I see, but do I perceive?

Flooding in Venice

https://abcnews.go.com/International/venice-flooded-highest-tide-50-years/story?id=66968754&cid=clicksource_4380645_null_card_image

 Phoebe Natanson describes the historic flooding happening in Venice. The city is experiencing record high flooding of 187 centimeters, which is about 6 feet of water. Natanson sprinkles the article with picture of flooding, from a tourist pushing her suitcase through water to the flood in Gritti Palace. The water receded about 43 centimeters this morning, leaving the Venetians in about 144 centimeters of flooding. Sea-water damage to buildings and works of art wrecks preservation. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro believes climate change is the source of the flooding. He asked the government to declare “a state of emergency. While flooding is not new to the city, a project to use floating gates to prevent flooding has been delayed since 2003.

This article thrives on imagery. The pictures that break up the story all have different feelings. Natanson has imagery in her writing as well. She does a good job molding a frame of devastation, not just of the people but of the pieces of the city itself. The pictures do another job of splitting the story from the current flooding to some of the history. It is one of the first stories I’ve read that uses pictures well. Natanson also does a good job in ordering the article. She begins with the flooding, does some history in the middle, and ends with what is happening now.

1 Comment

  1. crstaff

    The easiest way to get someone to understand the amount of devastation is to show them a picture. As we discussed in Intro early on, people sometimes need to see before they can get angry.

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