Chatting the Pictures
Chatting the Pictures: The Pence Jan. 6 Photos and the Hero Narrative
Welcome to Chatting the Pictures. Every two weeks, we present a short, lively video discussion between Michael Shaw, publisher of Reading the Pictures, and writer, professor, and historian, Cara Finnegan, examining a significant picture in the news. Chatting the Pictures is produced by Liliana Michelena.
In an image released by the House Committee Investigating the January 6th uprising, then-Vice President Pence watches President Trump ask rioters that stormed the U.S. Capitol to leave. Pence’s daughter Charlotte stands beside him. Pence and his entourage spent almost five hours secured away in a Capitol loading dock after rioters came within 40 feet of the Vice President while chanting for his death. Refusing to leave the building, Pence reconvened the Senate that evening to finish certifying the election of Joe Biden.
In this video, we discuss the debate surrounding the photos of Pence on January 6th. While some saw a hero in the making, we focus on Pence’s inability to defy Donald Trump until the last minute. We also focus on Trump’s omnipresence and how Twitter made him that much more dangerous.
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Panelists
An analyst of news photos and visual journalism, and a frequent lecturer and writer on visual politics, photojournalism and media literacy, Michael is the founder and publisher of Reading the Pictures.
Cara Finnegan is a writer, photo historian, and professor of Communication at the University of Illinois. She has been affiliated with Reading The Pictures for nearly 15 years, most recently as co-host of Chatting The Pictures. Her most recent book is Photographic Presidents: Making History from Daguerreotype to Digital.
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