The Duplicity of Being American; Light Shed from the Japanese Perspective in the Devastating Wake of World War II

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1 Paige Hollen Visual Rhetoric across the Globe Dr. Alyssa O Brien Rhetorical Analysis Essay October 5, 2009 The Duplicity of Being American; Light Shed from the Japanese Perspective in the Devastating Wake of World War II At first glance, this seemingly sensational photo (see figure 1.1) celebrates typical children revealing their deep sentimentalities toward America. However, upon closer analysis, this photo offers a guiding light to the atrocities Japanese Americans faced during World War II. The circulation of romanticized images such as this gave no voice to the thousands of Japanese Figure 1.1 This picture depicts America s perspective on Japanese Americans experiences in internment camps. Americans who were ostracized during this time and created increased resentment towards Americans. This photograph characterizes Americans nonchalant attitudes about Japanese internment camps and reveals how images of internment camps from American perspectives may be used to mainly mitigate guilt felt from herding Japanese Americans into incarceration. Although this picture may have been used to reassure Americans of the actions of the government, its inaccuracy in depicting truthful images, manipulation of children to instigate pathos, and hasty generalizations without sufficient evidence results in a visual example of propaganda in America. This emulates the segregation that appeared throughout America, a segregation that created a harsh, discriminatory racial divide during World War II.

2 Hollen 2 Ideally, this American photographer desired for other Americans to view Japanese internment camps as places where the Japanese were merely held during the divisive times of war. The placement of the flag above the children draws the audiences eyes to the symbol of America. It shows how America is a superior power and relates to America s supremacy and its desire to protect its citizens. Although this may be rationalizing the government s policy of detaining Japanese Americans in internment camps during the war, the photographer attempts to portray these children as supportive of America and desirous to reconcile American prejudices towards Japanese Americans. After World War II began, Americans became resentful and suspicious of those of Japanese descent and chauvinism, racial slurs, and severe segregation occurred in communities across America. Although the Japanese Americans countered American intolerance by posting signs stating I Am an American, their attempts were to no avail. The Japanese were no longer considered Americans; they were enemies. The emphasis on the children s hands is also pertinent in the photographer s argument through this picture, and it suggests their deep loyalty to America as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Furthermore, the photographer s clever inclusion of the buildings situated behind the children creates the false impression that they are not detained by any walls. Essentially, they are free. The illustration of Japanese internment camps creates pathos within the viewer because he or she feels as though Japanese Americans are supporting America and are loyal to the country which they inhabit. As previously stated, the buildings in the background suggest that the Japanese Americans are free, thus they are supporting America through their own free will. American viewers may infer that the Japanese Americans truly desire to be on America s side. The pathos that this instigates may rise to an increased sense of unity and harmony between Americans and Japanese Americans. This image provides a compelling example of Japanese internment camps as seen through American eyes. It establishes ethos because Americans are founding and funding the

3 Hollen 3 internment camps; therefore most people perceived that the government that is permitting the publication of the photos must be knowledgeable about the practices in these camps. The patriotic photograph serves as a narration of life in the internment camps and suggests that the camps are places of unity, loyalty, and support for America. There is a direct comparison between the Japanese Americans and the flag, which highlights the duplicity of their status. On one hand, the Japanese Americans simply embody people of Japanese descent: tanned skin, dark hair, and almond-shaped eyes. Alternatively, they are American; they were born in America, support America, and pledge allegiance to America. This direct comparison of the Japanese American children to the American flag creates a discrepancy in their visual appearance as seen by other Americans compared to how they define themselves. In many cases, this characterizes American attitudes toward Japanese Americans. Although those of Japanese descent may classify themselves as American, Americans frequently reject this categorization and still deem them to be associated with Japan. Despite its intent to alleviate America s emotional pain, this photograph contains an extensive amount of logical fallacies, making the image ironic and misconstrued in the sober face of reality. This picture is supposed to serve as an example of how internment camps may be encountered; however, it invites viewers to make hasty generalizations about all internment camps. Although the photographer captured this specific sensational moment, the picture is not a realistic portrayal of the overall experience of internment camps. The picture portrays one seemingly joyful moment in the wake of devastating times. Visually unknown to the viewer, internment camps were overcrowded and provided poor living conditions. Crammed into barracks without heat, plumbing, or electricity, Japanese Americans were forced to find the means to survive on the bare minimum they were allotted. There seems to be a lack of concern for what is actually happening to those who are incarcerated, and the photographer does not show the truth of how the American government

4 Hollen 4 forced Japanese Americans to become victims of their own country. The photograph continues to stack evidence by only providing information from the American side of this controversy, and it persuades Americans to believe that internment camps are justified and accepted by Japanese Americans. It does not provide enough evidence regarding what truly happens on the other side of the barbed wire fences, thus creating an immense misconception of Japanese American attitudes towards internment camps. The image also confuses cause and effect, thus creating the post hoc fallacy. When Japanese Americans were herded into these camps due to American xenophobia, they did not suddenly become more American or more patriotic. If anything, they felt more disenfranchised from the county that segregated them due to their ancestry and appearance. By occupying internment camps, the Japanese Americans did not find more of America in themselves; rather, they were able to find what divided them with the rest of society. The most blatant fallacy of this photograph may also be due to the perspective of the photographer. Clearly an American, the photographer desires to showcase internment camps as humane, reasonable, and unifying. Americans thought Japanese Americans should be detained only for the safety of America and believed that Japanese Americans should continue to support and display their pride for being an American. However, would you be satisfied with a country that separated you from your community solely based on your ancestral affiliation? In addition, the photograph contains a number of discrete examples of irony. Rather than healing deep wounds, this photograph creates an unfair advantage for Americans because it does not show Japanese Americans side of the internment camps. They are given no voice; they have no way of defending themselves or communicating their story. This may instigate anger and resentment by the Japanese Americans toward Americans because the photograph is not truthfully portraying the prejudices or treatment Japanese Americans received during their incarceration by

5 Hollen 5 the American government. The usage of children has historically been used to instigate pathos in American society, yet it also reminds the viewer of the malice in Americans to be able to victimize thousands of innocent children. Subject to this type of segregation, these children lost their childhood purity and became accustomed to feeling ostracized. Many of these children were born in America, creating the ultimate paradox and showing the discrepancies of internment camps. The term Japanese American also allows for a wide variety of interpretations. The majority of the population at that time was born in America or had immigrated at early ages and was solely referred to as Japanese due to their physical appearance. Internally, they thought of themselves as Americans. While it may be true that in face of war, alliances to home countries may change, but that does not justify the assumption regarding what country to which a person may or may not be loyal. America has always been perceived as a place of many ideals. It is a cultural melting pot, a safe haven from tyrants, and a giver of opportunity. Pictures from American perspectives of the Japanese American internment camps may have been used to lessen the guilt associated with the destruction of these ideals; however, they do not capture the entire essence of the demoralizing experience that Japanese Americans endured as a result of the government s response to World War II. As Americans, the government has the right to protect the safety of its citizens in difficult times, yet that right does not justify objectifying thousands of innocent citizens in the process.

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