Visual Analysis of the March Trilogy Literature and visual art are very similar; both are creative outlets for self-expression. Both can be very literal in meaning or leave it up to the audience to search for something more. When you combine the two together, you get a comic book or a graphic novel. Illustrator Nate Powell and writer Andrew Aydin teamed up with Congressman John Lewis to tell the story of his fight during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement in the March trilogy. While these novels are filled with several pages, most are covered with panels of artwork instead of the typical lines of text. Despite the minimal amount of text, the March trilogy is a complex series of books that takes some time to fully understand because of the graphic novel aspect. This is shown by using different shading techniques and changes in font. Powell …show more content…
In book two, there is an image that represents a poster for the civil rights movement; it is drawn in traditional realism, using light crosshatching for shading. There are little to no lines around each person, in contrast to the artwork in the rest of the book that uses bold lines with shading like what one would see done with watercolors. On the actual poster, “come let us build a new world together” stretches across the feet of the protesters (see figure 7). Lewis states “That picture became probably the most popular poster of the movement” (Lewis and Aydin: Vol. 2, 120). I agree with him; the picture is important for the Civil Rights Movement. The protesters are kneeled peacefully, appearing almost as if in prayer. By drawing the image in a softer, realistic style, readers realize the importance of the image. Anytime Lewis recalls a news report on the tv, the artwork is changed to that pencil-like style. The changes in artistic styles were effective in leaving his audience with an impression of the importance specific images
Gun-slinging, militant-looking, irate adolescent African American men, women, and children: an incessant image employed by the revolutionary artist Emory Douglas. Douglas is perhaps one of the most iconic artists’ of the 20th century and has created thousands of influential protest images that remain unforgettable to this day. Through the use of compelling images Emory Douglas aided in defining the distinct visual aesthetic of the Black Panther Party’s newspapers, pamphlets, and posters. It was through such mediums that Douglas had the ability to enlighten and provoke a predominately illiterate and uneducated community via visual communication, illustrating that art can evolve into an overpowering device to precipitate social and political change.
With the March books being a graphic novel I believe it makes it a lot easier to read and having pictures go along with the reading, allows the reader to get a glimpse in how the author is presenting the words. The author’s content in the book is such an easy read, that even teenagers would be able to finish it without getting bored.
Essentially the posters intentions were to boost morale at home. This was a necessity since the United States had to cut short American liberties and rights in order to successfully wage a war. Such liberties included: food rationing, involuntary drafting, metal rationing, relocation of citizens, and many other restrictions. Posters were used to keep morale high and reassure the public just what they were fighting for and that victory is inevitable.
As I look at this picture I feel bad for the hard times that these people had to endure. It makes me upset with the way this country treated African Americans They are fighting for something they believe in and will stop at nothing to earn what they deserve. It shows the powerful message of the movement, which was to gain equal rights and prove that they are equal citizens. The message is to show how these people fought for their cause. The photo does show that they were willing to fight for their rights by capturing the people’s pain in their faces. The photo shows the determination and drive to gain equal rights. I see people running away from water being shot at by hoses to stop the protest for these rights. The water represents the sacrifice for the pain they must endure in order to get what they want.
McLuhan included a quote written backwards that requires the reader to look in a mirror in order to read it (53-54), as well as a passage written upside down (55-56). Unlike most books, particularly the ones that are mandatory to read in school, this one isn’t tedious. It’s engaging, almost as McLuhan affirms television to be. Although, what makes the book different from others at this time is its use of visuals; there is some sort of graphic on every page. Most times there is no explanation for a photograph, we have to ask ourselves, “Why did he include this particular photo? What is he trying to tell us?” For example, on page 129 we see a black and white photograph of the Carver theatre in Birmingham, Alabama, and above the marquee reads, “Suspense! Excitement! Susan Hayward’s ‘Back Street’ and ‘Damn the Defiant.’” At first, this might seem like a photograph of the matinee of the day, but on the next page we see the picture in its entirety. The Carver theater becomes the background, and in the foreground is a black woman being apprehended by white police officers (130). “Damn the defiant,” the officers must be thinking, exemplifying the mood of the photograph perfectly. What McLuhan demonstrates on these two pages is that while “seeing is believing,” we can’t always trust with our eyes when others control what we do and do not see. This happens today with various news stations. Some are more liberal
A popular saying goes by a picture is worth a 100 words and when it comes to my image (artifact), the same can be said about the image I selected from the whitehouse.gov/issue website. The image was found under civil rights and the image has a quote inserted into it. The image has prominent members of the society whom were very involved in the civil rights movement like martin Luther king. When it comes to diversity, the image compromises of diversity in race and age group. The artifact consists of landscape, the white house and the American flag and also it is in white and black. At the bottom of the image, the quote by martin Luther king inserted is "If the worst in American life lurked in [Selma's] dark streets, the best of American instincts
The Civil War was a game changer for propaganda. The Civil War is said to be the bloodiest battle in American History. Both the Unions and Confederates had many casualties in their endeavors. The Civil War was from 1838 to 1845. Cartoons and journalism became available to the public for the first time. This meant the public was exposed to a completely different aspect of the war, that some may not have known existed. For the first time, the images were able to be depicted as seen in the Civil War. Both the Union and the Confederates used propaganda in their war defenses. The Union used propaganda to try to recruit more volunteers. The posters were made for trying to get the volunteers to feel empowered in their war endeavors. They were made to make the volunteers think they would have major self accomplishments from this. During the Civil War, propaganda was mostly used to get people to sign up for battle. They didn’t have enough people so this was their biggest way of advertising. Most posters were racist, however during this time that was acceptable. “In both respects, political caricature has the ...
Recently you have received a letter from Martin Luther King Jr. entitled “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” In Dr. King’s letter he illustrates the motives and reasoning for the extremist action of the Civil Rights movement throughout the 1960’s. In the course of Dr. King’s letter to you, he uses rhetorical questioning and logistical reasoning, imagery and metaphors, and many other rhetorical devices to broaden your perspectives. I am writing this analysis in hopes you might reconsider the current stance you have taken up regarding the issues at hand.
John Lewis is an African American man born on February 21st, 1940, into a sharecropping family in Pike County, Alabama (Moye, 2004). He grew up on his family's farm, and attended segregated public schools as a child. Even when he was just a young boy, Lewis was always inspired by the happenings of the Civil Rights Movement. Events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott or hearing the wise words of Martin Luther King Junior over the radio stimulated his desire to become a part of a worthwhile cause, and was a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement ever since ("Biography," para. 3). Lewis went to school at both the American Baptist Theological Seminary and Fisk University, both in Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated from the American Baptist Theological Seminary, and received a Bachelors degree in religion and philosophy from Fisk University. While at Fisk, he learned the philosophy of how to be nonviolent, and would soon incorporate that into his civil rights work ("John Lewis Biography," para. 3). While he was a student at Fisk University, Lewis began putting together sit-ins at local lunch counters to protest segregation. Many...
Another form of expression and bringing awareness was through the way of art. The style of art and representation solely raised from the Chicano movement. Murals played a big part in the activism and progression people wanted to see. Most, if not all murals represented native Mexicans and their struggles of being oppressed. All murals told a story whether it was Mexico’s poverty or the farming industry. Many popular symbols and images were used again in the Chica...
His idea of easing tensions with the superior gathered him more publicity, as to DuBois’s plan of protesting. As a result, DuBois’s idea became more prominent as it branches into what we know now as the civil rights movement. Historically, Washington and DuBois has made a name for themselves, through their intentions for the good will of African-Americans, and that is something that will always hold true in these two notorious
It is getting the people of the community to support the revolution and make for a better life. In the essay it states, “Black art must expose the enemy, praise the people and support the revolution” (52). Black art is important to the survival of the black culture and the key to a better life, by revolution. Ron Karenga relies the message that a black aesthetic is essential to the revolution, in that it will help to judge the validity of the art in the black culture. If art is not to support the black revolution, it is invalid and useless to the community. This aesthetic will set guidelines for art and help to make art more focused on the revolution to help the community thrive. Karenga wants all art to support the revolution, no matter the art it needs to support the revolution or it is invalid to the black aesthetic. The artwork must be functional in getting its message through to the audience and inclining them to support and participate in the revolution, because in the end it will only help them get to a better
Dr. King delivered his speech to a large and diverse audience. When observing photo number three on Blackboard, King’s immediate audience spanned from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, around the reflection pond, and up to the Washington Monument. Because the gathering was so large, half way between the reflection pond and the Lincoln Memorial, speakers were set up to project King’s moving words. Although the speakers set up projected King’s voice farther, it would be the media that spread his voice further. Photographers and media personnel took photos of King and the diverse crowd he addressed. The media coverage of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech expanded his audience from the people who physically attended the March on Washington to the citizens watching the event on television. With the extensive media attention, King was able to target whites that possessed the power to end racial oppression (“photo 3”).
Walker brought most of the horrific and even sickening scenes of the book to life, with the help and influence of society in history. One of the greatest influences to have an effect on Walker's style of writing and especially The Color Purple, were instances from slavery and prejudice. The whites owned and empowered America during the time of slavery. They had no respect for any other race, which they thought of as substandard. As Lean'tin Bracks stated, blacks were considered to be racially inferior, and they were used for the exploitation of the white culture. The whites used the black people as animals, and made them do their every bidding. Blacks and whites were separated form each other and this segregation of the two races barred blacks from legal and economic access, and they were put to punishment by the white culture. Interaction between the two races rarely occurred other than specific affairs or whites intruding on blacks. There were no penalties to pay by whites, therefore intrusions were common, and they took advantage of the African-Americans. The intrusions varied from breaking and entering to rape and murder for no apparent reason (84). Walker used this basis of racism to grip the reader and take them through a story of a women, who survives physical, verbal, and emotional abuse, everyday.
There are numerous works of literature that recount a story- a story from which inspiration flourishes, providing a source of liberating motivation to its audience, or a story that simply aspires to touch the hearts and souls of all of those who read it. One of the most prevalent themes in historical types of literature is racism. In America specifically, African Americans endured racism heavily, especially in the South, and did not gain equal rights until the 1960s. In her renowned book The Color Purple, Alice Walker narrates the journey of an African American woman, Celie Johnson (Harris), who experiences racism, sexism, and enduring hardships throughout the course of her life; nonetheless, through the help of friends and family, she is able to overcome her obstacles and grow into a stronger, more self-assured individual. While there are numerous themes transpiring throughout the course of the novel, the symbolism is one of the strongest prospects for instigating the plot.