Untitled (assembly on steps of church with two men in caps next to floral arrangment at top and line of men in military uniforms along stairs) 1950

Editor: This untitled photograph by Martin Schweig depicts a formal assembly on church steps. There are military uniforms, floral arrangements and American flags. The mood is very solemn. What do you see in this image? Curator: I see a staged performance of power and remembrance, ripe with the visual language of American exceptionalism. How does the uniform function here, both as a symbol of collective identity and potential state violence? Editor: That's a powerful reading. I hadn’t considered the state violence aspect. Curator: Consider the church as a backdrop – how does it further legitimize the militaristic display? What does it mean to blend religious authority with nationalistic fervor? Editor: It’s a lot to think about, but I see how these symbols reinforce each other. Thanks for that! Curator: It’s in recognizing those connections that we can begin to understand the complexities of power and representation.