People often say first impressions are everything. They’re provide the initial insight into in person or object and lay the foundation for all future interactions. When you visit The Really Big One article on the New Yorker website, your eyes are immediately drawn towards the image of the California Coast. The bold red coloring of the map starkly contrasts with the white of the background. This color choice, along with it being featured squarely in the center of the page, ensure that the image demands attention. The illustration, which depicts a map of the US being torn along the West Coast, generates a sense alarm in the audience.
While the picture seems like a fantastic introduction to an article on earthquakes, it doesn’t seem like the right fit for this one. The text itself eloquently warns of the risk of a major earthquake through facts, data, anecdotes, and other forms of evidence that very much seem grounded. The initial image of the article seems inconsistent with the rest of the article, since its a sensationalized depiction of an earthquake, and while the purpose of the article is only to call for proper preparation in case of a disaster, the picture sets up for readers for panic.
The discrepancy between the content of the article and the first picture is further highlighted by the other images they feature alongside the article. All of them are cartoons, which really seems to complement the nonchalant commentary of the text. The cartoons aren’t even related to the articles! But visually, they’re less distracting and fit more in line with the tone of the article than the featured image. The coincidental harmony between the cartoons and the text really makes the initial image seem odd in context to the article. Overall, that picture gives an impression of a article entirely different from the one that Kathryn Schulz wrote.
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