Week6: Response to Molotov Man by Jialu

Art can be translated in many ways, but fact can’t. Fact should be objective, which means that it cannot and should not be translated—once it is translated, it becomes something subjective and thus it is no longer a fact. Susan Meiselas took the photograph of Pablo Arauz in order to show the true story behind him—the rebel against the control of Samoza family. She wants to preserve the original story, since it would be disrespectful of Pablo if his action of rebellion is twisted into other meanings and is used for purposes other than the advocation of the spirit of revolution. However, for many people like Joy Garnett, who don’t know the story of Pablo Arauz, the image of “Molotov Man” is merely a symbol that is open to interpretations. They use the “Molotov Man” as a tool of expressing their own opinions. After their recreation of the photograph, “Molotov Man” becomes something completely personal. I think there’s nothing wrong with Joy’s recreation of “Molotov Man”, because after all “Molotov Man” is not Pablo Arauz, so it doesn’t necessarily have to bear the story of Pablo.

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