Studium and Punctum Breakdown

The terms studium and punctum were coined by Roland Barthes. The idea of analyzing a picture through these two means, to me, seems very similar to using denotation and connotation. Studium equals "meanings that are nameable", while punctum is supposed to "sting" the viewer. In other words, the punctum is what the picture means to those looking at it.

What's interesting is where these two means of analysis could lead. After observing a picture subjectively, each person will usually be influenced to form a specific "truth" behind the image. Truth is in quotations in order to represent that it may not be the truth at all, but only what the photographer hopes for us to believe.



In this picture the studium is simple, as it usually is. There is a bald man raising an assault riffle with one hand. He has sunglasses and a beard appearing to be around 40 years of age. On his gun there are orange letters, visibly reading "WE SHALL OVER-" Behind him is a crowd of people all holding up flags. In the skyline of the picture, right alongside the assault rifle there is a tall, thin white structure which is very recognizable the Washington  Monument. The man has a very firm expression on his face.

The punctum perfectly overlaps the truth one would form after seeing this picture. However, understanding the punctum will explain why that truth is formed. I think this picture reminds most of its viewers of the same thing, the second amendment. This is clearly a man who thinks he deserves to have a gun. What makes this picture so convincing is the simplicity of the argument it inceptively forms. There is a man proudly waving a gun in front of a monument representing one of the most applauded characters in american history and his noteworthy accomplishments which turned this country into one were all people have the right to own a gun. Well, that amongst many other, if not more important than equally as necessary, freedoms. The words on the gun allude to the same argument. In the context, it's extremely likely that the whole quote reads "We shall overcome", referring to the African-American civil rights movement. The point is, those politicians who are trying enforce stricter gun control laws are oppressing liberties all men are entitled to. Oh, and the large protest in the back is pretty effective at provoking thoughts of revolution as well.

To me, a truly effective punctum should allow the truth taken away from an image to be accessible and straight to the point. This picture does that well. Whether your for gun control or against it, the picture absolutely says "Owning a weapon is our right as Americans". Of course, the opposing viewpoint is no where to be seen in this picture, but that may very well be the point. This picture was taken from the New York times, known to be very liberal in their opinions.