Wh at do you think should be done with the artwork? Why?
The Arnautoff painting on the life of George Washington h as brought about heated debates on its offensive content (L am, 2019 ). I think the artwork ought to be left as it is, in plain view for everyone to see, because it offers a truthful representation of US history. When interpreting materials, it is vital to always consider the purpose and context for their creation (Facione & Gittens, 2016). Similarly, in art, contextual information helps better understand murals and changes viewers’ aesthetic experiences (Szubielska & Sztorc, 2019). If viewers understand the context of the mural, they will see that the purpose of the artwork was to offer a truthful representation of the life of George Washington and his impact on US history. If people consider the purpose and context of the mural, they will interpret it correctly and find that it does not glorify George Washington or the offensive content it portrays.
Wh at message do you think the artwork conveys?
The mur al conveys the mess age that the US is founded on significant contradictions and complexities, including manifest destiny, slavery, genocide, oppression, white supremacy, and colonization . I believe this mess ag e is vit a l to its audience as i t shows the complexities and inconsistencies of George Washington’s life and the history of the US (Di az, 2019 ). The message is truthful and inclusive of all the groups of people who played a part in making the US what we see today.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Does the historic v alue of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of the message?
I believe the historical value of the Arnautoff Mural requires it to be saved regardless of the message it communicates. The history behind the painting represents our cultural and social history as Americans ( Di az, 2019). It helps to remind us of the history of our country, which enables us to appreciate where we are today because it shows the past and how much we have overcome as a country.
Do you think the message of the artwork is sufficiently important that the message alone requires that it be saved ?
I believe the message presented by the mural is adequately vital that it requires to be saved. The mural’s message serves to remind every American citizen of the different roles that everyone played in the making of our nation ( Di az, 2019). Since it offers an inclusive and truthful narrative, it ensures that people will never forget the complexities and contradictions behind our nation’s foundation.
References
Di az, a. (2019). School to cover up George Washington mural that depicts violence and slavery. LA Times. https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-george-washington-san-francisco-mural-20190628-story.html
Facione, P. & Gittens, A., C. (2016). Think critically. Pearson Education, Inc.
L am, K. (2019). A California school board has voted to paint over a mural of George Washington. Educators want to save it. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/07/11/san-francisco-mural-academics-george-washington-history/1689543001/
Szubielska, M., & Sztorc, A. (2019). The influence of extended contextual information provided in a contemporary art gallery on aesthetic experience of art faculties students. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 345-351. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337913510_The_Influence_of_Extended_Contextual_Information_Provided_in_a_Contemporary_Art_Gallery_on_Aesthetic_Experience_of_Art_Faculties_Students
