Monday Matter #3: visual

http://lightbox.time.com/2011/09/23/the-best-pictures-of-the-week-september-16-september-23/#7
Self immolation has been throughout history, a form of political protest; and this picture represents the Greek people's protest against Greece's government and the actions that have led to and failed to stop the Greek debt crisis. If the fire that blazes on the Greeks man's body is his shout of protest, than the policeman (a figure of government authority) running over to extinguish the fire represents the government extinguishing the people's calls. The policeman's face is not shown-he is just a general representation of authority. One of the man's arms is up towards the police officer (as if protecting himself from a blow), while his other arm is still reaching for the dropped can of gasoline that he used to set himself on fire, showing he wants to continue having a political voice. The shadow of the bank he is in front of looms over the man, showing how the economic burden he has endured personally has led him to this, while the authority is coming from the light still not as much affected by the economic problems of Greece as the common person is.