I can guarantee you that any student will be able to identify the landmark in this picture. It is the Bell Tower, located on the "heart" of campus. This image of the Bell Tower at sunrise is used in various phamplets about Purdue University. It can also be frequently seen on advertisements and items promoting something for Purdue in West Lafayette or Lafayette. Therefore, this image is also recognized by an entire community of people in addition to the students on campus. Various myths spread by students accompany this landmark, such as "You won't graduate in four years if you walk under the tower." To me, this aspect shows that the students value and embrace the spirit of the bell tower by keeping those myths alive. Another way that the Bell Tower shows Purdue pride is by using four lines (IIII) as the number "four" on the clock, instead of a roman numeral "IV." This is because "IV" looks too much like "IU," or Indiana University. This college rivalry generates excitement for all Purdue fans.
Prior to analyzing the image, I wanted to gather some history and background information on the Bell Tower. The Bell Tower is a contemporary interpretation of the old Heavilon Hall (an academic building at Purdue University) Tower. On top of the tower are four century-old bells taken from the old tower. This was all made possible by a leadership gift from Purdue University's class of 1948. A Bell Tower is generally used for the purpose of telling time and as a focal point. Our Bell Tower at Purdue serves both of these functions to the upmost extent.
I included the history on the Bell Tower because it shows the significance of this landmark. This image depicts the Bell Tower as a colossal structure, with nothing else higher than the point point at the top. It almost seems as if the photographer wished to separate the Bell Tower from the surrounding campus. It appears as if the tower is standing alone as a powerful and authoritative individual. It shows that the Bell Tower is its own element, but it's placed in the heart of campus. To me, this depicts the significance of the landmark. A prospective student, current student, and community member can most likely look at this picture and want to be a part of it by seeing that in person everyday. Therefore, it prooves to be a useful device for advertisements and promotions involving Purdue University.
There is also a lot to say about the demeanor of this particular picture. The different colors of the sky gives this image an artful effect. It is also interesting to note the appearance of the lit-up bellowtower contrasted with the sky. The beauty and uniqueness of the Bell Tower is once again being emphasized. This picture can most likely be mistaken by for a painting!
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