Analysing Media Text

Starving boy and a Missionary/ Famine in Uganda

Identify some elements of the media text that are operating as signifiers and what their signifieds are.

The thin arm and hand of a dark-skinned Ugandan boy placed in the healthy-looking white humanitarian worker’s hand acts as a signifier in the image depicted. The contrast in body proportion comments on the obvious opposing living conditions, which in turn, creates the signified message of famine in third-world countries as opposed to the nourished living conditions in first-world countries.

The photograph is a powerful signification of malnutrition and hunger in third-world countries as represented by the skinny, black-skinned hand, contrasting with the white-skinned, normal-looking hand. The gaping hole in the boy’s red t-shirt acts as a signifier, which in turn pairs with the signified idea that there is essentially a ‘hole’ in this child’s life – that being the absence of a well-nourished diet. Furthermore, the juxtaposition between the white and black hand’s physical appearance reflects the differences in cultural diet fulfilment.

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What meanings are denoted, and identify some possible connotations.

Using Roland Barthes theory of semiotics to analyse this image, the idea of ‘famine’ and ‘unhealthy’ is denoted, as indicated by the thinness of the child’s hand juxtaposed against the ‘healthy’ and ‘ordinary’ hand of the man. The photo suggests that these two people have very opposing living conditions, specifically in relation to daily food intake.

The connotations implemented in this image reflect the wider issue of world hunger, particularly in countries that are mostly cultivated by a dark-skinned population, such as Uganda. The dark-skin juxtaposed against the white-skin illustrates the cultural differences in not only physical appearance, but more specifically the level of comfort in terms of accessibility to food in different cultures.

The photo holds a certain shock-value theme in order to emphasise the severity of malnutrition in third-world countries as indicated by the boy’s thin, bony arm and hand. The lack of muscle and tiny size of the child’s hand connotes the unhealthy, almost-deadly living conditions of a Ugandan lifestyle. This idea is further accentuated by the gaping hole in the child’s red t-shirt, as it suggests that it’s not the t-shirt that’s too big, rather it’s the the child who is too small for the t-shirt. This inclines the viewer of the photograph to feel not only empathy, but in a sense, guilty that they (likely) live a comfortable life, are well fed, and therefore, they fit their clothes unlike the boy depicted.

However, the role of the white man’s hand connotes a sense of hope, guidance and aid. The way in which his thumb is gently resting on the child’s hand suggests reassurance, which changes the tone of the image from confronting and appalling to a sense of relief; that people who aren’t physically struggling are empathetic and willing to help those who are. Despite obvious cultural differences, humanity is existent even in the most neglected countries.

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Can a wider cultural message or theme be identified?

The purposeful placement of the black-skinned child’s hand on top of the white-skinned man’s hand comments on the level of desperation surrounding African countries, such as Uganda, that are struggling in a starvation crisis. The dark hand on top signifies not only that the child is putting his trust in the white hand, but also that he is reaching out for aid. As far as handholding goes, it is likely that the white hand reached out (both literally and theoretically) first before the black hand was placed on top. This symbolises the level of comfort between Western, white-liberated civilisations – that are healthy, and therefore willing to aid those in discomfort – starving African countries.

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Additional Notes/Observations

The size of the hands can also be a reflection of cultural differences. The white hand is bigger, which is not only representative of the man’s physical wellbeing but also white privilege in our modern day society. The idea that essentially if you have white skin, you are likely to have more or ‘bigger’ resources, unlike the dark-skinned hand, which connotes not only being malnourished, but also underprivileged. The small size of the hand can reflect this idea of minimal opportunities and being in a less favourable circumstance. This juxtaposition serves as a representation of black and white culture worldwide.

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References

Mike Wells 1980, ‘Starving boy And A Missionary’ [image], Uganda Famine (Famous Photograph), Writely Expressed, viewed 12 August 2016, http://lalitkumar.in/blog/uganda-famine-famous-photograph/.