Positve and Negative images of America

Negative

I have chosen this image because it shows one of the few things I dislike about America but in an eye pleasing way; the greed of the rich. Sadly a lot of the time it seems that the richer the person is, the greedier they become. Although this is not a photograph of a historical moment in American history, it is the first image that crossed my mind in regards to a negative portrayal of the United States.

Positive 

This is an old(ish) family photo of my uncle, auntie and cousins from Keller, Texas. This photo represents the first positive thing about America that jumps out to me; family. Of course not in all cases, but from my personal experiences and watching American film and television; family is an important aspect of American life. They are incredibly tight knit  and proud of each other and to me this is one of the better things about the USA.

Positive and Negative Image of America

Positive Image of America: 

Film Industry:

The first positive image of America that i thought of was the American film industry. I chose this image as it is an important part of American history and is a huge accomplishment for America. The American film industry has spread and influenced many parts of the world and I believe is an important part of American culture.


Negative Image of America:

Lawsuit Culture:

The first image i thought of when considering a negative of America was the lawsuit culture. In America an attempt to protect everyone and give them "individual rights" has lead to a lack of protection because of the fear of facing a lawsuit. American television shows such as Judge Judy (the image above) shows exactly how people can sue or be sued for the smallest cases.

Positive and Negative Image of America

With the American flag having a star to represent each individual state, it clearly expresses the USA's sheer power, dominance and size. For many immigrants who came to the United States by ship in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Statue of Liberty became their first landmark they saw as they approached their new home, signifying  freedom and mass opportunity leading it to become one of the greatest  American icons. 

This sketch of A Slave Pen at New Orleans made in 1861 shows America’s harsh past. Slave labour was in demand in the North (before 1800) and in southern cities as servants. Slaves were non-white and typically worked at agriculture on plantations or large farms, where cash crops were made using labour-intensive cultivation, usually sugar, cotton, tobacco and rice. By 1860 most slaves were held in the South of the United States. The sketch shows the reality of America during this time, as the land of freedom and opportunity clearly displays acts of racism, inequality and lack of freedom. Slave labour was a significant contributor to the successful development of the United States which still remains as a haunting fact to the US in contemporary America.  

Positive and Negative Image of America

Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange exists as a dejected reminder of the struggles faced by farmers during the Great Depression. This iconic photograph depicts one of the most miserable time periods in American history which resulted in widespread poverty and a lack of essential resources; food, clothing and shelter for many individuals and families. The stock market crash, escalating unemployment levels and the farming industry suffering immensely were just a few of the problems that occurred during the 1930’s, and has unfortunately remained a haunting feature of the development of the United States.

 Martin Luther King Jr. still remains one of the most influential social activists in American history, and he will always be remembered for his non-violent approach during the African-American Civil Rights Movement. Images of him speaking to masses of Americans fighting for change are iconic and provide viewers with a sense of hope and open possibilities. King organized numerous non-violent protests, preached for crowds of followers and led marches, which all contributed to the eventual success of the movement. His positive outlook and belief in a peaceful place where the colour of a person’s skin would not affect their chances in life have a profound way of uplifting others.

Welcome to my blog for AM1111

We meet on Mondays in my office (TAB 206) at 10.00

Please make sure to do the first blog post. You can find details in the handbook on the LN, but here it is

Post any TWO images which instantly mean “America” to you. Choose one positive, the other negative and explain your choice.

Please post the images, not the links - to embed an image, once you select "new  post" see the icon in the bar above which has a little picture frame.

See you Monday!