The relationship of the United States with Japan had undergone significant diplomatic strain leading into World War II and resulted in the widespread relocation of Japanese families beginning in 1942. The largest camp purposed for Japanese internment was established in Tulelake, California. An intellectual supporter of Japanese internment, Dr. John Thomas Mason, points at the location of an alleged demonstration within the camp while discussing to a House subcommittee how the demonstration could have been halted. Riots were commonplace within these locations and contributed to polarized ethnic ties between America and Japan.

Dr. Mason’s actions highlight a distinct period within American history—a time when restrictive action was taken against America’s own ethnic minorities with support from intellectual groups to mitigate foreign security concerns. This photograph demonstrates the ability of press photography to communicate the reality of Japanese internment. Dr. Mason’s well-dressed appearance shows an open acknowledgement of the press and his frank gesturing shows a lack of emotion toward his recollection of military strategy against Japanese prisoners. Most notably, the flashbulb camera allows the viewer to see Dr. Mason’s otherwise unexposed exercise of power, and the exact development enables him to exert his dominance within the photographed environment. This event does not communicate brutality or death but instead communicates extreme control. With no direct ties to those affected through internment and the use of public media to display his authority, Dr. Mason remains detached from Japanese prisoners and exerts a strong subhuman depiction of ethnic outsiders.