Homework Assignment – Political Art

DIRECTIONS:

This assignment is designed for you to explore the humanities of various societies and cultures in

the world. Select three (3) images, and answer all of the supporting questions with the work of

art. You will answer nine questions in total. Use your own words, and support your responses by

using lecture notes and the sources from the internet. Use complete sentences, use proper

grammar, and don’t forget to proofread and spell check your work before submitting it.

All assignments must be MLA style cover page, be typed, double-space, 4 - 5 pages

Font: 12 points Calibri, Arial or New Times Roman (NO FANCY FONTS)

Do not use the following as source in your paper: Wikipedia, encyclopedia, or a

dictionary

Do not PLAGIARIZE and turn in your FINAL on time!

HELPFUL WEBSITE

o EasyBib.com (free) – Automatic works cited and bibliography formatting for

MLA, APA and Chicago citation styles (www.easybib.com).

o 1checker.com (free) – 1checker helps you write better English

(www.1checker.com).

o Paper Rater (free) – Online electronic proofreading system: Grammar checker,

plagiarism detector, and writing suggestions (www.paperrater.com)

God Bless America

1. Faith Ringgold is an African American artist who uses

art as her medium for feminist images or political

statements. Consider the political climate during 1964,

when this image was created. Ringgold (God Bless

America, 1964) uses the stars and stripes of the flag, but

rearranges them to express different content.

a. Name two historical events that influenced Ringgold’s

work?

b. What does the star and stripes in the painting

represent?

c. Name two roles of an artist can be applied to this work

and discuss why?

Rebellious Silence

2. Shirin Neshat artwork, Rebellious Silence, is a quiet

yet powerful voice for Muslim women's issues in the

world. Address the following questions.

a. What do you think the woman in the photograph

fighting for?

b.What are Neshat’s hidden message(s) in the work?

c. What are Neshat’s concerns for Muslim women in

Iran and Western society?

Bird’s Nest

3. Zhang Hongtu's Bird’s Nest, 2008, is filled with explosive political messages from death to basic civil

rights for the people of China. The artwork depicts the Chinese National Stadium, and sheds light on the

political and social issues of the country and the government.

a. Name and discuss one general theme displayed in this work, thoroughly.

b. What are two roles of an artist displayed in this work? Explain and cite an example.

c. What do you think is the purpose of the work and is Hongtu’s artwork important globally?

What is the Proper Way to Display a Flag?

(close up of the poster) The Exhibit: What is the Proper Way to Display a Flag?

4. Dread Scott creates compelling and revolutionary art that deals with social justice and

inequality issues in American. Address the following questions:

a. What do you think motivated the artist to create this work? Why did the artist Dread

Scott name himself after the enslaved African American Dred Scott? (Pay attention to

the two different spellings of the name.)

b. Do you think it was important for the artist to create this work that address social and

political issues in America?

c. Would you walk on the flag to leave a comment in the guest book? Why or why not?

Explain thoroughly.

The Problem We All Live with the Trail of Tears (2011)

by Christine Chzasz

5. a. What do you think about the title of the artwork, and what story does it tell?

b. What political message is the artist trying to convey or express?

c. The Trail of Tears depicts a Union soldier as a ghost. Why do you think the artist included him

in the painting? Is the artwork effective or ineffective with the image of the soldier present?