Star-Spangled

In contrast, Robert Frank’s 1954 photograph Fourth of July—Jay, New York, above, is somber despite showing a July Fourth celebration. The grainy grays of the black-and-white image and the tattered condition of the flag set the mood.

Frank was born in Switzerland and had an outsider’s perspective on American life. He traveled the country documenting scenes of daily life. In this example, the flag is translucent with patched areas. Frank seems to be commenting on the American Dream, perhaps suggesting that people were often left out no matter how hard they worked. He sought to capture that version of America through his documentary photography.

Robert Frank’s 1954 photograph Fourth of July—Jay, New York, above, depicts a July Fourth celebration. But the colors are gray and grainy, and the flag is tattered. This creates a somber mood.

Frank was born in Switzerland. He observed American life as an outsider. Frank traveled the country capturing everyday scenes. In this example, the flag is translucent. Frank seems to say that the American Dream is thin. In his view, many people couldn’t succeed no matter how hard they worked.

By the 1990s, chain stores were everywhere, and the average American had more “things” than ever before. In her 1996 assemblage I See Red: McFlag, above, Native American artist Jaune Quick-to- See Smith uses the flag to comment on consumerism in the U.S.

Smith covers the flag with newspaper clips, advertisements, and packaging. She includes clippings of the word “BIG” to emphasize the dominant role shopping plays in our lives. She also alludes to McDonald’s and Disney, two companies that make billions from consumerism. Smith uses “Mc” in the title and adds two black speakers to the work, creating Mickey Mouse-like ears.

Compare Smith’s I See Red: McFlag with Johns’s Three Flags on the cover. What do you think Smith wants viewers to “see” about the flag that is different from Johns’s intent?

By the 1990s, chain stores were everywhere. People shopped more than ever before. Native American artist Jaune Quick-to-See Smith commented on this with her 1996 assemblage I See Red: McFlag, above.

Smith covers the flag with newspaper clippings. The word “BIG” appears many times to reflect the role of shopping in society. Smith also hints at two companies that make money from consumerism. The “Mc” in the title suggests McDonald’s. The two black speakers look like Mickey Mouse’s ears.

Compare Smith’s I See Red: McFlag with Johns’s Three Flags on the cover. What does each artist suggest about the flag?

Amy Sherald’s 2017 painting What’s precious inside of him does not care to be known by the mind in ways that diminish its presence (All American), above, is a portrait of a cowboy. The cowboy’s skin is in gray scale—fading his face into the background. Sherald says she uses gray scale so viewers will focus on the interior life of her subject rather than on race. What might Sherald be saying about the history of how people are seen in the U.S. by putting the American flag on this figure’s shirt?

Sherald says, “I really have this belief that images can change the world.” Do you think the images featured here have the power to create change?

The 2017 Amy Sherald painting above is a portrait of a cowboy. The cowboy’s skin is in gray scale, which makes his face fade into the background. Sherald says she uses gray so viewers won’t focus on the race of her subjects. She wants people to think about the subjects’ inner thoughts and feelings instead. Sherald puts the American flag on this figure’s shirt. What might she be saying about how different kinds of people are seen in the U.S.?