Blog Post #8- Butler

In class on Monday we discussed Butler’s piece on images. Butler has more of a positive view of images than Sontag. She criticizes Sontag by saying, “But this is a problematic response for at least two reasons: first, the photograph builds the evidence and, so, the claim; second, Sontag’s position misunderstands the way that non-verbal or non-linguistic media make their “arguments”” (70). Butler believes images can tell their audience enough without further explanation through writing. However, Sontag does not. She believes images need explanations because they cannot explain their meaning by themselves. Butler believes that even suffering can be seen through an image without further explanation. She explains her view by saying, “In particular, I want to understand how the frames that allocate the recognizability of certain figures of the human are themselves linked with broader norms that determine what will and will not be a grievable life” (63-64). In the image seen above is a new shirt by famous fashion designer Zara. In my opinion, this image is beyond offending because it represents the holocaust and what the Jews had to wear so that the Nazis could recognize Jews without having to ask for documentation. As Butler would question, what makes this a “norm” to be upset about? What are the “frames” in this image? I believe the frames and the norms are what the star of David represents and also the stripes and coloring of the shirt. Anyone with a former high school education can see that this is a clear representation of the shirts wore in the Holocaust. Both Butler and Sontag would view this image as offending. Butler would see this as offensive because there are clear frames that set up the image to be offending. Sontag would also view this image as offensive because it not only represents a sad time in history, but there is no writing to help back it up or explain Zara’s reasoning in designing this shirt. However, both can agree that this shirt is very offensive.

-Teylor Newsome