Role of Visual Artifacts in Constructing National Identities - Paper Example

The Destruction of Pompeii Historical Example - week 10

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The destruction of Pompeii is similar to the 9/11 tragedy, although it was a natural catastrophe. The damage and the massive loss of life in Pompeii resulted from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. People and clothes atomized following the high temperatures of approximately 400 degrees. Others who lived further away from the mountains sought to escape but during that time, most of the inhabitants lacked a mode of transport. Therefore, the magma, which was moving at around 100 miles per hour, buried them as they sought to escape. Later, in the eighteenth century, the settlers of Pompeii discovered bodies. From the debris, it was possible to differentiate the wealthy and the have-nots. Soldiers wore a sword; the wealthy had jewelry while the slaves were identified from their teeth. These bodies are visual artifacts that reinforced the different classes of people that created the Pompeii identity. Similarly, the villas and the treasure buried beneath act as visual artifacts that enlighten people on the different classes of the inhabitants of Pompeii. Besides, the site itself is a memory of the disaster that met these residents leading to the destruction of the city. Therefore, the uncovering of the Pompeii brought extensive history about the identity of the city as both a source of visual artifacts and a site of memory. Similarly, it takes the combination of all the small characters such as the poor and the rich, the blacks, and the whites to construct the identity of a nation.

Ellis Island National Museum Historical example - week 2

The Ellis Island National Museum houses the history of Chinese immigration into the United States. At the time, customs officers believed all Chinese were criminals since they all looked and acted in the same way. Similarly, an assumption existed that all Chinese were dangerous and untrustworthy and that they came to the United States illegally. Therefore, during the immigration, they were subjected to a visual exam and were asked many questions about their histories. Due to the strictness of the process, some immigrants manipulated the photo identification document to create a positive identity that America was seeking. At present, all this information still exists in the National Museum.

The photographs of the Chinese immigrants stored in the Ellis Island National Museum contribute significantly to the American identity as visual artifacts. Similarly, the Museum is a site of memory that reminds the Chinese community living in the United States of the struggles their ancestors experienced in the time of immigration. When the descendants of the Chinese immigrants in the United States come to the Ellis Island, they recall what happened to their relatives back then. They remember all the unfairness their ancestors experienced and the problems they went through, which reflects a contemporary sadness. The history of the Ellis Island gateway is a part of the American history. It contributes significantly to the construction of the American identity.

African-American Male Imprisonment - Contemporary example - week 5

The African-American Male imprisonment is another contemporary issue of mass incarceration, which is still evident in contemporary America, mainly among the African-American men. It shapes the American identity in different ways. Thousands of black men remain locked away in prisons and jails for crimes that are largely ignored if committed by whites. Instead, it treats the wealthy and whites well. The penalty system punishes small crimes committed by people of color harshly instead of helping them reform and get back to the society with dignity. When African-Americans identify with this unfairness and lack of justice within these prisons, it reflects a contemporary sadness. Therefore, this situation creates a negative identity for the nation characterized by racism, injustice, and inhumanity.

Besides, the prisons characterized by high walls, guards, and electric fences are sites of memory that remind people to remain on the right side of the law, mainly the African-American men. Through technology, prisons take prisoners photos within the visiting rooms and circulate them on social media, which condemns young people of color to crime, leaving the society to judge them. Historically, the Americans used photography in the Ellis Island to condemn all Chinese to crime and limit their entry into America. Like then, these photos are visual artifacts that contribute further to creating a negative American identity.

Conclusion

In summary, contemporary and historical visual artifacts, artworks and sites of memory play a significant role in constructing national identities. These visual representations hold extensive information and memories of which each American can acquit. When citizens identify with a particular historical event, for example, the Ellis Island, it unites all Chinese-Americans as a nation, creating the national identity. Similarly, contemporary examples such as the 911 Memorial Center and forms of sites of memory and visual artifacts are the reminders that contribute towards the construction of a nations identity.

How Visual Artifacts, Artwork and Sites of Memory Create, Reinforce or Contest Categories of Gender, Race, and Class

Introduction

Contemporary illustrations and historical examples create and reinforce visual artifacts, artwork, and sites of memory, which has brought different reactions according to the two perspectives in the argument of categories of gender, race, and class. Society plays a critical and pivotal role on this as people tend to follow what the majority is doing or what they believe is right. In a contemporary case, they do this through social media and public media. The aim of this essay is to establish how visual artifacts, artworks, and sites of memory create, reinforce and contest categories of gender, race, and class in the society.

The U.S. President Contemporary example - week 7

The U.S. President is a visual representation of power and authority in the modern U.S. politics. It is a reinforcement of class in the contemporary America. Having an excellent visual presentation affects the domination of power significantly. Mainly, the contemporary America spans from the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debates to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the most recent presidential elections in November 2016. The debate held between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960 depicted Kennedy as handsome, calm and experienced since he spoke in details and numbers and had full comprehension of his material. However, Nixon was not well dressed. Kennedy won the elections because his visual presentation created class and wealth that made people get accustomed to him. In all visual artifacts, the posture, facial expressions, dress code, and jewelry create, reinforce or contest categories of gender, race, and class. For example, the visual representation of Kennedy portrayed him as handsome and well dressed, which created class. Accordingly, many presidential candidates stage power portraits to emphasize on what they want to show the public. Indeed, a compelling visual representation of class bestows the candidate the highly valued job, as Kennedy did over his opponent, Nixon.

14th C Black Death Historical example - week 6

The Black Death was a plague that mice spread in the mid-14th century in Florence and Siena. The people feared the disease very much that they never buried the dead. According to existing artwork, namely, the Procession of Flagellants from the Belles Heures of Jean of France, the people prayed and gave money to churches and joined flagellant fraternities with the hope to exonerate themselves from sin. Evidently, the wealthy in the society would donate money to the church to pray for their safety in case another disaster as Black Death occurred. These artworks and literary writings created and reinforced categories of class in Florence and Siena, a similar trend to the portrait of President Kennedy in 1960. Moreover, only the rich had money that they would donate to the church. Therefore, if the beliefs were true, the weak would perish in the plague because they did not have any money to give.

Furthermore, they thought God was using the plaque as a punishment for their sin. In return, the church availed solace to the people. The visual artifacts and literary text, namely, the artwork and Boccaccios writing are a visual representation that showed the right side of the church, which encouraged people to believe in the church.

Brazil and Cologne Carnival Contemporary example - week 8

Finally, the Brazil Carnival held in Bahian and the Cologne Carnival held in Germany are contemporary representations of race, gender, and class in the society. Race, gender, class, and age play significant roles in the carnivals. Particularly, in Brazil, there are different types of celebrations some of which are open only to the rich white people. Accordingly, they spend a lot of money to buy beautiful costumes. These clothes act as visual artifacts that create and reinforce race and class, a similar trend to that portrayed by President Kennedy in 1960.

Similarly, these carnivals categorize women depending on their color, age, and class. Mainly, white women present marriage; black women represent working by wearing garbs, while mulattaas are highly sexualized. Thus, the carnivals act as sites of memory that reinforce social classes, gender, and various races in the society. Nevertheless, the play and leisure at carni...