Photography During The Chilean Social Outbreak: Injury and Icon

In a globalized world, photographs are easy to come across and take; they are part of everyday. Pictures reflect a unique way of seeing, understanding, and recalling the world. This paper explores the relationship between photography and meaning creation. Looking at how distribution can affect the photographs' interpretation. Particularly, the extent of photography's innate meaning in depictions of eye trauma during the Chilean protest (2019-2022). Context is a key element when analyzing the photograph’s value and meaning. Some are social and political aspects, the incident, the photographer, and public opinion. Images thus have an unpredictable quality, as they may be modified and reproduced. During the protests, people with injured eyes were subject to change. At first, the images established the existence of the victims. Then, they become icons. They became icons once the images gained popularity and testimonies started to surface. A visual representation of authorities' abuse and the lack of justice, an anger and discontent symbol. Which became a call for justice for victims and those who felt oppressed by the government. The eye became a symbol of resistance and justification. Many used the image through mimics, cartels, murals, and clothing. Depicted as criminals, victims, and symbols, the photographs of the injured were a malleable image of social movement.
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