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12017-03-08T07:41:47-08:00Alex Greenberg78ce635cc49191379696ad53d6b19adf61083503159413plain2017-03-10T18:28:19-08:00Katie Liebetraudb91a02d57d776d7bef0da622781770c7d2f3cacIn Roland Barthes' text entitled The Photographic Image, he discuses the relationship between photos and text, mainly focusing on how their interaction effects each other. Barthes describes how text can become "parasitic" to an image, giving the image a specific meaning that is only actualized by the presence of the text. He explains how the is a historical reversible, since in the past, photos were used to bring words a more actualized meaning. This can be seen in this photo by comparing your initial thoughts of the photo to your thoughts after reading the text. At first text, it is unclear as to any of the setting of the photo. It appears to be just two women and two men who are happy--most likely spending time together casually, or maybe on a vacation. But, after reading the text, it becomes clear that these are actually people in the medical department of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade who are stationed in Spain. This difference in this significance pertains to the idea that the women were left out of the history of the Spanish Civil War. Had the parasitic text not been included, this photo would have been dismissed as an insignificant photo depicting some people hanging out; the fact that there were women present would not have been much of a big deal, as this was not out of the ordinary. But knowing what the women in this photo are a part of brings a new importance to the photo. It is depicting something that was left out from history. Women's presence in the Brigade was rarely documented, and this photo, along with the text, is a significant exception.
