Lauren's Art Discourse

Freedom From Want, Norman Rockwell, 1943, oil on canvas, source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_from_Want_(painting)

Like many of Norman Rockwell’s paintings, Freedom From Want (also known as The Thanksgiving Picture) idealistically reflects traditional American values. The value most prominently reflected in this painting is family. The work consists of a group of people, likely a family, gathered around the table for a meal. The creases in the tablecloth, showing that it is not used often, and the types of food present show that it is likely a holiday meal. At the head of the table stand the patriarch and matriarch of the family. The matriarch wears an apron showing that she was likely the one who was doing the cooking. She stands presenting a cooked turkey to her family while the patriarch looks on with fondness and approval. The wide variety of ages of the figures, from the young girl on the far end of the left side of the table to the white-haired woman on the right side of the table, shows that this would be a family, not a group of friends and that it is a multi-generational family. Overall, work reflects the importance and value of family in traditional American culture.

I think that what I learned about digital marketing will be helpful both now and in the future. Currently, I already share much of my work through social media, so I think what I learned about digital marketing will help me to reach an even wider audience, so that more people can see my work and hopefully give me feedback on it. As for the future, I believe that knowing better how to market myself digitally will help when searching for a job. I believe that what I learned about LinkedIn (what to include on your profile), will be especially helpful with this.

Social Media:

• Instagram:                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Photography: @_lb_photography , https://www.instagram.com/_lb_photography/?hl=en                                                                     Drawing:  @the_amazing_hufflepuff , https://www.instagram.com/the_amazing_hufflepuff/?hl=en

Homecoming Marine, Norman Rockwell, 1945, Oil on Canvas, Source: https://www.wikiart.org/en/norman-rockwell/homecoming-marine-1945

   Norman Rockwell’s 1945 painting Homecoming Marine reflects the ideas of heroism and hero worship in America in a time of war. The year in which the work was created shows that the Marine was likely a soldier in WWII. This is further evidenced by the flag that the Marine holds as well as the image of the star in the background. The flag that the Marine holds is the Rising Sun flag which was flown by the Japanese Navy during WWII. The framed star which is seen in the background was a WWII tradition. The blue star on a white background with a red border indicates that a family member served in the Armed Forces (and survived).

     The painting consists of 7 males, 5 adults and 2 children, seated in a mechanic’s garage. Based on their dress, the two males who are facing towards the viewer are mechanics who work at the garage on which the scene is taking place. The dress of the man in white indicates that he is likely a local public service official. All of the figures around the are looking at him, showing that he is the center of attention. The boy on the Marine’s right looks up at the Marine as if he is completely captivated by him. The older who is closest to us leans forward towards the Marine, showing keen interest in him. Altogether, this reflects a sense of hero worship.

     The general sense of heroism is reflected by various elements throughout the composition. One is the newspaper article on the wall in the background which contains an image of the Marine. The article labels him as “garageman and hero”. Not only does this literally and straightforwardly reflect his status as a hero (through the use of the term “hero”) , but it also reflects that he is a common man with a peaceful background, not a professional warrior, who went on to become a hero (through the use of the term “garageman”). The hero status of the Marine is also reflected by the various medals that he wears on his uniform showing the honorable degree to which he performed his duties as a soldier. The flag that is mentioned previously is also a reflection of his heroism in that it serves somewhat like a trophy for his accomplishments and service.