WP 1: Rough Draft 2

America was in a time of continued rebuilding in the early 1940's. World War II was in full swing and the nation was supporting the men on the front lines through manufacturing. The United States had factories that made everything from weapons to munitions and even clothing for our troops over seas. This had created large and populous urban environments that were growing is size and diversity daily. The farming industry was also on the rise as farmers had to provide food for more people. Namely those who were working in the factories and could not grow food for themselves in the urban setting. This being the case, the national income of farmers more than doubled from 1940 to 1943. The country was self sufficient and well on its way to putting all effects of the Great Depression behind. The people of America were optimistic again and could look forward to a day where there would be peace and happiness in the United States once again.

This photograph, Farmland in Catskill Country, New York State, was taken in 1943 by John Collier Jr., a photographer for the Farm Securities Administration and the Office of War Information. The Farm Securities Administration was put together during the Great Depression to purchase dying farms and provide some sort of support for farmers in need. Much of the time farmers who could not afford their farms any longer were relocated to suburbs of the large cities where factories were and helped them get a job. The project that Collier did in the 1940's would have been documenting the farms that were now beginning to flourish again. The purpose of this photo shoot was to show the American people that the country was on the right track again. This would have calmed those who felt that the country was in trouble and created a feeling of happiness. Farmland in Catskill Country, New York State, enforces that idea peace and happiness were on the horizon for the people of the United States. This is shown through elements such as vectors of attention, framing, and coloration.

The coloration of this photo works together with the other elements to create that pathos. All of the hues in the photo are very natural and earthy tones. The eye is first drawn to the rustic and weather structures that stand out against the lush green of the landscape and the blue of the sky. The different hues of green create a depth for the photo and add to the vastness of the land all the way back to the Catskill Mountains on the horizon. The natural lighting allows the viewer to see this valley as if the viewer were there. While these hues are all natural, they create a contrast that evokes more emotions. The saturated blue sky in the top right hand corner of the photo helps the white clouds stand out more in the photo.

This photo was very specifically and intentionally framed in this manner. The old buildings are clearly the main subject of the photo. However, the fact that so much of the sky and landscape are in the photo means something. This photo captures the beauty and vastness of the Catskill region. This beauty appeals to pathos to create that feeling of happiness or peace. The amount of landscape and sky in the photograph create a depth as well. The eye is seeing much more than if the buildings were centered. However, through the buildings, the viewer is reminded that this is a farm and is serving a purpose for the country.

Vectors of attention are very important in this picture. The first thing that the viewers eye is drawn to are the very rustic structures that are prominent in the photo. They are the closest subjects to the camera in the photo. The next subject that demands the viewers attention is the vast amount of blue sky that is in the photo. The eye then shifts down to the abundant pasture land that is below the sky. As the viewer fallows the tree lines and hills, eventually they are led to the barely visable outline of the Catskill Mountains. The very last thing that is noticed when looking at this photo is the small part of a road that is barely noticable in the lower right hand corner of the photo. The vectors of attention take the viewer in a counter-clockwise circular path through the photo as the road brings the eye back to the old structures.

Farmland in the Catskill Country, New York State creates a feeling of peace and happiness for the American people through different vectors of attention, specific and deliberate framing, and coloration via hue and saturation. The war created opportunity for the once downtrodden people of the country. Urban factories and the rural farms were giving people much needed jobs and boosted the economy of the United States right out of the Great Depression.

Works Cited

"Natural Agriculture." 18 Feb 2010. Catskill Mountain Foundation, Web. 18 Feb 2010. .

"Biography of John Collier Jr. ." The American Image. 2000. University of New Mexico, Web. 18 Feb 2010.

WP 1: Rough Draft 1

America was in a time of continued rebuilding in the early 1940's.  World War II was in full swing and the nation was supporting the men on the front lines through manufacturing.  The United States had factories that made everything from weapons to munitions and even clothing for our troops  over seas.  This had created large and populous urban environments that were growing is size and diversity daily.  The farming industry was also on the rise as farmers had to provide food for more people.  Namely those who were working in the factories and could not grow food for themselves in the urban setting.  This being the case, the national income of farmers more than doubled from 1940 to 1943.  The country was self sufficient and well on its way to putting all effects of the Great Depression behind.  The people of America were optimistic again and could look forward to a day where there would be peace and happiness in the United States once again.  

This photograph, Farmland in Catskill Country, New York State, was taken in 1943 by John Collier Jr., a photographer for the Farm Securities Administration and the Office of War Information.  The photographs that he took while employed there were to document farm life in the New England area of the United States.  The Farm Securities Administration was put together during the Great Depression to purchase dying farms and provide some sort of support for farmers in need.  Much of the time farmers who could not afford their farms any longer were relocated to suburbs of the large cities where factories were and helped them get a job.  The project that Collier did in the 1940's would have been documenting the farms that were now beginning to flourish again.  Photographers had been shooting pictures of farms from the creation of the Farm Securities Administration in 1935.  The purpose of this photo shoot was to show the American people that the country was on the right track again.  This would have calmed those who felt that the country was in trouble and created a feeling of happiness.  Farmland in Catskill Country, New York State, enforces that idea peace and happiness were on the horizon for the people of the United States.  This is shown through elements such as vectors of attention, framing, and coloration.

Vectors of attention are very important in this picture.  The first thing that the viewers eye is drawn to are the very rustic structures that are prominent in the photo.  They are the closest subjects to the camera in the photo.  The next subject that demands the viewers attention is the vast amount of blue sky that is in the photo.  The eye then shifts down to the abundant pasture land that is below the sky.  As the viewer fallows the tree lines and hills, eventually they are led to the barely visable outline of the Catskill Mountains.  The very last thing that is noticed when looking at this photo is the small part of a road that is barely noticable in the lower right hand corner of the photo.  The vectors of attention take the viewer in a counter-clockwise circular path through the photo as the road brings the eye back to the old structures.  

This photo was very specifically and intentionally framed in this manner.  The old buildings are clearly the main subject of the photo.  However, the fact that so much of the sky and landscape are in the photo means something.  This photo captures the beauty and vastness of the Catskill region.  This beauty appeals to pathos to create that feeling of happiness or peace.  The amount of landscape and sky in the photograph create a depth as well.  The eye is seeing much more than if the buildings were centered.  However, through the buildings, the viewer is reminded that this is a farm and is serving a purpose for the country.  


The coloration of this photo works together with the other elements to create that pathos.  All of the hues in the photo are very natural and earthy tones.  The eye is first drawn to the rustic and weather structures that stand out against the lush green of the landscape and the blue of the sky.  The different hues of green create a depth for the photo and add to the vastness of the land all the way back to the Catskill Mountains on the horizon.  The natural lighting allows the viewer to see this valley as if the viewer were there.  While these hues are all natural, they create a contrast that evokes more emotions.  The saturated blue sky in the top right hand corner of the photo helps the white clouds stand out more in the photo.                  

Farmland in the Catskill Country, New York State creates a feeling of peace and happiness for the American people through different vectors of attention, specific and deliberate framing, and coloration via hue and saturation.  The war created opportunity for the once downtrodden people of the country.  Urban factories and the rural farms were giving people much needed jobs and boosted the economy of the United States right out of the Great Depression.  

Works Cited

"Natural Agriculture." 18 Feb 2010. Catskill Mountain Foundation, Web. 18 Feb 2010. .

"Biography of John Collier Jr. ." The American Image. 2000. University of New Mexico, Web. 18 Feb 2010.

WP 1: Statement of Purpose

America was in a time of continued rebuilding in the early 1940's.  World War II was in full swing and the nation was supporting the men on the front lines through manufacturing.  The farming industry was also on the rise as farmers had to provide food for more people.  Namely those who were working in the factories.  The country was self sufficient and well on its way to putting all effects of the Great Depression behind.  "Farmland in the Catskill country, New York state" was taken in 1943 by John Collier Jr., a photographer for the Farm Securities Administration.

The purpose of writing project one is to provide a rhetorical analysis on the photo "Farmland in the Catskill country, New York state." This analysis will argue the objective of the photographer of "Farmland in the Catskill country, New York state." and the views on that argument of the author of this project. These views will be backed with rhetorical appeals and techniques that can be found in the text Compose Design Advocate. This will ensure a common understanding for the primary audience of this project.

As this writing project will be posted on the internet, the audience could be anyone that comes across the blog post.  However, this document will be written with the primary audience in mind.  This primary audience consists of the professor of English 151:Rhetoric as Argument and the author's classmates in that same class.  Along with this specific audience, other audiences that must be considered are other professors of the college and future english students.  Since this audience is so broad, this project must keep the entire body interested in the subject matter.  This will be done by providing important and relevant information to justify the author's argument.  The writing in the project also has to be unique so that it will stand out against the seventeen other projects that will be posted along with this one.

Since this audience is potentially endless, the project must be written to accommodate all members.  For that to occur, the writing must be done in a professional manner.  The first person voice will be left out of the text and language from the book, Compose Design Advocate, will be used.  This will provide a base knowledge that is available to any member of the audience.

The context is also very important to the composition of the project.  Again, this essay will be posted on the internet.  Any person with access to the internet could potentially view this project.  Since the project will be posted on the internet, it only makes sense to take advantage of the vastness of its resources.  The hyperlinks and media objects will provide additional background information as needed by the audience.  This will have a positive impact on the project.  For example, an e-version of the text, Compose Design Advocate, will be available with the click of the mouse.

There are some potential problems that could happen with an audience this large.  This essay cannot get too specific so that if read, the reader will not understand the entire piece.  To combat this, examples must be included an the appropriate back ground information will need to be provided without overpowering the main concept of the project.

The desired outcome of this project would be for the audience member to come away with understanding of the author's argument.  It would also be ideal for the audience member to form some original ideas of their own based on the information and knowledge provided in the essay.  The argument should inspire the audience so that they can begin to do the some with other pieces of composition.  

WP 1: Pre-Writing Assignment 3

The Catskill Mountains are located in the southeast region of New York state. This entire area was once known as America's wilderness and is famous for its natural beauty. This is apparent in any picture you see of this area, including the photo I chose, Farmland in the Catskill country, New York. While the beauty of this region of the United States is undeniable, capturing that beauty was not the primary goal of John Collier Jr., the photographer. In 1943, Collier was employed by the Farm Securities Administration and the Office of War Information as a photographer. His primary assignments were documenting farms and land on the east coast. While this would have influenced what he photographed, Collier would have taken spectacular shots that captured the land and beauty no matter what. He was a very good documental photographer. In a previous post, I was writing under the understanding that the photo I chose was taken in 1933. However, after some investigation and research, I found that the picture was actually taken a decade later in 1943.

In 1943, America was just regaining its footing after the devastating Great Depression and World War II was well under way. Americans were starting to feel better now with the economy on the upswing. Farming would have been a great industry to be a part of in the 1940's. Farmers were making more that double what they were in the 1930's with the peak profit coming in 1944 at just over 20 billion dollars. During this time, The Farm Securities Administration was not doing too much buying of poor farms as the market was good for them. They were completing their mission of "showing Americans, American." The FSA was known for it small but influential photography department that documented farm life from 1935 to 1944.

This information did change how I viewed the photo. I know see it more as a teaching tool. The photographers of the FSA wanted to show the rest of the country what was going on in the eastern United States. They wanted to capture the beauty. The sole purpose of these photos was to inform people. Photos like this would have reinforced that feeling that everything was on the right track and America was on the rise. I still get that feeling of calm when I look at it but I now sense pride in it. This farm most likely went through tough times and could have even been bought by the FSA. However, it was now back in full force, raising livestock and crops. The Great Depression was over and America was back in the saddle.

Works Cited

"Natural Agriculture." 18 Feb 2010. Catskill Mountain Foundation, Web. 18 Feb 2010. .

"Biography of John Collier Jr. ." The American Image. 2000. University of New Mexico, Web. 18 Feb 2010.

WP 1: Pre-Writing Assignment 2

John Collier Jr., the photographer of the photo of the farmland in Catskill country in New York State, was a brilliant photographer.  He knew exactly what he wanted in the picture when he was looking through his viewfinder.  At the time this photo was taken, there was not a whole lot Collier could have done in terms of editing his shots after he took them.  This meant he was thinking about the coloration, framing, lighting, focus, and cropping as he was shooting his photos.  Some cropping could be done but there was no such thing as photoshop in the 1930's.

The vectors of attention in my photo start with the buildings in the foreground.  These are the first objects that catch your eye so this would naturally be the starting point.  As I discussed in our first pre-writing assignment, The flow, or vectors draw us through the green pastures, past clusters of trees, with all of this eventually taking us to the mountains on the horizon.  By taking our eyes on this journey, Collier takes us through a beautiful and obviously quite picturesque countryside of the Catskill area in New York.  We can see the beauty and simplicity of a farm in the 1930's.

The fact that this photo is in color also makes a statement.  This was fairly new for the times and there are not a lot of color photographs from this era.  When you think of the Great Depression era photos, images of breath taking countryside do not come to mind.  The norm for photos of this time was that of somber workers working for low wages to try and make ends meet for their families.  These would also be done in black and white film.  These photos would definitely stand out against photos of that nature.  This would have been done on purpose.  Collier's purpose for his photography was to show America America.  These color photos would show the beauty found on the east coast.

As with most landscape photos, the entire photo is in focus.  This allows us to be able to see the entire landscape; from the buildings in the foreground to the mountains in the distance.  The focus also lends itself to the purpose of the photo.  The purpose is to show the landscape of a farm.  If the purpose was to document old farm buildings, the focus and framing would be a little different.  The photo would not track to the landscape.

The lighting is also important here.  Since it is not so easy to control the lighting over such a great area such as in a landscape like this, time of day is important for the photo.  It is clearly sometime in mid-day. There is no evidence of sunrise or sunset.  The focus was to be on the land and the rolling hills leading to the mountains.  The sky does not really draw from the over all effect of the photo.  It does however, add to it.  It adds to the vastness and beauty of the land that Collier wanted to capture when he documented the Catskill country.