Semiotics 2

Here is an image of a man busking. Busking is the act of performing some sort of music or other type of talent in a street, subway, or anywhere else public for money. My first reaction to this picture is that this man is simply trying to something to obtain money. It comes across as a form of begging; something I would most likely walk by without hesitation if I were in that park. However, with pondering deeper I began to see the image with more insight as to what's truly going on. Seeing how concentrated the man is on his guitar, it is clear that he cares a lot about his music. This idea carries with it a lot of significance, because we sometimes assume that those seeking spare change in public are simple-minded or uneducated or without real depth. This man's appreciation for and skill with music challenges that assumption. Another idea that this image signifies is that there is a value on the arts among many people. The man would not even attempt to make money here if he didn't expect that at least some people appreciate music as much as he does. Even those who don't donate money but still stop to listen testify to this as well. All in all, this simple photograph signifies the value of the arts and music - both on the man's individual level and on the universal level of all the passer-byes.