Post 02

“An image can denote certain apparent truths, providing documentary evidence of objective circumstances. The denotative meaning of the image refers to its literal, descriptive meaning. The same photograph connotes more culturally specific meanings. Connotative meanings rely on the cultural and historical context of the image and its viewers’ lived, felt knowledge of those circumstances – all that the image means to them personally and socially (Sturken and Cartwright 19).”

This is an image of a bible I found online taken by Oleksandr Pakhay from Ukraine.  It is taken in someone’s home (which is evidence on the top right hand corner with the wooden floor, a glass table, and part of the cable), maybe on the dining table. The primary elements in this image – an opened bible and hands in praying position –are clearly shot in the center, with secondary elements: the ear of the wheat and bread. It is interested to note that the elements in the photo are carefully selected and positioned because of the unnatural look of the scene; no one would read and pray with the wheat and bread aside. Plus the wheat is blocking part of the bible, which will cause difficulty while flipping the pages. 

Even though the denotation of the image is as simple as such, the elements suggest various levels of connotative meanings. First of all, this is a praying scene taking place in a private environment. Praying is to bring oneself before God. If the denotation is a person praying, the first level of connotation is a person speaking to god through prayer.  Secondly, the bible is opened which means that the person was reading it before his prayer. Bible is the word of God. By reading and praying back and forth, the image represents communication (with God) rather than one person’s solo speech. The word of God is also our daily bread, which is clearly suggested by the wheat and bread aside. The very action of reading is also the action of consuming. This point out that the bible is not only a book of knowledge, it also gives us hope and faith for the scripture says that man shall not live with bread alone (Deuteronomy 8:3).

Work Cited

Holy Bible. New Revised Standard Version/Chinese Union Version. National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America/ National TSPM & CCC. Shanghai: National TSPM & CCC, 2006.

Pakhay, Oleksandr. ON Table Bible, The Ear Of The Wheat And Bread And Hands Of The Person Who Be Prayed. Ukraine. 123rf.com. Web. 7 Feb. 2013. <http://www.123rf.com/photo_3605564_on-table-bible-the-ear-of-the-wheat-and-bread-and-hands-of-the-person-who-be-prayed.html>

Sturken, Marita and Lisa Cartwright. Practices of Looking: an Introduction to Visual Culture. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. Print.