JRN 280 Assignments

LIFE Magazine

    LIFE Magazine has gone through an incredible amount of change over the years. What once was a humor publication later became a publication that provided the world with history's most prominent photographs. Today LIFE has been translated into TIME magazine where it supplies the nation with the latest in politics, business, entertainment, and much more. LIFE Magazine will forever be a staple in American history as having provided the world with visual appeal to the world's happenings.
    In 1883, the very first issue of LIFE was published the motto, "While there's Life, there's hope" with anticipation that this magazine would be a lighthearted, fun, publication. During the time frame of its original release, LIFE did very well for itself however occasionally the founders were found accused of anti-Semetism. These issues only seemed to cause problems until 1936 when LIFE Magazine changed its image. In 1936 the LIFE's entity changed completely, when bought by Henry Luce and Time Inc the publication went from illustrated text to an intensive collaboration on photographs. The new publishers believed that photographs could tell a story better than text ever could.     The very first issue featured multiple photographs of Alfred Eisenstaedt the German-born American photojournalist who produced the infamous V-Day photo. The photo portrays a sailor and a woman sharing a celebratory kiss in honor of the victory over Japan. Alfred Eisenstaedt was best known for his candid shots generally taken with a 35mm Leica camera. As LIFE hit the newsstand's it was amidst a prominent time in our world’s history. The Great Depression was in full swing and Adolf Hitler was ruling Germany but Luce tried his best to keep the magazine separate from these issues for the time being and went on with his first few issues. The magazine quickly became a publication filled with more photographs than actual text. This enabled its "readers" to see and interpret the world’s experiences and biggest moments. It expressed a whole new realm of emotions and would forever inspire people even after its final few issues were released.
    The magazine housed photographs that ranged from events and celebrities to historical heroes and villains. Historical landmarks were portrayed as well as terrifying events that shocked the nation. In 1939 LIFE began producing photos of occupied Poland especially Warsaw. Throughout the war in Germany and various parts of Europe LIFE continuously produced disturbing graphics of the events taking place in this part of the world. Post the Holocaust they also produced a memorial photo of Anne Frank. This produced a national recognition of one of the Holocausts most heart-wrenching stories. The shocking realities surprised the people of America as to what was happening across the world. LIFE magazine continuously produced photographs that pushed limits and forced people the view images outside of their comfort zones.
    It was in 1963 that one of the nation’s most devastating events took place, the assassination of JFK. The photo that will go down in history is from the swearing in ceremony of Lyndon Baines Johnson as the new president just briefly after JFK was shot in the back of his car. In this photo you see Jacqueline Kennedy wear her same coat and skirt with her husband’s blood stains strewn all down the side. Words could not possibly translate this moment quite like this photo was able to. For years past and years to come this photo will go down in infamy as one of the nation’s most devastating and shocking moments.
    LIFE Magazine, although well known for its unfortunate moments caught on camera, also depicted discoveries that the world could be most proud of. In 1896 the photo of the first human x-ray ever taken was printed in an issue. Taken by Wilhem Roentgen this photo showed what amazing scientific and technological advances the world was making. This magazine enabled the general people to be a part of these incredible discoveries.

In 1965 LIFE produced a photo of a growing fetus. Lennart Nilsson used an endoscope to take a photo of a child growing in their mother’s womb. People were taken aback by the progression photography had made and what they were now able to experience simply by picking up and issue of LIFE at any nearby newsstand. Over the total of 64 years that LIFE Magazine was printing these unbelievable photos they took their readers through the journey of a lifetime.
Photographs are what have given readers the ability to see and feel anguish as well as pride during our lifetimes. This is why LIFE Magazine decided to depict their interest stories in the form of photos as opposed to just text. In 1978 was when LIFE re-emerged as a monthly magazine with a new structure and look. The magazine continued on for the next 22 years as an interest feature and continued to portray photographs that made people re-evaluate the world we live in. The magazine kept making it to print until the year 2000 when LIFE began to slow down and hit the stands less frequently. After printing an issue, “The Year In Pictures” LIFE ceased to produce prints and TIME took over the stands as a more prominent feature from Time Inc. TIME Magazine now gives its readers the ability to keep up on the world’s greatest issues, most enjoyable entertainment offered, as well as keeps the population up to date on any current political standing. TIME does not offer the same inspiration photography but LIFE will live on forever as the magazine that visually changed the world.