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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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(For Wednesday, IN CLASS August 5)
-With your GROUP, please answer the  question for this IMAGE SPECIFICALLY.

-Your GROUP needs to draw from AT LEAST ONE or two questions from the "Questions for Critical Literacy Aesthetic Approach to Text/ Language" to help help you answer:
How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

[Jodi & Joshua]
The intention of this artwork is to outright question the audience about nationalistic pride and when does it become dangerous. The text being able to comment on how, if taken to the extreme, pride can and will be hurtful to those around us hinting to how racism starts, with questions asking who gets the benefits and who gets the disadvantage.

The visuals are used to direct the message to extreme cases of nationalism in the United States of America as the American flag is being depicted, where Americans would start to think that those of other races are below them. This could be related to the social hierarchy that was heavily present in America, where those of dark skin color was frowned upon.

[Duane and Umi]
The message of this image is to question the audiences which is mostly directed to American citizens about racism and discrimination and how pride can become a harmful weapon to people around them. The language used can show us that the author wanted the audiences to ask themselves these question for them to be more aware of themselves.

[KM and Jaschia]
The text of this image is about the unfairness of America social system. It uses the American flag as a background, including red, symbolizing bravery, white, symbolizing purity, and blue, symbolizing boundary endurance justice. to express the harsh reality hidden behind the flag. Text and the image are contrasted by writing sentences that mean the harsh reality of the United States on the national flag symbolizing them.

Jun and Luna
The image is shown as the flag of United State of America and by looking at the text it is possibly the message toward the citizen who live there and can also be other nationalities who become racism to them. In the blue box it state how people has a pride and when people can’t forget or have respect to that pride, it could be a negative thing that could harm or make others feel negative but most of the people don’t realized that they are. In the red part they give question mainly about “who” with a variety of category.

I believe that the main message to this is how people separate and point out the difference in each people who live around. By asking “who” it allows the reader to think what situation they are in and change the meaning of pride to a good things that won’t harm others.

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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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(For Wednesday, IN CLASS August 5)
-With your GROUP, please answer the question for this IMAGE SPECIFICALLY.

-Your GROUP needs to draw from AT LEAST ONE or two questions from the "Questions for Critical Literacy Aesthetic Approach to Text/ Language" to help you answer:
How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?
[Jodi & Joshua]
This text is presented in a bold white and black color which is similar to magazine or newspaper cutout letters, this could symbolize that this was a time where a trend depicted how they should act. Also, the text brings out a clear thought of uncertainty on who she is as a person. If you read the text from afar it's gonna be like “You are yourself” without seeing the word “not”, this simply tells us that at that time it was an influential era so most women were influenced by the media back then on what they wear, what they eat, how they talk or even how they dress.

The first thing the visual shows us is the pain and the hardship the woman is going through, also u can see something like a bullet mark on the mirror, this symbolized the anger the woman has towards someone or something.

The other thing that stands out in the visual is the large cracks in the mirror, if you look closer you also can't recognize the woman. Lastly, you can even see the woman's tears on the broken mirror this tells us that the woman is emotionally broken.

[Duane and Umi]
Kruger uses bold visuals of a broken mirror with the woman picking up the piece of glass. The representation of the mirror should show what the woman is as a whole and it should represent the woman as a whole, but the mirror is broken. This makes the image of the woman unclear.  This further shows how it is impossible for women to be everything that society expects of them. The woman picks up the piece of glass and seems not to recognize herself anymore.

The use of language in the text further affirms identity in Kruger's work. As the text shows, "You are (not) yourself." Kruger intentionally includes the word 'not' in a smaller font as it shows that society tries to trick women into believing the they are themselves and that they are responsible for their lives but they are pressured to be what society defines them to be.

[KM and Jaschia]
If you look closely at the image, she seems to be stressed out for her own face, looking through a shattered mirror, even though she is beautified. And the image says, 'You are not yourself.' However, the word 'not' is expressed in small words rather than 'you are yourself.' Furthermore, the two were expressed in different fonts. This makes the readers feel that 'no' and 'you are' don't match each other.

The image shows a woman's reflection on a shattered mirrror 1

Jun and Luna
This is an image of a woman shown in the mirror that got either shooter or got hit by something in the middle. You can also see a hand that is putting back the piece of mirror into where it was originally from. The text are shown by the letters that is cute out from the different paper and the word “not” is shown really small that the reader could miss it.

The text state “you are not yourself” but by looking at the image it is possible to miss read it and think the message is “you are yourself“ which makes it sound more positive than the original message. The reason for making the word “not” small can be to give the reader a message that people assume other people what they are and who they are but in reality they are not close to what they are.

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"Reading for Text Complexity: Literal vs.Inferential"

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"Reading for Text Complexity: Literal vs.Inferential"

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(For Friday DURING Class, August 7)
-Look carefully at the picture.
-W/your Partner/Group, Discuss:
HOW do you know WHAT is an inference based upon the descriptions?(write your answers in Hangouts.

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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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(For Wednesday, IN CLASS August 5)
-With your GROUP, please answer the question for this IMAGE SPECIFICALLY.

-Your GROUP needs to draw from AT LEAST ONE or two questions from the "Questions for Critical Literacy Aesthetic Approach to Text/ Language" to help help you answer:
How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

[Jodi & Joshua]
The intention behind this artwork is to show the audience that we, society, play right into the ‘hands’ of the sellers or big corporations. Most of the time without knowing about it ourselves, ignorant to the truth.

The visuals show a big part of this, with the hand being directly behind the text, showing that we are within the seller’s grasp and that we are being played with. Through being subconsciously or consciously persuaded by the advertisements we end up buying their products thus become consumers.

This is also reinforced by the text used, ‘I shop therefore I am’, the artist shows that we are all just buying into consumerism with the fact that we buy the products by those who provide.

[Duane and Umi]

Language and visuals are creatively used to express and affirm identity through different stylistic devices in the text.
Kruger uses a black and white background visual of a hand holding a card that says, "I shop therefore I am". The simplicity of the visuals shifts the focus of the audience on the statement Kruger is making. This famous catchphrase was borrow from Rene Descartes' "I think therefore I am". Kruger plays with the words from the famous quote by Descartes as she questions the importance of materialistic things with some sarcasm.
Kruger's background in advertising has come to her benefit as she holds unto the attention of the audience. Resulting in the choice of colors Kruger used in order to attract her audience's attention.
The language used by Kruger criticizes people who think that it is needed for someone to replace self worth with these materialistic objects.

Luna and Jun

The intention behind the message is that Kruger tries to tell the audience about people that someone who exists is meaningful which shows that people exist for some different reason.

The layout that she used had to present this picture is unique because what people think about the shop is a market or shopping bag. However in this image she used a hand to represent more powers to the text.

[KM and Jaschia]
he image has Barbara Kruger's signature font and colors. The color red used on the statement contrasts the black and white photo. This leads readers' eyes to look directly to the text as it is emphasized through the contrast of colors. The rectangular shape being held between the two fingers resembles that of a credit card. This is a detail that will prove to be important after one understands both the literal and inferential meaning of the text.

The statement  "I shop therefore I am" is clearly an edited version of Rene Descartes' famous line "I think before I am" or "Cogito, ergo sum" in Latin.

Descartes' statement conveys the message that one cannot doubt his/her own existence solely because he/she can think in the first place. Consciousness or the act of thinking, Descartes found, was reason enough not to doubt one's existence. Kruger brilliantly changes "think" to "shop" to make the artwork a form of satire towards consumerism.

Going back to the resemblance of a credit card in the image, Kruger's work stitches the use of colors and words to make the reader rethink one's basis of human value in an age of consumerism.

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(In Class Monday, August 17)
BEFORE conducting your Group's readings, please read about Diego Rivera's background HERE.

You MUST use the list of "QUESTIONS for critical literacy aesthetic approach to Text/ Language" TO HELP GUIDE YOUR THINKING HERE

NEXT, w/ your Group, you will answer the following question in your PADLET HERE:
How are language & Visuals in the MURAL BELOW
used to affirm and express IDENTITY in Diego Rivera's Work?

Justin Jaschia KM

The mural shows 2 Mexican revolutionary leaders: Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa. Zapata was an advocate for agrarianism while Villo was an advocate for land reform. They are both shown to hold a banner saying “tierra y libertad” which translates to “land and freedom”— 2 things the people were fighting for during the Mexican Revolution. The mural This mural expresses Mexicans’ advocacies in context with the political status at the time. Rivera uses a popular slogan on a banner with people known for being revolutionaries holding it up. This slogan was originally used during the Russian Revolution which clearly had an impact on people’s beliefs during the Mexican Revolution. Aside from the people known, the masses are also seen in the mural, shedding light to their efforts during the revolution. This is something common in Diego Rivera's work. Through his work, he shows the "real heroes" of the revolution--the masses.

Jodi
This mural is Rivera's way of trying to shed the spotlight to the ones who lead the Mexican revolution, Emilliano Zapata and Pancho Villa.

Just like the other mural they are holding up the slogan "Tierra y libertad", a popular slogan that was previously used in the Russian revolution, signifying that taking inspiration after the Russian revolution they also wanted to rise up against the government. The sign that Villa and Zapata are holding up would also be used to convey an optimistic and glorious view of the Mexican Revolution ideals.The people in this mural are also wearing different kinds of hats and clothes, this could show how people of different backgrounds or motivations are coming together to achieve this one goal that would help all of their situations.
In this mural the colors are more vibrant with the overall color tone leaning on the yellow and orange side, this brings the impression of hope and life. Which is what the people probably felt like after they were finally able to get their rights back.

Jun & Luna
This image show the the action taken by the important people in revolutionary force Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata which they are going against the way of Mexican revolution. By the image having a similar tone of color the flag shows up even more and can see the message. There are a lot of different types of cloths and other supply people are holding which gives some message that not only a single group are taking action to this but a lot of them are.

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For centuries, the fresco has served as an important method of mural-making. While these plaster paintings have existed since ancient times, modern artists have continued to reimagine the craft, with Mexican painter Diego Rivera at the forefront.

Equally famous for his revolutionary paintings and tumultuous personal life, Rivera remains one of modern art 's most well-known figures. Here, we take a look at his enduring work and the events that inspired it in order to paint a fuller picture of this controversial artist.

Life and Work

Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was born in Guanajuato, a city in central Mexico, in 1886. As a young child, Rivera expressed an interest in art. By the age of 10, he was enrolled in the Academy of San Carlos, a major art academy. A few years later, he traveled to Europe to study art on a sponsorship, landing in Madrid and then Paris, where he developed friendships with leading modernist figures.

While in Paris, Rivera experimented with different styles of painting, including Cubism and Post-Impressionism. While he saw success in the French capital, he moved to Italy in 1920. After spending one year studying Renaissance frescoes, he returned to his home country, where he experienced two important milestones: meeting Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, with whom he would enter into a notoriously toxic and tumultuous relationship, and undertaking his biggest-and most political-project yet: a series of murals inspired by the Mexican Revolution.

The Mexican Mural Movement

Rivera arrived in Mexico in 1922. At this time, the country was grappling with the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution, a decade-long political crisis and Civil War that culminated in over one million deaths. Tasked with the challenges of revitalizing Mexican culture and promoting pro-Revolution ideals, the government decided to fund a public art program.

Known today as Mexican Muralism, the government employed several prominent painters for this project-turned-movement, including José Clemente Orozco, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and, of course, Diego Rivera. Collectively known as "the big three," these artists addressed major Revolutionary themes, like human suffering (a motif favored by Orozco), revolutionary heroes (Siqueiros's preferred subject), and Mexico's working-class society (Rivera's focus).

Diego Rivera's Murals

While each artist saw success, Rivera's large-scale works proved particularly popular-both in Mexico and beyond. Employing a distinctive style characterized by a bold color palette and simplified forms inspired by both Mayan and Aztec art, " Rivera created sweeping mural cycles that drew upon modernist painting styles to render heroic visions of Mexico's past and present that captured the attention of critics and onlookers internationally."

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Rivera completed politically-charged frescoes all over the world. Some of his most well-known works can be found in Mexico City's Centro Historico, or Historic Center. These include his first mural, titled Creation, in the Bolívar Auditorium of the National Preparatory School as well as colossal paintings that adorn the stairways and corridors in the Palacio Nacional, or National Palace.

Rivera also completed murals in the United States. Made possible by a relationship with the American Ambassador to Mexico, this stint spawned some of Rivera's most famous pieces: The Making of a Fresco Showing the Building of a City in San Francisco; the Detroit Industry Murals in Detroit; and Man at the Crossroads, a piece planned-though never completed-for Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

Man at the Crossroads

Ironically, Man at the Crossroads is perhaps Rivera's most famous work. Its design incorporated several motifs and subjects, most of which referenced contemporary culture. In the center of the composition, a workman is shown controlling a machine. This central figure is surrounded by a collage of symbols, from a fist clenching an orb adorned with atoms and cells to swirling stars and planets.

Packed with scenes referencing both society and science, Rivera explained that Man at the Crossroads illustrated humankind's search for a "more complete balance between . . . technical and ethical development." This, however, is not the only juxtaposition explored by Man at the Crossroads. Most prominently, it conveys the contrast between capitalism and communism.

While Rivera's plan to convey this concept was approved by the Rockefeller family, it quickly caused controversy. "Rivera's pointedly pro-leftist subject matter-including a laudatory portrait of Vladimir Lenin-and caricatured portraits of his Rockefeller patrons riled the site's managers, and Rivera was fired before he could complete the fresco," the Museum of Modern Art explains.

Prior to his termination, Rivera was given the opportunity to simply sanitize the fresco's subject matter. Rivera refused, however, stating, "rather than mutilate the conception, I shall prefer the physical destruction of the conception in its entirety, but preserving, at least, its integrity." The fresco was removed from the walls and destroyed. This, in turn, resulted in protests and boycotts around the world, leading Rivera to conclude that his art's suffering "will advance the cause of the labor revolution."

While Man at the Crossroads was never completed, Rivera painted a smaller replica called Man, Controller of the Universe, in Mexico City's Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of Fine Arts).

Diego Rivera's Legacy

While Rivera's career was sprinkled with scandal until his death in 1957, his murals are regarded as key contributions to both the history of art and to modern society as whole. With his large-scale public works, Rivera communicated important political messages that challenged, mobilized, and inspired the public. In fact, Franklin Delano Roosevelt's celebrated "New Deal"-a series of projects that played a pivotal role in the aftermath of the Great Depression-would borrow this model, proving the virtue and validity of public art.

Related Articles:
Explore "La Casa Azul": Frida Kahlo's Famous Blue House-Turned-Museum The Stories and Symbolism Behind 5 of Frida Kahlo's Most Well-Known Paintings Brooklyn Museum Announces "Major Exhibit" on the Life and Work of Frida Kahlo Upcoming Exhibition Uses Frida Kahlo's Personal Belongings to Tell Her Life Story

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Diego Rivera: Exploring the Artist's Role in Mexican Muralism

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For centuries, the fresco has served as an important method of mural-making. While these plaster paintings have existed since ancient times, modern artists have continued to reimagine the craft, with Mexican painter Diego Rivera at the forefront. Equally famous for his revolutionary paintings and tumultuous personal life, Rivera remains one of modern art 's most well-known figures.

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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

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(For Wednesday, IN CLASS August 5)
-With your GROUP, please answer the -question for These TWO IMAGES
SPECIFICALLY.

-Your GROUP needs to draw from AT LEAST ONE or two questions from the "Questions for Critical Literacy Aesthetic Approach to Text/ Language" to help help you answer:
How Are Language & Visuals Used to Affirm Identity in Barbara Kruger's Work?

[Jodi & Joshua]
The text outright comments on how the government and the female population are fighting each other for the ‘reproductive freedom’ on a woman’s body. With the use of the word ‘battleground’ as symbolism or a metaphor, the artist comments on how we should empower women to fight for freedom on their bodies, making their bodies a battleground.

The visual clearly shows and supports what the text is saying, as you can see the visual has been divided in the middle this can symbolize a lot of things, in this case it symbolizes the struggle and pain that woman are going through also by looking at the visuals you can even feel the emotions portrayed by the woman.

[Duane and Umi]
The frame cuts the image showing only the face of a woman staring straight into the direction of the audience. The frame is divided into two with the left side being a positive image and the right being negative image.
The symmetrical image of the woman shows what society expects of women during the time. The stereotypical depiction of society of how women should look like.
The language used shows how the fight for choice is distinct than any other battles. In the example of abortion, the campaign for women's right to choose what occurs outside her body, yet directly affects her. The woman's body turns into a battleground  or combat zone that women struggle for.

[KM and Jaschia]
The first thing one notices in this artwork is the clear line dividing a woman's face. The left half is the original picture while the right half is the literal "negative" of the former half. A photo negative reverses the light and dark in a photograph.

The next thing one notices is the use of her signature font and colors for the text. Again, this emphasizes the text in contrast to the black and white image. The statement "Your body is a battleground"  is a response to the status of reproductive rights of women at the time.

The image turned into halves and the statement together sends a message to women in context of how they were treated at the time.

Women had to endure the outcomes of society's prejudice against them. Despite this fact, women were still seen to be weak and undeserving. The statement "Your body is a battleground" tells a woman to stand up against prejudice and believe that they're strong despite the said prejudice. Women aren't exactly what they're painted as.

This leads me back to the face in different halves. Every "light" society saw in them had a corresponding "darkness" to it. What's presented as weak may be stronger in reality than one thinks.

Jun and Luna
The first thing to know from this image is that there is a woman representing 2 different side which is the bright and dark side. There is a text in white written in the red box which makes the text strong and pop out. This whole image shows the position and how people thought about woman back that time. She uses the word “battleground” as a metaphor referring to the way woman should look like and how they should feel about them self.
We believe that the creator Kruger, she wish to tell the others who sees this image to stay strong no matter how others think and also to know how 2 different side can be related and how not to make others think the woman are week.

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The Negro Speaks of Rivers: Global Issue and Focus

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The Negro Speaks of Rivers: Global Issue and Focus

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(For class on Thursday, August 13)
a- Discuss with your group, the indicated G.I. focus and look for common points of analysis in your partner's work.
b -Based on SLIDE 14 of "The Negro Speaks of Rivers", what is the poet Hughes saying about people throughout history?-Please see SLIDE 14 HERE in the PPT"The Negro Speaks of Rivers"(ANSWER in your Group's Response panel in PADLET)
c -REMEMBER the assignment prompt:
"How might the themes of Survival and Strength inherent in this poem reflect ONE of the Global Issues from the list provided."
d-You can review the four Global Issues foci HERE.

AFTER your group has met and discussed a-d ABOVE please post your answer in  the corresponding Panel in our Class PADLET.

[Beliefs, values, and education]
It is because the people had the same values they were able to power through. The rivers that Hughes mentioned in the poem signified the identities of the African slaves, which is what remained constant in their lives and helped them survive the other challenging "rivers" they had to endure.
- Jodi, Justin, Luna

Power, politics and justice
Duane, Junbum, Umi, Kyoungmin, Jenny

The themes of survival and strength inherent in this poem reflect t he global issue of politics, power and justice . We would say that there was an abuse of power against the African- Americans as they were enslaved. The flow of the poem traces a historical arc from
freedom to enslavement, then freedom again. This shows how justice persevered.

We think that Hughes presents his people's resilience. He uses the poem to show that his people have fought for their freedom back after being enslaved. He also presents the views and experiences of the African Americans through the course of history.

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(In Class Monday, August 17)
BEFORE conducting your Group's readings, please read about Diego Rivera's background HERE.

You MUST use the list of "QUESTIONS for critical literacy aesthetic approach to Text/ Language" TO HELP GUIDE YOUR THINKING HERE

NEXT, w/ your Group, you will answer the following question in your PADLET HERE:
How are language & Visuals in the MURAL BELOW used to affirm and express IDENTITY in Diego Rivera's Work?

KM, Justin, Jaschia
The mural shows many people coming together heavily armed with the presence of symbols of communism in the background. Rivera utilized language and visuals in this mural to express his political beliefs. First, he was a member of the Mexican Communist Party and his beliefs played very strong roles in his art, such as in this mural. This affirms his support for the Workers’ movement and the proletarian revolution. He also includes several important people who were key figures in the revolution such as Frida Kahlo (a particularly significant companion to Rivera) who seems to be handing out ammunition, Leon Trotsky (a Russian who lived with Rivera), David Siquieros (a Mexican social realist painter), and Tina Modotti (an Italian revolutionary political activist) to further emphasize the magnitude of his beliefs and his personal connection to them. The piece also shows an atmosphere of solidarity among the people which can be seen in how close and united all the people are in the picture. This means that Rivera captured the central feeling of the revolution, which was the people united against an abusive regime.

Jodi
Through this mural River is able to express his political views, being part of the Mexican Communist Party, through the language and visuals used.

In this mural Rivera uses colors to help certain elements stand out and others group together, being able to move the audience's attention to the places he wants. Giving the big portions of the color red to those he wants to bring attention to, the different flags and the only women in this mural of which one of them being his future wife Frida Khalo and the other one being Tina Modottiwith with her lover Julio Antonio Mella, a Cuban revolutionary.
The flags also represented what he was part of and what he believed in. The flag at the back stating "Tierra y Libertad" which means Land and Liberty which is an anarchist slogan previously used in the Russian revolution.
He was also able to depict other notable people who are related to his political beliefs such as Leon Trotsky and Vittorio Vidali.
With the people in this mural all being so compact, it gives the impression of something is about to happen or something is happening. In this case being the Mexican revolution, with the layout by Rivera, the mural is able to capture part of the essence of what a revolution is like.

Jun & Luna
This is an image that is showing the main believes and the movement taken by the communism party and can see that most of them are holding some guns and flags that represent them. All the key persons are in this image and all individual has some relation with Rivera which make this image more meaningful. The color in the image is mostly in one tone but few in the image are used red which makes that part stand out. By the mage having a blank space it gives and add some message of people coming into one or coming together,

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(DUE BEFORE Class on MONDAY!)
OPTION 1: Questions for the image titled: "We Don't Need Another Hero"

1. How is the use of text/language important in this work of art?

2. Why do you think Kruger uses such old-fashioned images of gender stereotypes? How do they help subvert or maintain the status quo?

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(For Wednesday, IN CLASS August 5)
-How are language and visuals used
to express and affirm identity in Barbara Kruger's work?

After reading Barbara Kruger's Bio here, you will answer the ABOVE question for EACH of the posted images by Kruger.

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(DUE BEFORE Class on TUESDAY!)
OPTION 2: create a visual about YOUR OWN identity and accompany it with a 500 word rationale about YOUR creativity or choices.

Your RATIONALE should answer the following:

HOW does your Image, Text subvert or maintain the status quo?
HOW does the use of both LANGUAGE and Imagery (visual) in your piece affirm or express YOUR identity?
How is the use of text/language important in your work of art?

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(For Friday, DURING CLASS, August 7)
-Please read the Poem, "The Negro Speaks of Rivers".
-Next, look at Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance.

-WITH your PARTNER, please answer the Close Reading Questions from the Langston Hughes PPT "The Negro Speaks of Rivers"from SLIDES 3-14 in your Notebook. Please write your complete answers in under the corresponding columns created in your notebook.
a.See the EXMPLE Note-taking IMAGE HERE:  "Example Note Taking Literal Structural Inferential"
b. You should be discussing these questions w/ your partner in your Google Hangout link.
c. You must post your OWN answers in your NOTEBOOK!

--Your GROUP needs to draw from AT LEAST ONE or two questions from the "Questions for Critical Literacy Aesthetic Approach to Text/ Language" to help  you answer:
SLIDE
#12 from the PPT: "How does Hughes use geography to convey a message? What is the significance of the ORDER of the places he chooses?

-Please discuss this question from Slide #12 in your Group Hang out
and post your group's answer HERE.

[Jodi & Joshua]
Hughes is able to use geography to show the journey of his culture. Starting from their beginnings in Euphrates and making its way throughout the continents. (Asia, Africa, and N. America)

[KM & Jaschia]
Hughes uses geography in the poem to show the history he has gone through. It shows that the rivers are connected one after another, starting with freedom, going through slavery and gaining freedom again.

Umi and Duane
Hughes uses geography to show the african experience in history and establishes a link between the past and the present.
Hughes mentions 4 of the many know rivers located in Africa, America, and the Middle East. With this, he intends to show the movement of the Africans over time.

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(In Class Monday, August 17)
Please complete "Readings 1-4" from our Classroom Agenda August 17.

BEFORE conducting your Group's readings, please read about Diego Rivera's background HERE.

You MUST use the list of "QUESTIONS for critical literacy aesthetic approach to Text/ Language" TO HELP GUIDE YOUR THINKING HERE

NEXT, w/ your Group, you will answer the following question in your PADLET HERE:
How are language & Visuals in the MURAL BELOW used to affirm and express IDENTITY in Diego Rivera's Work?

Justin Jaschia KM
Rivera used language and visuals to showcase his disgust to those in power. In the mural, he depicts the sufferings of the working class under the oppressive system. The workers look like they are being enslaved by those in power- they are exploited for labor which only benefits those in control. One of the workers looks at the one in power with an aura of rebellion. However, he is quickly threatened to go back to work as the person in power points a gun at him. Rivera emphasizes the divide between the working class and the powerful, with those in power sitting high on their horses and the commoners crouching down with most of their faces not even shown. The degradation of human value is also apparent through the whip used by the person on the horse. What’s commonly used to make horses work is also seemingly used on the working class for the same purpose

What ideas or feelings does the creator wish to convey?

Jodi
This mural is representative of what Mexico was going through during the time this was made, depicting the 'exploiters' and the working class people working below them. Rivera is able to express his view on the situation using solely the visuals as there is no direct language used in this mural. Being able to use each character in the mural to represent a part of the Mexican society. The man to the far left seeming to represent a part of society to which was basically stripped of everything, resembling the image of being crucified, the men search him for anything else he has to take it away from him. The man in the middle of those represents those who were tirelessly working but still wanted to stand up to those exploiting them, working towards gaining back their rights, literally standing up and out from the rest of the crowd whos head does not go higher than the waist. Then there is the 2 men in a higher position than the rest of the people, both literally and symbolically with the horse representing their social standing. The one on the left who could represent those who were able to see some wealth in this era, the pointing of a gun at the worker would signify that this person was someone in the government. The ability to control the working class people to continue working hard for no fruit. While the man on the right was part of the society which gained the most benefits from the workers, exploiting them and reaping the fruit for themselves. As the mural as a whole showing range of skin colors should be noted, with those of the darkest shade being at the bottom while those of a lighter shade being at the top of society. This detail could further implement the image and message that Rivera was trying to convey.
This mural uses more of muted colors which gives the impression of being put down and not being free, which is part of the message Rivera wanted to convey.

Luna & Jun
In this image we can see the power difference between the people who work and the people who control the people who work for them. We can easily see that the people riding on the horse are acting big toward the others and this is especially seen where one of the man on the horse is panting the gun to the man who is looking at them, by looking at the facial expression of the working man we can tell that they are not happy with what they get and how they are treated. This image is possibly representing and showing how the olden days of Mexico looks like and how the difference between the power was a big thing back then. The first impression got from this piece is sadness, anger, and fear. It was hard for me to state in one word because this image shows and represent 3 different point of view which are the people working, the man who is looking at the man riding the horse, and the man who’s riding the horse. I believe that Rivera wish to send the message about the fact of how the power difference was used back at that time and how they were forced to do the work.

Duane & Umi
What is your impression of the piece?
Our impression of the piece is that it addresses a very serious issue. The use of the elements and text are effective as the message of the author is clear to the audience. We also feel
What ideas or feelings does the creator wish to convey?
The creator presents an artwork of how slavery at the time lo

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(DUE BEFORE Class on TUESDAY!)
OPTION 1:Questions for the image titled: "Untitled Questions"

1. Comment on Kruger’s use of the flag to create meaning.

Justin
Kruger’s use of the United States flag stresses that for a country that seems to pride itself with its colors and principles of bravery, peace, and freedom, those liberties exclude many people, commenting on the oppressive social system the United States has cultivated.

2. Compare and contrast Kruger’s flag to an any advertisement. How long does it take to understand an advert versus this work of art?

Justin
Kruger's flag is definitely a more complex work of art than an advertisement, mainly because of purpose. An advertisement is supposed to be creatively direct and simple, so more customers can immediately be sold to the product. However, Kruger's flag requires a more critical form of thinking, as it asks thought-provoking questions about American society.

3. What does Kruger mean by “Look for the moment when pride becomes contempt”?

Justin
I believe that Kruger tries to question all those that are truly proud of being an American. Are those that are proud simply patriotic of their country or are they those that have lived with the benefits of being on the privileged side of America's wide oppressive societal spectrum?

4. Do you think this artwork is endorsing or criticizing the ideals of the United States? Explain.

Justin
I believe that it is criticizing the ideals of the United States because the questions Kruger asks in the artwork reveal the dark truth of the supposedly great American Dream. Despite being known as the "Land of the Free" where liberty and justice prevails for all, it does not include many people, especially people of color, into that conversation.

5. Where would be the best place to put this artwork? Why? (museum, billboard, magazine, television…)

Justin
I believe this artwork should be placed on television, where it can potentially reach a wide range of audiences (especially American audiences). More people can ask themselves the questions in the artwork and potentially reflect on whether or not the values that have shaped America's ideals have been internalized for the benefit of all.