"It's Just A Ride"

The ever so tightening chain of society chokes and pulls at the true spirit of a human. In the photo, "It's Just A Ride" by Bill hicks was posted on Occupy Arts' Facebook page. At first, the message of this photograph was unclear. The breaking free of the horses could just be glanced upon and not have any thought put behind it. However, the colors, setting, and other visual aspects really grabbed my attention, and allowed me to brainstorm on the true meaning of this photograph. First, the horses escaping from such a beautiful structure really enforce the thought the theme of this photo is escapism. The fact that the carousel is used as part of the focus allows the view to reminisce on their childhood, and remember how simple life use to be. After, my first few minutes analyzing this photo I believe that the main concept of this photograph is that although everything seems to be beautiful and perfection the outside, on the inside the "horses" feel chained to the restriction of what is "beautiful" waiting for the chance to escape from this so called perfect life. The import visual aspects of this photograph, are the colors used, the carousel is full of bright, happy, youthful colors, and the horses as well. The weather is perfect, and the grass is green. However, if you take a closer look the "ropes" or chains of the carousel are actually black and normally they are gold. These have an impression on me by allowing me to see that the horses are escaping the norm, and breaking free from what is expected, and being able to break from the chains and restrictions of society. As I go more in depth in my analysis I realize that this picture is simply a symbolic photograph of today's' society. The carousel is actually the norm of society, the ropes are the chains that keep us inside the norm, and the horses symbolize people breaking free from society. The bench thus symbolizes the obstacles one faces when breaking free. Finally the fact that the horses are identical symbolize the identity that is missing from today's' society. There is no text included in this photograph. I believe that the photo does not need text because it is left up to the viewer to create his or her own thoughts on the piece of art. However, the title does hint at the meaning of life. Many people say life is just a ride, you have to sit back and enjoy the ride, and that is why I think "It's Just A Ride" relates to the journey of life. I believe the main argument being made in this piece of art is that one cannot be contained and trapped by society. It also shows that society "chains" us to the norm in order for citizens to not be different and do what they want. I found this argument after looking at all the details, and finding different meanings for all things in the photograph. The audience of this art is the citizens of society. The main purpose is to break free of restrictions of life and society. The ethos of the photo is Bill Hicks the creator of the piece, and Occupy Art Facebook page. The pathos that I experienced while viewing this photograph varies from feeling restricted to eagerness of what is to come. Logos was nonexistent in this piece due to the fact that it was a photograph.