They say a picture speaks a thousand words, but Jamie would rather a letter from her brother, so when she gets sent rolls of film to develop in Shooting the Moon, she's bummed. She wants to learn about all the blood and guts of the war, not see some pictures of huts. Bo-ring. It's not until she realizes that the film is like a letter, just with more details, that she starts to like the pictures. Pretty soon, she enjoys the process of developing the film. She gets to see all the tiny details of each picture while she's bringing them into focus, while appreciating her brother's talented eye for photography. Jamie learns to appreciate the photos as art, and comes to terms with war all at the same time.
Questions About Art and Culture
- Why does the Colonel frown upon TJ's photography? What do you think he means when he says you have to live life or stop and look at it? Which do you think TJ does?
- What do you think is TJ's motivation for sending his sister film? Why do you think it disappoints her?
- What's TJ's fascination with the moon? Why does Jamie photograph the moon for him? What does it mean to her? To jumpstart your thinking, swing by the "Symbols" section.
Chew on This
TJ uses photography as a way of saying more than words ever could.
Jamie uses art as a way of confronting the truth of war.