1. I couldn’t believe that in six minutes Klein was able to get so much across during his presentation. One thing that I feel I really thought was important that I took away from this video was that idea that one should act on what you take away from a photograph. One should pay attention to whatever emotion is felt when viewing a photograph, as some are so incredibly powerful. It had also never really consciously occurred to me that powerful images don’t have to be graphic. Klein showed the photo of the women lying down by a grave with her head between her arms. It wasn’t graphic at all, but it hit me. I think it all has to do with human ability to feel emotion, to react. We, as humans, naturally have fairly strong reactions and emotions in response to things we see, watch, hear, etc. Much of it, if not all of it, should be credited to the biology of the human, as it is ourselves that find the interest to take photos and, in turn, react to them. These photos wouldn’t mean anything if we were incapable of feeling something.
2. Klein did not possess any unusual or incredible effective speaking techniques. He did, however, possess techniques vital to an effective presentation – he was articulate, calm, and did not move in such a way that was distracting. One must also consider that much of the attention was not focused on Klein himself, but the photos and ideas he presented.
3. I found Klein’s presentation style to be extremely effective. For one, since he was discussing the power of photography, it only made since that he would support his ideas with famous photographs themselves. He did not go into great deal on any of the photographs. This enabled viewers to have their own independent reaction to the photograph – the aspect that has enabled photographs to be so powerful – emotion. Since many were well-known photographs, the presentation also enabled many viewers to revist, or feel once again their reaction to an event. Photographs used in the presentation not only provoked emotion and memory from viewers, but also served as direct evidence and support for the point Klein was getting across. On another aspect, the duration of the presentation was effective. Klein said what was important and let the photographs support and continue his presentation. In a way, the photographs he used served the exact purpose for his presentation that he told powerful photographs do. The presentation was exactly to the point. The short duration of it enabled the audience to recall their own memories and comprehend their own thoughts and reactions to the presentation – all that Klein said photographs do.
4. This video matters to many aspects in life. We all know what a certain photograph can make us feel, but it is important to realize what these emotions can make us do. Klein made the point of acting. This is obviously essential to make change, to make things happen. Today, with such a visual, media-consumed world, it is vital that we realize what things we see to be important. With images racing past our eyes many times a day, one must be in tune with what image speaks to him or her, and what image matters to him or her. Examples of well-known photos presented by Klein obviously had a great impact on the world and mattered to many, many people. One connection to me personally – right now, we are studying the Vietnam War in U.S. History. Even before Klein brought the “living room war,” into his presentation, many of my thoughts while watching the video were of it. Also, many photos shown by Klein were photos I had recently viewed at other times and places in my life. This video meant even more to me after being instructed of the impact of these images in greater detail in other classes. For example, during Vietnam, when the photo of the screaming Vietnamese children running away from American soldiers was released, it provoked an intense reaction in America – one specifically, in this case, of opposition to the soldiers themselves, not just the war. Photos can provoke action, alter perspectives, change perception, and ultimately, change the world.
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