Luigi Mangione: Hero? Neutral? No Hero? | A Narrative Shaped by Photography

Is Luigi Mangione a hero, or not at all? Or perhaps he’s just a regular guy? At this moment, all three narratives clash, with photography as their weapon..

Indeed, photography has long been a powerful tool in shaping public perception, capable of casting individuals in either a positive or negative light. A notable example is the 1994 O.J. Simpson case, where TIME magazine controversially darkened Simpson’s mugshot on its cover, making him appear more menacing, while Newsweek used the unaltered image, leading to widespread criticism of TIME for potentially influencing public opinion through visual manipulation.

Similarly, during the late 1990s, media coverage of Monica Lewinsky varied significantly; some outlets portrayed her as a seductress, using unflattering images to suggest complicity, while others depicted her as a victim, selecting photos that conveyed vulnerability, thereby influencing public sentiment during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.

In the case of Luigi Mangione, accused of killing a high-profile CEO of a company widely considered, among other health insurance companies, responsible for thousands of deaths due to its corporate healthcare policies, photography once again plays a pivotal role. The curated selection of images—whether showing Mangione as calm and reflective, aggressive and unhinged, or remorseful and subdued—provides the media with a powerful tool to define the narrative.

As Roland Barthes explains in his essay “Rhetoric of the Image”, photographs operate on two levels: the denotative, or literal message, and the connotative, or symbolic message. This duality allows images to convey meaning beyond what is immediately visible, shaping how we interpret and emotionally connect with what we see in a photograph.

By analyzing the photographs associated with Mangione, we can see how they support conflicting interpretations of his actions, just as they have in pivotal historical cases. The question remains: are these images revealing the truth, or are they carefully selected fragments that suppress deeper complexities, such as Mangione’s manifesto, which has been conspicuously hidden from public discourse?

This examination underscores the ethical responsibility of the media in image selection and the profound impact such choices have on public perception.

Luiggi Mangione Hero Image 1

• Description: Luigi Mangione is depicted outdoors, standing in a vibrant, green park. He wears a light turquoise t-shirt, and his relaxed smile exudes warmth and humility. The lush foliage in the background enhances the natural, serene setting, presenting Mangione as approachable and relatable. The lighting is soft and even, emphasizing his friendly and open expression.
• Narrative: This image aligns with a heroic narrative, portraying Mangione as someone connected to nature and simplicity. It suggests a character at peace, potentially fighting for justice or representing a moral cause.
• Media Use: Likely shared on social media platforms and progressive outlets aiming to emphasize Mangione’s humanity and righteousness.

Luigi Mangione Hero Image 2

• Description: Mangione is seated in a car, holding a McDonald’s Happy Meal box with a broad grin. His sleeveless shirt and sunglasses perched on his head suggest a carefree, youthful energy. The branding of the Happy Meal adds an element of innocence and normalcy, contrasting sharply with the gravity of his alleged actions.
• Narrative: This image underscores his relatability, casting him as a regular individual, even playful, enjoying a light-hearted moment. It diminishes the severity of his public image and frames him as “one of us.”
• Media Use: Often used in smaller, independent outlets or blogs sympathetic to Mangione’s perceived cause, this photo reinforces the idea of him as a misunderstood individual caught in extraordinary circumstances.

Luigi Mangione Hero Image 3

• Description: A candid shot of Mangione entering what appears to be a public venue. His hooded jacket and scarf give him an unassuming, modest appearance. The expression on his face is neutral yet slightly warm, with a faint smile, creating an air of quiet confidence. The grainy quality of the image adds an organic and unpolished feel.
• Narrative: This photo evokes subtle admiration, presenting Mangione as someone with purpose and determination, while avoiding overtly dramatic framing. It is understated yet effective in aligning him with a heroic or principled cause.
• Media Use: Likely found in articles that aim for a balanced tone but still hint at Mangione’s moral complexity. This image could accompany stories analyzing his motivations or detailing his background.

Luigi Mangione Neutral Image 1

• Description: Luigi Mangione is photographed against a white-tiled background, wearing a dark jacket and a scarf wrapped around his neck. His posture is upright, and his expression is calm but unsmiling, exuding a sense of quiet resilience. The lighting is neutral, neither highlighting nor obscuring any features, creating a balanced and factual tone. The red framing elements on either side of the image subtly add a formal context but do not strongly influence the narrative.
• Narrative: This photo does not attempt to sway the audience’s perception. Instead, it presents Mangione as an ordinary person in a neutral and straightforward manner, leaving interpretation entirely up to the viewer. The simplicity of the composition and the absence of dramatic cues lend it an impartial and factual quality.
• Media Use: Likely used in reports or news articles focused on delivering objective updates about Mangione’s case, particularly in contexts emphasizing his presence at specific moments without editorial commentary.

Luigi Mangione Neutral Image 2

• Description: This mugshot, officially taken by the police, depicts Mangione wearing a simple, slightly disheveled blue garment. His expression is neutral, devoid of any visible emotion such as defiance or remorse. The slightly messy hair and unshaven face contribute to an unembellished, raw appearance. The plain, light-colored background typical of mugshots creates a sterile and formal atmosphere, emphasizing the procedural context of the image.
• Narrative: As a police mugshot, this image serves as a moment of institutional documentation rather than narrative-building. It captures Mangione at a transitional moment in his legal journey, focusing on the factual act of his arrest. Its neutrality highlights the process, not the person, making it a visual marker of the legal system rather than a portrayal of his character.
• Media Use: This mugshot is commonly used in mainstream media when reporting on Mangione’s arrest or legal proceedings. It reinforces his connection to the justice system, presenting him as a subject of investigation rather than an actor in a larger moral debate.

Luigi Mangione No Hero Image 1

• Description: Luigi Mangione is shown stepping out of a building, flanked by police officers, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit. His expression is solemn and pensive, his eyes directly meeting the camera. The composition of the photograph isolates his head within the frame, a common visual technique symbolizing the metaphorical “cutting off of the head”—a representation of defeat or removal of power. This image was extracted from a video recorded as Mangione was being escorted by police, highlighting an additional layer of editorial decision-making. Journalists, potentially working with a predefined narrative, likely combed through each frame of the footage to select the precise moment that best captured this particular expression. Here, his face conveys sadness, as though he is regretting the act he has committed.
• Narrative: The photograph positions Mangione as a subdued and reflective figure, someone who, while apprehended, appears to bear the emotional weight of his actions. However, the editorial choice to highlight this specific expression shapes the public’s perception, reinforcing a narrative of remorse rather than resistance or justification. The image strips away any sense of agency or righteousness, instead emphasizing vulnerability and regret.
• Media Use: Frequently used in mainstream and traditional media outlets, this image serves as a tool to evoke sympathy or condemnation, depending on the accompanying narrative. It is ideal for framing Mangione as a tragic figure whose actions, however wrong, were borne of internal conflict or desperation.

Luigi Mangione No Hero Image 2

• Description: Mangione is captured mid-struggle as officers escort him, his face contorted in anger, teeth bared in a feral grimace. The bright orange of his jumpsuit dominates the frame, underscoring his status as a prisoner. The tension in the scene is palpable, with Mangione’s body language suggesting resistance and raw emotion, while the officers remain calm and in control. This stark contrast amplifies the sense of chaos, focusing all attention on Mangione’s unrestrained expression.
• Narrative: This image works to construct a portrayal of Luigi Mangione as a man out of control, almost unhinged—a “disturbed man” whose actions stem from impulse rather than reason. It collaborates with a broader narrative that ignores his motivations and undermines the logic behind his actions. Notably, the image stands in sharp contrast to the content of Mangione’s manifesto, a document reportedly written to explain his motivations with clarity and precision. Despite its existence, the manifesto is being largely hidden or ignored by the press, leaving the public with an incomplete and distorted understanding of his story. This editorial decision reinforces a portrayal of Mangione as irrational and dangerous, dismissing his actions as devoid of any thoughtful reasoning.
• Media Use: Heavily circulated in tabloid and sensationalist media, this image is designed to evoke fear and disapproval. It simplifies Mangione into a caricature of instability, feeding into a narrative that aligns with the suppression of his manifesto and its potentially challenging ethical arguments. By prioritizing this dramatic and chaotic visual, the media steers the public’s perception away from the complexity of Mangione’s motivations and toward a one-dimensional condemnation.

Conclusion

Photography, as explored through the case of Luigi Mangione, emerges as an unparalleled force in shaping public perception. Unlike textual arguments, which must navigate the complex terrain of intellectual scrutiny, personal beliefs, and political biases, photography bypasses these filters entirely. It reaches directly into the human soul, as Roland Barthes described with his concept of the punctum—that deeply affecting, almost inescapable detail that transforms an image into an emotional truth. In an era where images are often wielded as lethal weapons in battles of narrative, they carry an almost incontestable authority, presenting themselves as evidence of reality, even when carefully curated or manipulated.

The analysis of Mangione’s images reveals how photography constructs competing identities—a natural hero, an ordinary individual, or a volatile criminal. Each photograph, shaped by the choices of journalists and editors, is far from neutral. Instead, it reflects the underlying intentions of those who select it, whether to inspire admiration, evoke sympathy, or provoke condemnation. In Mangione’s case, these images not only influence public opinion about his actions but also suppress the deeper complexities of his story, such as the manifesto he wrote, offering insight into his motivations but largely ignored by the media.

This underscores the urgent need for education in visual literacy. In a world flooded with conflicting narratives and images, cultivating the ability to critically interpret visual content is essential. Without this skill, we risk falling prey to manipulated perceptions and shallow understandings, shaped more by editorial decisions than by the truth.

What do you think? How do these images of Luigi Mangione shape your perception of his actions and character? Share your thoughts in the comments below—we’d love to hear how you feel about the power of photography in shaping narratives and influencing public discourse.