An American image.......

Positive or Negative?

Where is this?
The gathering is to "Restore America's Honor".
Organised by whom?
What are the roots of America's honor?
Who are the supporters of this lobby?

See you Monday

Good wishes,
John

America: Positive and Negative

After seemingly endless deliberation I have chosen two images that help represent the positive and negative elements to America.

My first picture is a poster presenting the infamous 1915 film 'The Birth of a Nation' directed by DW Griffin. The film is known for illustrating the Ku Klux Klan in a positive light, and presenting black people as aggressive and stupid. It's the reaction, however, which exposes the darker side to America in my opinion. The film was hugely successful and Americans received it very well. The film is seen as an important factor in the KKKs dramatic rise in membership in the late 1910s and 1920s, showing the depth of the response from Americans.

In a broader sense, I believe this reaction epitomises America's dedication to the media and its naivety when presented with propaganda. DW Griffin's film is just one of many pieces of negative media across the nations history which has drawn in Americans and indoctrinated their thoughts.

My second picture is of some Clemson Tigers fans at the Clemson Memorial Stadium in South Carolina. The stadium has a maximum capacity of 80,000 and often has as many people coming to watch American Football games. Sport plays a pivotal role in American society. In my opinion, the American obsession with sport is something extremely positive. Throughout American history a sports arena has been one of the few places where people from a country often plagued by social, political and racial conflict could all come together as a community. My picture presents a clear sense of community and togetherness. American sport itself has proved to be one of the most diverse and racially accepting areas of American society. For example, Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play in the Major League Baseball association in 1947. This came almost ten years before the Civil Rights Movement had even started, suggesting that sport was an area leading the strive for the stability of racial conflict. On the surface my picture represents community, but beneath the surface it also represents acceptance and pride.

Images that mean America to me

I chose a picture of the Glee cast as my positive image not only because I'm a massive Gleek but because of the message the show puts across. All of the characters in Glee are underdogs, they are kids that are unpopular and don't fit in. However all of them have amazing talents whether it be singing, dancing or acting. My main reason for picking this image as my positive image was because the idea that it doesn't matter who you are or where you've come from if you have enough self belief and work hard enough you'll make it and is a prominent message embedded within the Glee episodes. I believe this concept is also embedded within American culture therefore making this show highly accessible and reiterating to the audience that you can be whoever you want to be.

For my negative image I decided to choose this image because obesity is one of the biggest killers in the USA. Recently it has over taken smoking as one of the most threatening health issues in America, with 64% of the population being classed as obese. When I was in America earlier this year all I ever seemed to see was fast food restaurants and I was in a tiny town in Sonoma County! This idea of wanting everything as quickly as possible seems to dominate American culture and fast food seemingly fits this lifestyle. Although, whenever I wanted something quick to eat I ended up with a huge meal that could have fed at least two people and took me forever to eat. I know America like to do things bigger and faster than everyone else but when it's risking the health of the population I don't see how this can be a positive attribute to America as a nation.

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