The most striking aspect of the photo in Appendix 1, which consists of a horse, is the manner that the photo is taken in terms of the photo’s point of focus. The photographer could have opted to take the photo of the entire horse. However, he or she eliminates the horse’s head, tail, and legs. As highlighted by the focus of the light and the enlargement of the image, this makes the ribs of the horse to be the photo’s point of focus.
I believe that this is intended to pass a message across. Essentially, the ribs are highly visible as if protruding from the skin. Historically and up to date, human beings value and take care of horses. The protruding ribs highlight several possibilities. It could be that the horse is being neglected by its owner, most probably because that owner cannot take care of it due to ill health or other reasons.
It could also be a sign that in the area where the horse is located, there is persistent poverty that the horse cannot get any feeds. Optionally, it could be that the horse has been stricken by a disease that makes it difficult for the horse to feed well. This brings about uncertainty and sadness as it becomes apparent that under whichever circumstances, the horse is of ill health, and its survival chances may be limited.
Nevertheless, by today’s standards, horses are owned by the affluent and persons with a passion for keeping horses. Considerably, one cannot say that there is extreme poverty that could make a horse experience similar starvation depicted in the picture. Poverty and starvation are significantly controlled. Also, medicine has advanced to the extent that most diseases are curable or manageable.
This highlights that a person can only think of an incurable disease as the only cause of the horse’s ill health. In this case, the horse’ ill-health resonates with the fear of the unknown, the inability to tell what may happen next. Importantly, the horse’ ill-health resonates with death, a hidden feeling that most would dare not explore. One can picture human beings and the rest of animals getting infected with the contagious disease in case a cure is not found soon. It can lead to massive death incidents, which people are not prepared to handle.
The photo depicts a political landscape that is as weak and paralyzing as the disease or level of poverty that affects the horse. It seems that there is poor political leadership that is unable to take care of the needs of its people. It may be that the political leadership is so disoriented that it has caused an economic depression that is epidemically fatal like the disease that could have infected the horse. Policy direction may be poor with very little attention to pertinent matters, such as dealing with diseases, animal rights, and poverty eradication. Otherwise, horses would not be suffering because of ill health, poverty, or negligence.
There is also a possibility that the government has been struck by a massive problem that is beyond its control. This may include a contagious disease that is affecting horses and tragic economic downfall. This also goes for other distractions, such as increased war that may shift the government’s attention from the issues affecting people and animals, such as diseases. Essentially, whichever the perspective, the political landscape is highly disoriented to address the plight of the people.