Referent by Nancy Rubio

According to Roland Barthes, referent is the basic understanding given to the photograph when is first looked at. Yet it requires to be analyzed in detail to understand the deeper meaning that it is actually portraying. “It is not impossible to perceive the photographic signifier (certain professionals do so), but it requires a secondary action of knowledge or of reflection (Barthes, 20). For example, this image that I selected is of two soldiers helping the opposing soldier. It demonstrates the capturing of the man who’s life is now endangered they can keep him alive or take his life away which is evident in the picture.

 Depending on the way that the photograph is looked at, it is clearly understood what is going on. However, the referent changes, it can be viewed and interpreted differently depending what side of the image is analyzed. One can feel pity and remorse for the man on the first left side of the photograph because the referent only shows a soldier pointing a gun on the opposing soldier’s head. Moreover, if one analyzes the far right side of the photograph, one can feel compassionate for the man because the referent demonstrates a soldier helping the opposing soldier in need. Overall, the referent is a way of obtaining a clear interpretation of the image that is depicted.