ProgressInAmericaReflection

I designed this wall to show my thoughts on how America has evolved to think. I opened this wall with a somewhat disconcerting yet humorous depiction of American evolution. Though I don't believe that //all// Americans have evolved into the overweight and conceivably lazy person on the far right of the sketch, I do believe that many Americans have become complacent in their situations. To compliment this cartoon, I quoted de Tocqueville. Stating that Americans are afraid of revolutions because they do not see what they gain from them (but rather what they may lose from one), de Tocqueville maintains an ideology similar to mine. Americans have the capacity to change, but often chose not to. As a visual representation of this ideology, I found a picture of highway sign stating "Change, Next Exit"; Americans can merge into a revolution, or they can stay in their lane and miss the exit. As I agree with Randolph Bourne in this concept, I included a quote that states the American's lack of interest to merge into change, and further, their immense comfort in their "convenient niches". To share my optimistic view on change in America, I included Sam Cooke's song, //A Change is Gonna Come//. Americans can change, and their willingness comes in cycles; to demonstrate this, I chose a painting by Charles Gifford Dyer. The painting shows the interior of a seventeenth-century home; I see a desk cluttered with many items and a chair covered in weaponry. Though I don't believe that great change occurs through weaponry, I see the American readiness to be proactive within this painting; there is a humble preparedness in the room. To show that the American has gone a step further than just being ready to change (if the situation presented itself), I included a clip from President Barack Obama stating that his election was evidence of change in America. Sam Cooke said many years ago, //A Change is Gonna Come//, and a change has come. This, however, does not mean that further change is not imminent or necessary. Though many Americans have become complacent with the state of their country, many others realize that change must come. The complacency, then, is overpowered by the proactive American, leading to change, both revolutionary and trifling.

Back to wall on progress

Next Wall

Home Page