This is an art piece i did some time last year for an art class. I never did give it a title because I could never think of one. If you're having a hard time figuring out what it is its a picture of the american flag bleeding over a number of different flags. Clockwise the flags are those of Mexico , the Dominican Republic(missin emblem), Columbia, Brazil, Cuba, Puerto Rico & the Bahamas. The idea came from a documentary I saw called I Know Me where students who were born and partially raised in different countries were followed around to see which ones maintained their home values and beliefs. Needless to say many of the students no longer participated in cultural beliefs they once held before coming to the United States.The idea of my piece was that there are people who were born in foreign countries who while there were very strongly involved in cultural beliefs but came to the States and no longer participated in those values. Just the same for children born in the United States to foreign parents, many dont take the time to learn about their natural culture. For instance people who dont speak their parents language, don't particiapate in age ceremonies, dont know the history of their flags or things of that nature. They basically become Americanized.
Waaooo' this is great. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of nationality and the loss of it is a very meaningful and powerful one. The flag piece really speaks to the crisis of identity that one feels when being absorbed by Americana. I think, if they search their souls, a lot of Americans find themselves lost, without a cultural center or basis. Black Americans are very lucky that during the Civil Rights Movement, our elders took time to focus on constructing a sense of identity that we could believe in (if we chose)--I'm black and I'm proud! But, even among black Americans, it is often hard to know who you are and how you are a reflection of the sacrifices of your ancestors. That bleeding flag speaks to a feeling of loss that is within all of us. Even thought he cause of the pain is distinct, the feeling of separation from a native identity is, often, just as material. Thank you for sharing this.
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