Pretty Pictures
Lady and the Tramp
I know it may be hard to imagine, but once upon a time it was illegal to drink alcohol in this country. During this dry period in American history, the onslaught of conservative ideas extended beyond prohibition to all areas of culture. Provocative dress, music, and images were frowned upon by those seeking a return to “puritan” values (sound familiar?). Not surprisingly, the restriction of personal freedoms not only failed to suppress undesirable behavior, but actually caused it to thrive in a overwhelmingly popular underground scene. Below is an example of the two-faces of American culture during this time period.
One one side, a tranquil image of a seaport town with local merchants walking along cobblestone streets. Precisely the kind of benign art found at any wholesome local eatery.
After hours (when restaurants turned into a speakeasy), the painting was flipped over, revealing a naked woman frolicking in a spring garden with her canine companion (note the symbolism).
She’s confident and uninhibited.
He’s bewildered and aloof.
God bless America.
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You are:
a. Strange
b. Clueless about Art History
c. Mindlessly arrogant
d. Tasteless
As you say, God Bless america.
Stan, thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Best to respond in kind:
a. Indeed, Stan, indeed.
b. We’re learning as we go, gathering context and insight as we can, and we’re always eager to share what we learn.
c. A certain degree of arrrogance is assumed in any blogging effort.
d. We’re comfortable with tasteless, but like to fall back on mindlessly arrogant when circumstances allow.