Thursday, September 27, 2012

Images that mean 'America'




(Image: John Wayne in The Searchers, 1956, Warner Bros.)

One could argue this instantly means 'America' positively, in any shape or form. Notably, John Wayne is classed as an 'American Hero.' Renowned for different Westerns and War films. His impact on film through the 1930s to the 1970s was formidable. His trademarks such as his height, voice and heroism are some of the imperative factors that made him an 'American Hero.'



I chose this image as a negative view of America. As its known to society, the global corporation McDonald's was founded in America and we normally associate McDonald's with American values. A critically acclaimed documentary was made in 2004 by Morgan Spurlock, named Supersize Me, that investigated obesity in America. Importantly, McDonald's was the main corporation under consideration and Morgan Spurlock identified states within America, such as Mississippi, that proved his hypothesis right as being 'the fattest state' in America. Interestingly, as it can be seen from the picture in the top left hand corner, this picture was taken in a McDonalds somehwere in Asia, which implies obesity is widespread. Moreover, it would be equally as accurate to say this picture is American and for us as the viewer, at first glance, it looks like America. Obesity is a fundamentally common problem globally, however, America has a tendency to be the main focus of this subject.

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