This visual argument helps us understand what an enormous difference there is between those two states. The audience, made up of the entire world, has to learn about the horrible conditions that kids in Africa die under, mainly because of the lack of food. This shocking image appeals both to ethical and emotional techniques, but not logical. There is nothing logical in this cultural gap. The observer remains disturbed by the emotional intensity expressed by the picture and, at first, he concentrates on the dying child. After a few sentences, the background begins to reveal its real importance. The problem of hunger in the world is best depicted by associations like Unicef, who try to attract public interest with images. The shape of the African content indicates to us the place, the thinness of the child indicates the problem, and the obese people in the background show that food should be distributed better throughout the world. It is like a charge against the richest societies, like the American one. Yet
the main humanitarian associations that fight against these problems are mainly American. The land of hope and prosperity, is that not ironic?
At the same time, we shouldn’t underestimate the problem of obesity. More than 6 out of 10 adults are obese or overweight with a percentage of ‘extralarge’ surpassing 25% of 18 of our state population. The two arguments are complementary, leaving to reader the possibility to think that the only possible solution is: a better distribution of money and food in this world which is constantly controlled by rich countries.
Eleonora Rossi (4B)