It's a picture of the Line Between Wealth and Poverty in the favelas of Brazil. It made us wonder, how could a wealthy person be so callous to the scene of the favelas from their hotel? Also, how do the people living in the favela feel about looking up to see wealth and excess in one of its most extreme forms? Then we thought of people in America and our perceptions of how the rich treat the poor. The following picture relates class division in America to the physical division of class in Brazil.
Think about this political cartoon.
How does the illustrator feel about the rich?
What emotions does the illustrator want to portray through the picture and the caption?
Could this apply to more than one group of people?
What does the illustrator assume about the nature of people?
Do you agree?
This picture left a really big impression on me. It is just like this world nowadays, not only can be found in some cities, but amone countries as well. The gap between the rich and the poor is obvious. I hope that this kind of is worrying and upset phenomena will disappear one day, though it is quite unrealistic. But at least make the world not a suffering place to live.
ReplyDeleteThis picture has indicative power as it demonstrates the physical division of classes in the favelas. It shows how the people living the favelas are so close to this magnificent building yet they are so far away as they do not have the ability to actually live there and that they are being taunted by the rich by the fact that they cannot afford living there. As for the cartoon, it shows the hypocrisy of the rich in America as they are condemning the rich in other countries for mot helping the needy while themselves ignoring a homeless person sitting near them.
ReplyDeleteThe line between the rich and the poor stands out in many countries, which will deepen the gulf. When the poors look up, they will not only be jealous but also hate the lives of the rich. Then they will turn the hate to their government because of the construction and policies that make their lives bitter. Finally, conflicts and violences will appear. The government should cost more to settle them down, but the governments of these countries are deserved.
ReplyDeleteBoth the two pictures reveal a stark difference in financial power. The political cartoon indicates many rich people lack social responsibility and the way they treat the poor is so unfair. Generally speaking, people are always on the side of social vulnerable groups and take it for granted that rich people should help the poor. Personally, I thought it’s actually fair that different people have different financial power because one’s income or social status is decided by the value he/she has created for our society. For example, an accountant earns more money than a farmer because the former creates more social value then the latter. Actually, what unfair is not the financial difference between different social class but the unequal opportunity for different people. In some poor rural areas, children do not have the same opportunity as the urban children to get good education. Such problem exists because the government does not set benefit policy for them. Although the rich people have social responsibility to do some charity activities, we cannot blame all to them. Everyone can create wealth by their own hands if given the equal opportunity. Therefore, the government should do some welfare work to ensure that every runner is at the same starting line.
ReplyDeleteI think Chunan brings up a good point when talking about the difference in opportunity that exists between the rich and the poor. In America the possibility of financial success is available for all citizens yet the chances to attain this financial achievement is often slighted for the poor because of their circumstances. I think this is even truer in other countries because often the poor have comparably less opportunities. In the picture of the favelas of Brazil the distance between wealth and poverty may be small but the obstacles holding back the poor are immense. In both pictures the riches oblivious nature to the situation of the poor is obvious. However I think the cartoon is also pointing out Americas habit to try and fix other countries problems even though we sometimes ignore issues happening within our own borders.
ReplyDeleteWhen I see this picture, a few thoughts immedietly cross my mind. Firstly, I think that it is a sad place where the extremely poor must be in close interaction with such wealth, but unable to achieve it. It almost seems like they are being taunted with the prospect, but advancing to such a degree from practically nothing is a thing of stories and movies. However, as a few people have pointed out already (joe wilson and chunan shi), that while it is sad, we must remember that we have our own problems to deal with before trying to "rescue the rest of the world." This is especially true if one takes an economic standpoint while looking at this picture
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that comes to mind when I see this is the poor in the America. As people have pointed out we have our own problems, especially financially. How can we help people when we are suffering from poverty in some places as well. How do the poor in this country feel when they see money going to help poor somewhere else. But anyways back to the poor seeing that higher class so often must really affect how they see life. I wonder if that makes them more humble or greed?
ReplyDeleteI think your view is right and i agree that if the poor see money going to a different country they would feel even more neglected but i also think that the poor in other countries are actually a lot poorer then the poor in America because they don't even have clean water or clothes but the poor in America can still somehow get food and are always wearing clothes.
DeleteI think it shows how some people are living now a days with the economy. People are literally on the borderline of slipping into poverty when they are accustommed to living the high life. I think some people see the poverty and are aware that that could be them and it may be something that drives them to work harder every day. On the other hand I would assume there are the people that go on and think oh it will never happen to me and pay no attention to it or try to prepare for hard times. From the other perspective someone who is down on their luck could be that close having one break through and they could be on the other side of that line.
ReplyDeleteUpon viewing the political cartoon, I was immediately reminded how people tend to focus on other countries before their own. Though global communication has brought real benefits and helpful contributions to all of mankind, what global communication has also brought along is media focused on dilapidated countries and communities. What this has brought is individuals viewing all this news from around the world yet forget that there are still similar problems in their own national region: good example is starving children. If one were to neglect the text placed below the cartoon, one could easily apply this picture to multiple groups of people. People forget, or at least attempt to ignore, that problems like poverty and famine are right down the street [even if they are only on a fraction of the same scale as some third world countries]. The illustrator to me seems to be implying that the nature of people is to be “all-for-one.” This mentality, though can be cruel at times, is a character of humans (perhaps even more generalized as animals). Though some individuals would be incredibly thankful for having an opportunity to succeed, it becomes increasingly difficult to support everyone (corruption, human suffering, loss of motivation, etc.).
ReplyDeleteThe contrast between the photo from Brazil and America is really interesting you can really see the distinct differences between the poor and the wealthy. I can't believe how they could build a wealthy area on one side and the poor side on the other only a few yards apart from each other and if i was living on the poor side i would dream of living on the upper side everyday. With the American cartoon i think the illustrator is portraying the message that the rich only think about the rich and don't care about the poor and that the rich are neglecting the poor. The Caption and the cartoon is expressing emotions of feeling sorry for the poor and how selfish the rich could be. There's a homeless man crouching down and a poster with young children from Ethiopia but the two upper class men just walk past as if they didn't even see anything and don't take notice of the poor. I think that the illustrator is trying to show that where ever you are there is always going to be inequalities among the rich and the poor.
ReplyDeleteIt reminds me of my experience in Shanghai. I took the subway to the central city, and it was really crowded. There were a couple with a little girl beggaing food. Their clothes were ragged and dirty. All the passengers just looked away as the poor family did not exist. I feel like a lot people have no sympathy for beggars, especially the rich who seldom understand the suffering of the poor. Also, I noticed the words along the lower edge of the second picture, says "It must be hard living in a country where the rich and the powerful completely igonore the needs of the less fortunate", which has touched me deeply. Those pictures may reflect social condition not in a single country, but the whole human society in all.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the people who have already focused on the fact that the second picture points out the way America and other countries who think they are more wealthy and have a good economic status, can just help the less fortunate and nit even realize that their own country is in economic trouble. The second picture illustrates this very well with the two wealthy looking men focus on the poster of the two"poor" people from another country and not even realize the homeless man that they passed. I feel that we can help other countries if we can but we also need to take notice of what is happening in our own "backyard", kinda what the first picture is illustrating with the wealthy on one side and the poor, literally in their backyard.
ReplyDeleteBoth pictures seem to be sending the same message in different ways. The first photo is obviously a reality of life in Brazil. The line between the rich and poor is so distinct, which makes me wonder why they would built such a wealthy resort right next to a poverty stricken town. I do not think it is right for the poor to have to look up at this every day, however perhaps for some it is motivation. While the view of the wealthy could discourage some, others may see this as opportunity and encouragement to work hard and someday be on that side of the wall. The second picture is a cartoon taking a jab at the wealthy in America. The two men focus on the poor who go unnoticed in Ethiopia, when it is right in front of them in their own country. This is showing that although other countries express problems with poverty, we as Americans have our own as well. Everyone sees American as the land of opportunity, however poverty is still present here, just like anywhere you go. Many people do help out the poor, but I think the cartoon is pointing out how much more we could be doing if more people took part in helping out.
ReplyDeleteI think both of these images are portraying somewhat of the same idea. In the first image, we see a division between the rich and the poor. Unfortunately, people living in the resort probably don't care/realize the poverty that is existing literally a couple hundred of feet away from them. I'm not sure what the people living in the favelas are feeling, but I am guessing that they could be feeling two different emotions. They could either be extremely jealous of the luxurious lifestyles of the rich, or they could just brush it off their shoulder and continue living the lives they're living. Also, they could just be more focused on being thankful for the lives they're given, even if they're not as "grand" or "top-class" as others might be. I think that people's perception in America of the rich/poor is probably remotely similar to those around the world. The rich, to me, only care about the rich and that's it. This brings me to the next image, the cartoon. I think the illustrator is trying to portray the same message the one above has.I feel that the illustrator wants us to realize that there is poverty all over the world, and that many people just ignore it. I agree with Alex's point that it's not just our country that experiencing poverty, and I like how she brings up that America is the land of opportunity. That shows a great deal of irony with the fact that problems such as poverty and equality still exist today and probably will for the rest of our lives.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion , both pictures reflect the lives of the poor and the rich.
ReplyDeleteThe first one is more intensive , the upper class is right next to the slum , the only thing stands between the fancy building, which looks like a 5stars hotel , and the old, worn out houses is a little fence. In the poor area , everything looks chaotic and lack of arrangement. There's nothing but a place to survive. On the other hand , the fancy hotel has everything, swimming pool,tennis field , balcony and everything. Sure the right side would have a much better living environment,a higher living standard. But i really wonder what course it and why it's like that.
The second one is about the conflict between the poor in Africa and the poor in your neighborhood. It's known that people now are rather to help the people in poverty in the otherside of the earth than around them.It could be caused by the bad reputation of some beggars.However , i still agree that we should help the people in need around us.
I feel like we see these situations everywhere. These pictures remind me of the saying that the grass is greener on the other side. On life it seems there will always be situations like this. It's hard to comprehend how people on either side would feel because the "rich" might feel bad for the poor" and the "poor" might in turn feel bad for the "rich". The thing about the beggar and the "rich" people walking passed him to a sign that says give to Ethiopia is so true. People see America as this extremely wealthy country, so they feel it is our duty to help lesser well off countries when the truth is that times are hard here too. There is also children starving and people dying here as well. I mean the beggar might be panhandling or using the money to buy drugs, but the least they could do is buy them some food or give them an address to a homeless shelter or something.
ReplyDeleteThe first photo is pretty impressive, I even thought the photo is fake for the first time. I think the people in favela will feel so sad if they look up at the premium hotel everyday, they would also feel self-abased and even cause extreme actions like crime. But on the other side, some people may count this like a motivation, it could encourage them to work hard, to do more for the society and gain better life. For the people in the favelas, i would like to say their better choice is to think about the wealthy area for aim, which they should make great efforts to achieve. For the rich people, like it is shown in the second cartoon, they could notice the poor people in Ethiopia on the poster, but they ignore the beggar who is right beside them at the same time. Rich people can do a lot for poor people, but most time they can't realize the importance, they just care about their own things and revel in what they have. Those rich people as the stronger part in the society, i think they have some kind of responsibilities to help poor people, to make the whole society better, not merely focus on themselves. The world is neither only for poor people nor rich people, both of them have the responsibilities to make it better.
ReplyDeleteBoth pictures reveal one of the most difficult and long lasting problems in the world, the difference between poor and rich, whether it is in one country or all arould the world. The difference between poor and rich is always going to exist because we live in a society that is derived by social hierarchy. However, we need to consider how much is the difference, for example, in the first picture, the poor and the rich are basiclly neighbor to each other. How can the rich stand to look down their balconies and see a world that is totally different from their's and not do something to try to change it. And from the second picture, how can the two upper classmen who are giving comments on other countries wealth gap while they just walked by a beggar. In the world where resources are not going to distribute equally, the ones with more resources, aka the rich, should responsibilities to help the poor and shape the world into a better place.
ReplyDeleteI think the picture featuring the favelas in Brazil is extremely demeaning. The fact that the wealthier portion of the town is built above the favelas, over looking them, almost reigning down pity upon them, all the while reminding them they are beneath them is disgusting. The political cartoon emphasizes the irony and hypocrisy that some applies to some of the American upper class. People now a days like to talk a lot about what is wrong yet do nothing about it.
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