Graven Images by Saul Bellow

Visual Source: Source Enterprises
"When you're so out there in the public eye, people are constantly criticizing every aspect about you." -Gwyneth Paltrow

Being in the public eye is not a concept that many people may be able to relate to, but is something that in today's society, is a goal wanting to be achieved by many. According to Saul Bellow, an author awarded many prizes because of his literary work, cameras have allowed everyone an "opportunity each and every one of them has dreamt of-a shot at eternity" (Bellow 565). In modern day and when this essay was written, there are numerous ways to be shown to the masses of people by just taking a picture.

An important aspect of this essay's argument is that photographers have a way to manipulate their subject. This essay starts with a quote by Harry S. Truman that talks about how photographers controlled him. They told him when to sit up, cross his legs, move his chairs, etc. Soon, it comes to a point where this picture does not even represent its subject anymore and has distorted its features. Bellow shared a personal experience of how he has been photographed and he looked completely different in a negative way.

The audience of this essay is geared toward people who are in more advanced societies that have access to all of this technology and media. He is using this essay as kind of a warning and trying to make the reader think similarly to him. An integral part of this essay is Bellow's tone. It changes often from a humorous and casual tone to a more serious and intimate tone. When describing his grandfather, Bellow is sharing a personal story that allows the reader relate to him which builds a little bit of trust between them. Bellow did not really achieve his purpose. He did bring light to this particular topic, but overall, he probably is not able to change the minds of many people. Nowadays, the goal of many is to become famous, and that goal is not easy to change.