Raising The Flag On Iwo Jima Analysis

One of the most iconic photographs of history, “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” was taken by Joe Rosenthal on February 23, 1945. This photograph is set in the backdrop of World War II: the deadliest military conflict in history. The United States of America declared war on Japan after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Part of the United States’ plan to defeat Japan in the Pacific was a strategy known as leapfrogging, or island hopping, where heavily fortified Japanese positions were bypassed in order to concentrate on more important islands. Iwo Jima was one of the islands targeted. Unfortunately, the solid defense of the island resulted in U.S. troops suffering high casualties. The battle eventually ended in American victory and six U.S. servicemen raised the flag over the battle-scarred island. Rosenthal, an Associated Press cameraman, just happened to be at the right place and time (Patterson). As the flag was being raised, he took a shot which would later be so inspiring and powerful that it spurred millions of Americans

First, the black and white picture makes an appeal to emotion. The monochromatic colors help to evoke a nostalgic and sentimental feeling while also giving it a sense of timelessness. That probably explains why this photo still persists in people’s memories after so many passing years. Furthermore, the placement of the soldiers and flag in the middle create a central focal point for the viewers. The eyes are following the straight pole of the flag downward into the ground and from there the rubble surrounding the scene become much more noticeable while also indicating the devastation of the battle. The image also supports the core American values of freedom and democracy. The struggling soldiers and the battered flag show that an oppressive dictatorship, such as the Empire of Japan, will never be able to overcome the perseverance of the American