Anzac Day 2019, Auckland Domain: A Photographic Report Analysis

This report provides a detailed analysis of a photograph taken on Anzac Day, April 25, 2019, in Auckland Domain. The analysis focuses on a specific incident captured in the image, involving armed officers and gathered citizens. The report explores potential interpretations of the officer's state, considering factors such as illness, accidents, or intoxication, and the resulting reactions of those present. Furthermore, the report connects the photograph to historical and contextual relationships, drawing parallels to James Luna's performance art, which addresses issues of native culture, racial discrimination, and the impact of dominant cultures. The report analyzes the photograph as photographic reportage, highlighting its significance in media coverage of the event. The conclusion emphasizes the portrayal of the enactment by military forces during the ANZAC day observance. The report references several scholarly articles that provide context and supporting information.

Running Head: ART HISTORY
ART HISTORY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Notes

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Introduction:
The picture provided is of the Anzac day that is observed in both the countries of
Australia and that of New Zealand. The day is a very auspicious day for both the citizens of
Australia and that of New Zealand. The day is celebrated as the national day of remembrance for
both the countries. It is observed as it commemorates the all the Australian and the New
Zealanders who have been fighting in the wars and sacrificed their lives for the protection of the
people of their respective countries. So the day is observed to mainly to remember them of their
previous deeds and offer respect on their behalf. Remembering them for their deeds is an
important part of the Anzac day. The contributions and the peacekeeping operations of the
soldiers and the brave men are acknowledged and remembered. It is observed on the day of 25th
of April, every year. The name ANZAC is the abbreviated form of the Australian and New
Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Their first encounter in the World War I (1914-1918), as they
landed at Gallipolli and initiated their campaign. 1
Picture analysis:
The picture is take on the event of the observation of the Anzac day. It was taken on 25th of April
2019 at Auckland Domain. The picture is taken on a certain case that happened during the event
that was going on2. In the picture, we can see that there are groups of armed officers who come
to attend the event and many citizens have gathered to attend the event as well. In the picture, we
can see an officer who is in a problematic state and other officers who are concerned in helping
and maintaining the decorum of the event. The officers are found to be quite helpful and highly
motivated in their duties. The officer who is found to be in the problematic state can have several
1 Sumartojo, Shanti. "On atmosphere and darkness at Australia’s Anzac Day dawn service." Visual Communication
14, no. 3 (2015): 267-288.
2 Clark, Anna. "Anzac Day: Then and Now." Australian Historical Studies (2017).

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reasons for being in that state as it is a memorable day that includes loss of close ones, friends
companions, mates and brothers. Thus the state of the army officials is a lot problematic as
suddenly they have found one of their men to be out of state or not normal hence the situation
have made themselves fall into an uncomfortable situation. There can be several interpretations
that can be made by analyzing the picture, firstly it can be assumed that the officer is somewhat
fallen sick suddenly, or may be he has become physically challenged due to some accident, or
maybe he is intoxicated, or even he may be drunk or high. Therefore, this several types of
interpretations can be analyzed by just analyzing the picture provided as it is. Hence, the idea of
the situation can be made according to the validity and the condition of the situation of the
incident that has been captured in the lens. It can also be interpreted that the situation has been
serious by judging the facial expression and the body language of the people who are being
captured in the picture. Thus, it can be also be assumed that the incident happened quite
surprisingly and suddenly. This justifies the reaction to the people to the situation that is quite
surprising and much unexpected. 3
Historical and Contextual Relationships:
The photo is can be associated to be an enactment of the situation of the last trial scene is
quite popular due to the actor named James Luna which showed him to be drunk and the in the
End of the Trial, 19904. Thus is a very important and famous artwork as well as there have been
several performances related to this context. The historical situation comes as the James Luna the
performance artist first engaged the issues of the gaining priority of the native culture and the
racial discrimination that marginalized the native identities and disrupted the culture of the
3 Hamilton, Andrew. "Remembering shared humanity on Anzac day." Eureka Street 28, no. 8 (2018): 45.
4 Blackburn, Kevin. "Anzac Day and the Language of Sport and War." In War, Sport and the Anzac Tradition, pp.
40-64. Palgrave Pivot, London, 2016.

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natives as well. Hence, he gave emphasis on the question of authenticity, tripping over the
problem of the body ‘inherent self-knowledge”. He thus projects that how the dominant culture
have nearly eradicated the native cultures and hence they nearly became dead which seemed as a
stifling experience for the natives. The act enacted by the officers may be similar to that of Luna
as the he once enacted to being highly drunk such that he was not in the state to defend himself
from any type of external acts and the dominant rulers that is the ‘whites’ treated him brutally by
kicking and knocking him down the ground5. Thus the enactment that has been done by the
officer may be to show to the harmony that they reside on and the also to show respect that they
these kind of actions are treated generously and there is a mutual sense of respect for the
offender that they have for each other. Hence this enactment also carries a sense of mutual trust
and respect to the natives of the country and thereby granting the acceptance of their culture and
the native identity. 6
The picture that has been taken can be analyzed as photographic reportage. It is caught
during be taken as a covering if some kind of report. Naturally, this type of pictures are taken for
some special purpose. Therefore, the fact of highlighting the incident is important for the media.
The image has been caught in the act of the enactment was going on. 7
Conclusion:
Therefore the task covers the idea of the implementation of the enactment in the picture
and highlighted in the matter of observing the day of ANZAC by the military force which the
picture portrays. The picture is connected to the day of ANZAC as it was clicked during that day.
The picture reflects a situation of the enactment of an act by the military forces.
5 Fielding, Marcus. "Anzac day then and now [Book Review]." Australian Army Journal 13, no. 2 (2016): 143.
6 Blocker, Jane. "Failures of Self-Seeing: James Luna Remembers Dino." PAJ: A Journal of Performance and Art
23, no. 1 (2001): 18-32.
7 Douglas, Martin. "Representations of Anzac: A feminist perspective." Teaching History 52, no. 4 (2018): 27.

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References:
Blocker, Jane. "Failures of Self-Seeing: James Luna Remembers Dino." PAJ: A Journal of
Performance and Art 23, no. 1 (2001): 18-32.
Sumartojo, Shanti. "On atmosphere and darkness at Australia’s Anzac Day dawn service." Visual
Communication 14, no. 3 (2015): 267-288.
Clark, Anna. "Anzac Day: Then and Now." Australian Historical Studies (2017).
Douglas, Martin. "Representations of Anzac: A feminist perspective." Teaching History 52, no. 4
(2018): 27.
Hamilton, Andrew. "This Anzac day embrace NZ values." Eureka Street 29, no. 8 (2019): 54.
Hamilton, Andrew. "Remembering shared humanity on Anzac day." Eureka Street 28, no. 8
(2018): 45.
Blackburn, Kevin. "Anzac Day and the Language of Sport and War." In War, Sport and the
Anzac Tradition, pp. 40-64. Palgrave Pivot, London, 2016.
Fielding, Marcus. "Anzac day then and now [Book Review]." Australian Army Journal 13, no. 2
(2016): 143.