much like the poem “Auto Wreck” in that when the end will come is completely unknown. Also, how the end will come may seem surprising, but may be in front of your face all along. When Hemingway bought this gun I imagine that he didn’t say, “Well yes, this will be a good suicide weapon.” But that’s exactly what it was.
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