Evidence » course: letters, signs and symbols

I found this neat site that you can use the controls at the bottom of the picture to change the contrast in Warhol's Marilyn.

It's interesting to see how much red, white & blue show up in these "American icons".

I just want to say... oh how true that is. It is kinda funny at the same time. Very nicely done.

*shudders*

I think that this is a very true representation of America as well, though it's certainly frightening also. Not that all of the images have negative connotations--not by any means--but it seems that there should be so much more there.

I would simply LOVE to know America from an outside perspective. I make sure to always read the news from the BBC, but it's not the same as having lived somewhere else and having grown up in a different culture. All cultures form images of others. Just as, for example, stereotypes about the French picture them as rude and anti-American, people who eat bread and drink wine and watch questionable things on television, not all of what people see when they envision America is true. And most of that is pretty ridiculous.

If all America is seen as is a combination of movie stars, fast-food chains and sweat-shop producing name brands--not to mention a really creepy Uncle Sam who looks like he's going to come after you if you don't enlist--even if some good qualities are overlooked, then I really think we need to work to change these icons. If we realize that this group of images is a large way of how we are seen, then can we be happy with this representation? Seeing this post simply strengthened my opinion that America needs a major make-over or a whiz in the publicity department, for it's really scary to think of being equated with those pictures forever.