This is a graded discussion: 25 points possible due Jul 20 at 1:59am

Week 2 Discussion: Context, Meaning, and Value 47 47

Required Resources Read/review the following resources for this activity:

Initial Post Instructions Select one of the following options to research for this discussion:

Before you read the news articles, try to look at the artworks through an image search in Google. Then, read the news articles to see the different viewpoints about the murals.

For the initial post, address at least four (4) of the following questions for the option you selected:

Textbook: Chapter 4, 5 Lesson At least 1 news article (e.g., latimes.com, usatoday.com, nytimes.com) Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Option 1: Google <California Washington mural>. You will find numerous reports concerning a California school district that voted to paint over a mural in the high school. The Life of Washington was painted by Depression-era artist Victor Arnautoff. Option 2: Google <Indiana University Thomas Hart Benton mural>. You will find numerous articles on the controversy surround a panel from Benton’s A Social History of Indiana (1933) murals. Option 3: Conduct research on a mural or statue or monument in your town that is the subject of controversy.

What do you think should be done with the artwork (e.g., painted over, covered, destroyed, left as is in plain view, etc.)? Why? Should the context in which the artwork was created (the Great Depression of the 1930s in the case of the Benton and Arnautoff murals) have an impact on the decision of what to do with the artwork? Should the context in which people now view the artwork have an impact on the decision of what to do with it? What message do you think the artwork conveys? Do you think there is ambiguity in the message? Do you think the message is vague? Does the artistic value of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of message? Does the historic value of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of message? Do you think the message of the artwork is sufficiently important that the message alone requires that it be saved? Do you think the artists were biased or prejudiced? If yes, explain specifics about the artwork that support

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Search entries or author

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Follow-Up Post Instructions Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Respond to one peer who chose a controversial artwork other than the one you chose. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification. Do you agree or disagree with your peers’ positions? Explain why. In addition, address different issues than what your peer focused on.

Writing Requirements

Grading This activity will be graded using the Discussion Grading Rubric. Please review the following link:

Course Outcomes (CO): 5, 6

Due Date for Initial Post: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Wednesday Due Date for Follow-Up Posts: By 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday

your opinion. Do you think viewers might be bringing bias or prejudice to their opinions? Are you?

Minimum of 3 posts (1 initial & 2 follow-up) Minimum of 2 sources cited (assigned readings/online lessons and an outside source) APA format for in-text citations and list of references

Link (webpage): Discussion Guidelines

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(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) Jun 22, 2020

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Greetings Students,

You are only required to post an initial answer post and ONE follow-up post in each required discussion, each week.

Please make your TWO posts each week between Monday and Sunday. Your posts must occur on different days with the first post occurring by Wednesday. If there are extenuating circumstances, please communicate with your professor.

One of the topics for this week focused on context, purpose, and quality. The text also mentioned interpreting science and pseudoscience. When it comes to interpreting claims of science and/or pseudoscience, how would you go about doing so?

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Edited by Sonja Sheffield (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891) on Jun 22 at 12:37pm

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Science is a means for uncovering truth that investigates causal explanations to discover empirical facts about how the world works. Science is not the only way of constructing knowledge, since we also learn about the world from direct perception, by reasoning, and through aspects of life that are not empirically measurable, such as humor, dignity, and love. The reliability of science comes from its use of precise definitions, clearly defined contexts, and replicable results. If no one else can recreate your experiment, it’s more anecdote than science.

Some claims look like science but aren’t. We call this pseudoscience. Pseudoscience doesn’t follow the rules of the scientific method. To protect yourself from being taken in by pseudoscience, look out for the following signs:

A pseudoscientific explanation will often fail many of the standards of a good explanation in the following ways:

Think about how context and purpose affect the quality of interpretation. Watch the following video for more information on context, meaning and value.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoyDmwNwIKQ&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoyDmwNwIKQ&feature=youtu.be)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoyDmwNwIKQ&feature=youtu.be)

References:

Dewey, J. (1909). How we think. Retrieved from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37423/37423-h/37423- h.html (https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37423/37423-h/37423-h.htm)

Soomo Webtext. (2016). Sources [E-reader Version]. Retrieved from https:webapps/smo-soomo- bb_bb60/soomo/courselink?course_id=_253478_1&mode=cpview (https://blackboard.strayer.edu/webapps/smo-soomo-bb_bb60/soomo/courselink? course_id=_253478_1&mode=cpview)

Providing the explanation after the fact Failing to consider alternatives Not being open to the possibility of error Bypassing peer review before reporting widely Relying heavily on anecdotal evidence

Not empirically testable Doesn’t explain anything beyond the phenomenon it’s supposed to explain Overly complex / raises more questions Doesn’t fit in with what we already know about how the world works

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(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/118358)Monica Hernandez (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/118358) Monday

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Good Morning Professor and Class,

Option 1: Option 1: Google <California Washington (https://image-seeker.com/s/?q=Washington) mural>

This mural was painted in 1936. There have been many debates on having the mural removed from San Fransico High School because of the reference to slavery. According to the article of Los Angeles Times it mentions, “The Depression-era mural, which depicts black slaves and dead Native Americans in Colonial-era scenery, is in the lobby of George Washington High School on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco’s Richmond District. The 13 frescoes, known collectively as “The Life of Washington,” were painted by Russian artist Victor Arnautoff in 1936, and funded by the New Deal Works Progress Administration”(Wick 2019).

References:

Wick, J. (2019, August 13). Newsletter: What will become of San Francisco’s controversial George Washington mural? Retrieved July 13, 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-08- 13/san-francisco-mural-controversy-george-washington (https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-

In my opinion, the mural should be left as in plain view, because the issue after the many years doesn’t show any good manner. We should understand that we cannot erase or change the history of America but we can change our behavior and attitude. I don’t think every mural is a symbol of race or slavery, we are living in the 21 century, and we cannot be stuck with conservative ideologies. The mural issues are nothing more than the conservative ideology and teasing. Students and schools should make an open environment to develop better interpersonal relations. I am not sure that the creator of this artwork was intentional to show the racism or slavery, they just have done a job in effective manners but now we are searching for racist ideas in everything. I don’t know, why modern American society is tilting towards conservatism and social identity. I think the artwork should be considered as the artwork rather than anything else, any traditional idea can ruin the value of the artwork. The artwork is just a symbol of American history and it should remain safe. History is a part of our present as well as the future so destroying history will affect the future. For example, many Tsars humiliated their people but it does not mean we should have destroyed buildings and beautiful structures. The artwork conveys the ideological and socio-economic values of contemporary America, it helps us to understand the history and present. If we see any social discrimination in the artwork is just an apperception. We should see the artwork as part of American history and culture which is changing gradually.

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08-13/san-francisco-mural-controversy-george-washington)

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/118358)Monica Hernandez (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/118358) Monday

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Reference:

Facione, P. & Gittens, C. A. (2016). Thinking critically. 3 . Ed. Pearson:Boston, MA.rd

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) Monday

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Monica, thank you for your post this week and providing your thoughts on the murals.

You wrote, “. . .the mural should be left as in plain view, beause the issue after the many years doesn’t show any good manner.” Can you explain what you mean by “good manner”?

What exactly do you understand the conservative ideologies to be? Explain.

You also wrote, “. . .they just have done a job in effective manners. . .” What does that mean?

Can you provide a bit more information on how the Tsars humiliated their people and how that may be relevant to your post on this manner? I am not quite connecting the dots.

Finally, what is “apperception”? I am not familiar with that term.

Let’s look at vagueness in language. Vagueness in language can mean of uncertain, indefinite, or unclear character or meaning or Thinking or communicating in an unfocused or imprecise way (Oxford Dictionary). Language can be used to mislead and confuse, or to make certain ideas seem more profound than they really are.

One main task of critical thinking is to identify these linguistic pitfalls. Let’s start with one major pitfall – vagueness.

Vague is an imprecise boundary. The term “a tall person” is also vague. Why do you think that is so? Explain.

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(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/120562)Dianne Cruz (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/120562) Monday

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Option 1: California Washington Mural

The California Washington Mural is a Mural painted in a local Washington High school has brought up a lot of controversy. It depicts black slaves and dead Native Americans in colonial-era. Many see it as offensive, and something that should be removed from the school. It was painted in 1936 by Victor Arnautoff. It has years of history and removing it would be a huge step.

– I think the mural should be removed, even though we all know slavery is part of our history, I don’t think it is something that needs to be reminded every single day. Especially in a high school where students can get offended. Showing slaves and dead Native Americans is not a part of history that should be shown on a mural.

– I personally do not think this message is vague. Showing slaves being sold at the market is showing everyone who sees it the years of suffering they had to go through. Also the fact that it only shows people of color being hurt speaks a lot. Slaves are being sold, native Americans are the ones dead, while white people just look.

– The artistic value does not require to be saved, no matter how good a painting is, it does not give it the right to offend people that way I think this mural did, and it does not give it the right to show racism the way it does.

– When it comes to the historic value,slavery and racism is something that many experience to this day. This mural does not to be saved to remember history because that part of history is something that is still seen today in the 21st century.

References:

Diaz, A. (2019, June 28). School to cover up George Washington mural that depicts violence and slavery. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-george-washington-san- francisco-mural-20190628-story.html (https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-george-washington-san- francisco-mural-20190628-story.html)

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) Tuesday

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Hello Dianne, thank you for your post for this week and expressing your thoughts on the California Washington mural.

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Edited by Sonja Sheffield (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891) on Jul 14 at 1:59pm

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I would definitely agree that the California Washington mural has brought up a lot of controversy as many of the statues have brought up a lot of controversy today.

It’s interesting that you believe that the mural should be removed and at the same time recognizing that slavery is definitely a part of our history. And I would agree that that type reminder does not have to be delivered every single day, however, without that particular mural, there are some things are going on in the United States today where people are reminded and there is no mural present. Would you agree with that?

Yes, seemingly the Caucasian race do appear to be lookers on and not as concerned, perhaps, as they should be.

When you wrote that the artistic value does not require to be saved no matter how good the painting is, what do you propose should happen to the mural? I’m really interested in your answer. And as far as is not showing racism the way it does, there are some things going on today in the past couple of months that shows racism in the same way, would you agree?

You make some very valid points and I enjoyed reading your post.

Let’s look at some cognitive biases.

A man bumps into you and walks away without apology. What are your immediate thoughts running in your head at the moment about that stranger? What type of bias is this and how can it be avoided?

Reference

Holm, C. (2015). The 25 cognitive biases: Uncovering the myth of rational thinking. [Kindle version]. Retrieved from amazon.com.

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/143371)Chloe Williams (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/143371) Monday

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Chloe Williams

Week 2 Discussion

Option 1: Google <California Washington mural>. You will find numerous reports concerning a California school district that voted to paint over a mural in the high school. The Life of Washington was painted by Depression-era artist Victor Arnautoff.

Q1. What message do you think the artwork conveys? I believe that this artwork conveys violence and slavery. The artwork showed Washington standing over a dead Native American and African Americans slaves working in his field. Basically the message the art was giving off is that violence and brutalizing Native

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Americans and African Americans was okay.

Q2. Do you think the message is vague? I believe that message given off from the mural was not vague. In the artwork, the message and portraits were clear as day. I believe the purpose for the artwork was to show our first President, Washington, life and intentions. He was all for slavery and brutalizing them and Native Americans and that’s what the mural showed.

Q3. Does the historic value of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of message? I believe that the historic value of the artwork does not needs to be saved regardless of the message. Gray Brechin, project scholar of the Living New Deal at the University of California, Berkeley, said, “It’s not a matter of erasing art, it’s erasing history itself” (The New York Times, 2019). Although I agree that, that is true. I still believe that art should be removed because it is rude and disrespectful to other cultures still until this day.

Q4. Do you think the message of the artwork is sufficiently important that the message alone requires that it be saved? I believe that the message of the artwork is not important at all. I think that is it rude and should be removed. Stevon Cook, president of the San Francisco Board of Education, wants the paintings covered or removed. He claims that he supports teaching history in classrooms but opposes “violent images that are offensive to certain communities,” he said (New York Time, 2019)

References

Facione, P. & Gittens, C. A. (2016). Thinking critically. 3 . Ed. Pearson:Boston, MA.

Pogash, Carol. (2019). The High School Murals Depict an Ugly History. Should They Go? The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/arts/design/george-washington-murals- ugly-history-debated.html (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/arts/design/george-washington-murals-ugly- history-debated.html)

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(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) Tuesday

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Hello Chloe, thank you for sharing your thoughts on the mural of your choice and what is to be done with it.

I would agree that the artwork conveys violence and slavery. And I would also propose that during the time that it was painted, it would appear that the message you indicate that it was okay is probably accurate.

I do know that George Washington held slaves for many years but did you ever read or hear that he really wanted to in that practice? I believe I read somewhere many years ago that he did in fact free his slaves but I can’t remember where I heard that from because it was so long ago. But one more port do you know for sure that he brutalized the Native Americans? I’m just curious if that’s recorded anywhere.

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And because you believe that the artwork should be removed, do you have any ideas or suggestions as to where it would be moved to? I’d love to hear your response.

If I can extract from you a little bit more information to your point that “I believe that the message of the artwork is not important at all. I think that it is rude and should be removed.” The reason I’m asking for more clarification is because you also use those terms rude and should be removed previously. And I wonder if you have some additional thoughts.

And with reference to Stevon Cook’s quote, “supporting teaching history in classrooms but opposes violent images that are offensive to certain communities, does that message saying vague or nebulous to you any way?

Click video above or here to play video (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _jml6kkfk/embed/dynamic) to answer the question posed. Reference

(https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _jml6kkfk/embed/dynamic) (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _jml6kkfk/embed/dynamic) Cherry, K., & Morin, A. (2020). What is cognitive bias? Cognitive Psychology. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963 (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963) (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _jml6kkfk/embed/dynamic) (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _jml6kkfk/embed/dynamic) (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _jml6kkfk/embed/dynamic)

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/154614)Jasmine Burgess (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/154614) Monday

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The ‘Life of Washington” Mural was painted in a San Francisco high school. The painted aroused scrutiny because many individuals saw the mural to be offensive to students of color.

What do you think should be done with the artwork?

The artwork should be removed from the high school. The argument of individuals who want the mural to remain is that

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it was painted by a legendary artist but because the mural represents the plight of African Americans and Native Americans, the mural should be removed. Students should not have to come to school every day and remember how unfortunate the lives of their ancestors were. Students attend school to learn and create a better life for themselves and the negative connotation of this mural may be upsetting and distract students from the reason they are attending school. I think the students at this high school should be able to decide how they want to cover the mural. They should have the opportunity to tap into their creativity and create a new mural that will be more positive and accepting of every student. This will help students of color to feel more included and create a unity amongst the students.

What message do you think the artwork conveys?

The message that the mural conveys is white supremacy. The mural shows raw images of slavery and Native Americans who have been killed by whites. It depicts slavery and violence and artwork like this should not exist, especially in a school.

Should the context in which people now view the artwork have an impact on the decision of what to do with it?

The way people view the artwork should have an impact on the decision of what to do with it. The world has changed a great deal and every individual is supposed to have the same rights and be accepted in the same ways. A mural like this only bring back negative memories of how the world use to be and how unequal things were depending on factors such as race. People of color should not be forced to remember how terrible things were. As we now move forward and try to work towards the true equality of every individual, murals like this are not relevant and should not be valued because of the negativity it exudes.

Does the historic value of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of message?

The historic value of the artwork does not require that the artwork be saved. The message of the artwork comes off as negative and offensive because it supports slavery and violence towards people of color simply because of the color of their skin. Students of color who attend this high school do not deserve to have to walk into their school everyday and feel the negativity that this mural conveys. Destroying the mural is not erasing history itself, because people of color are reminded daily of our history being that racism and inequality still exists.

Diaz, A. (2019, June 28). School to cover up George Washington mural that depicts violence and slavery. Retrieved July 13, 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-george-washington-san-francisco-mural- 20190628-story.html (https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-george-washington-san-francisco-mural- 20190628-story.html)

Facione, P. & Gittens, C. A. (2016). Thinking Critically. 3rd. Ed. Pearson: Boston, MA.

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) Tuesday

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Hello Jasmine, thank you for your post this week on the mural of your choice.

You pose somewhat of a valid point in that, “Students should not have come to school every day and

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Edited by Sonja Sheffield (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891) on Jul 14 at 1:28pm

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remember how unfortunate the lives of their ancestors were.” Can you give a definitive proposal on how students may be distracted from the negative connotation of the mural? What would that look like exactly? And how does having murals of this sort prohibit our students creativity? I really look forward to your thoughts on that

Now let me pose this question to you. You wrote that “[the mural] depict slavery and violence and artwork like this should not exist especially in a school”. Is there any place where it should be staged? And if it was placed elsewhere, would that have still a negative impact, or maybe even a positive impact by being someplace else? And finally, is that to say that anything that is seemingly offensive to anyone or any group of people should be removed and why?

When looking at cognitive biases this week and I like you to answer the question posed below by clicking on that link below to hear the question.

(https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _e1wjn1n3/embed/dynamic) Click video above or here to play video (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _e1wjn1n3/embed/dynamic)

to answer the question posed. Reference Cherry, K., & Morin, A. (2020). What is cognitive bias? Cognitive Psychology. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963 (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963)

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/138709)Britney Parkerton (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/138709) Tuesday

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Option 2: Indiana University Thomas Hart Benton mural

In 1933 Thomas Hart Benton painted the mural that is now hung in a classroom at Indiana University. Towards the back of the mural you can see the Ku Klux Klan burning the cross and holding American flags, a firetruck hose spraying water next to the burning cross. Then in the middle of the picture there is a circus, and in the front center of the picture there is an African American girl in a hospital bed with a nurse and people from the press knelt by her. This mural was painted after the KKK was brought the light in the 1920s for their corruption and access into all different levels of Indiana’s government.

What do you think should be done with the artwork (e.g., painted over, covered, destroyed, left as is in plain view, etc.)? Why?

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I believe this artwork should be left on display in the classroom. In my opinion, Benton was trying to depict Indiana moving away from the KKK. I believe this because in the background it appears the firetruck hose is trying to put out the burning cross. Then, in the front of the picture the African American girl is sitting in a hospital bed with a nurse, and what appears to be the press kneeling next to her. This seems to depict that they are almost apologizing and showing the little girl they are sorry, and they want to help her. The University Indiana Bloomington debates that, “ Benton’s depiction was intended to expose the Klan’s history in Indiana as hateful and corrupt; it does not honor or even memorialize individuals or the organization as a whole” (Robel, 2017).While adding the KKK depicts an ugly time in history for Indiana it also shows that changes were made there at that time, and the KKK was brought to light for their unethical beliefs.

Do you think the message is vague?

I would say that the message could be vague. According to Facione (2019), “at times intentional vagueness can be frustrating when precise, practical answers are what people desire” (pg. 75). While the author intended to depict Indiana becoming anti-Klan adding them into the displayed murals reminds people of an ugly time, and one that many do not want to be reminded of. The article from Indiana University Bloomington discussed that even back when Benton first displayed the mural, he faced backlash for reminding people of such a dark time in history. (Robel, 2017) On top of this if a somebody did not know the authors intent behind the mural it could be seen as racist, and in support of the KKK. People interpret things differently, especially when it comes to artwork.

Does the historic value of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of message?

Yes, I believe that this artwork has historical value, and that it should be saved. It is important to remember these dark times in history, and the fact that things like the immoral beliefs of the Ku Klux Klan were brought to light and abandoned by many. While there is still much room for improvement it is important to have these reminders around us to encourage us to grow, change, and educate ourselves on current day issues.

References

Facione, P. & Gittens, C. A. (2016). Thinking Critically (3 Edition). Pearson, Inc.

Robel, L. (2017, September 29). On the Mural. Indiana University Bloomington. Retrieved from https://provost.indiana.edu/statements/archive/benton-murals.html (https://provost.indiana.edu/statements/archive/benton-murals.html)

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(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) Tuesday

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Britney, thank you for your post for this week and sharing your thoughts on the mural of your choice.

You wrote how Benton was trying to depict Indiana moving away from the KKK. Do you believe that he was successful or not? And then you also provided the thoughts of the author Robel, 2017; what are your opinions about what he expressed? Do you think that is the case as he stated it?

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I’d like to pick your brain a little more to your statement of, “… The author intended to depict Indiana becoming anti-Klan adding them into the displayed murals reminds people of an ugly time, and one that many do not want to be reminded of.” Are you in agreement with his thoughts or do you have a rationale?

I appreciate your stance that there is definitely room for improvement and that we need to have these reminders, but how does that encourage us to grow? I love to hear your thoughts on that.

This week we looking at cognitive biases. Answer the question below by clicking on the link.

Click video above or here to play video (https://cdnapisec.kaltura.com/index.php/extwidget/preview/partner_id/956951/uiconf_id/43830551/entry_id/1 _7jg55jd2/embed/dynamic) to answer the question posed. Reference

(https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963) Cherry, K., & Morin, A. (2020). What is cognitive bias? Cognitive Psychology. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963 (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-cognitive-bias-2794963)

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/102153)Caitlyn Pienkowski (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/102153) Tuesday

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I googled, “Indiana University Thomas Hart Benton mural”.

Thomas Hart Benton, modern artist and proponent of the Regionalist Art Movement in the United States, is a Missouri painter (Botts, 2011).

The mural that Thomas Hart Benton painted is that the Klansmen are seen alongside a reporter, photographer, and printer—a reference to the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1928 story that uncovered the KKK’s ties to the government and broke their political influence over the state (Cascone, 2017). This painting is shown in one of Indiana Universities lecture halls and students put up a petition to have it removed. The students petition states that exposing students and faculty of color to the image of the KKK stands in violation of the school’s diversity policy (Cascone, 2017). However, others are speaking up in support of the artwork, contending that Benton was looking to draw attention to the evils of the Klan (Cascone, 2017).

1) What do you think should be done with the artwork (e.g., painted over, covered, destroyed, left as is in plain view, etc.)? Why?

– I think the artwork should be taken down. In all honesty, I think the painting to be re-painted of the history

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that stands behind it. I think it should be taken down because regardless of what it was standing against, the subject is personally vulnerable and should not be specifically painted and displayed.

Should the context in which people now view the artwork have an impact on the decision of what to do with it?

– I believe it should have an impact because many people are speaking against it, which should count for something.

What message do you think the artwork conveys?

– I think the message displays the evilness of what has happened in history.

Does the historic value of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of message?

– I don’t necessarily think it should be destroyed, I assumed saved. However, I believe the message for that time should be re-painted in a way that it does not personally display the exact moments of what happened. I believe in people painting from their tragedies, as it helps for healing. However, most victims don’t display such exact vulnerability. I believe paintings that are viewing for histories tragedies should not be painted in such a tragic view, picture wise. It should symbolize more positive aspects of that timing with less violation exposure.

“Of course, to appreciate the advantages of visual mapping when analyzing more complicated passages, one must understand the mapping process” (Gittens, 2015).

References

Botts, K. (2011). Thomas hart benton: How mannerist painting influenced the midwest american mural painter. A Journal Of Undergraduate Research, 4, p28-36. Retrieved from https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=a9h&AN=76110498&site=ehost-live&scope=site (https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=a9h&AN=76110498&site=ehost-live&scope=site) .

Cascone, S. (2017). Students Rally to Remove a Thomas Hart Benton Mural Depicting the KKK at Indiana University. Retrieved from https://news.artnet.com/art-world/thomas-hart-benton-mural-indiana-1133765

(https://news.artnet.com/art-world/thomas-hart-benton-mural-indiana-1133765) .

Gittens, P.F.C. A. (2015-02-13T00:00:00.000+00:00). THINK Critically. [VitalSource Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133914351/ (https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133914351/)

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) Tuesday

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Hello Caitlyn, thank you for your post and providing your thoughts on the mural you selected.

Okay so you think that the pain should be repainted, that’s interesting in that I never had anyone else say that. So tell me why should it be repainted and who would you propose to re-paint it? Would it be able to provide a painting that is accurate since anyone living during that time or any close to that time is long gone and how would someone today be able to properly be able to detect actual events? I look forward to hearing your answer on this one.

So you also think the painting should be taken down. Okay and what you mean when you wrote, “the subject is personally vulnerable”. Can you explain that a little bit?

To your point that you believe the message displays the evilness of what has happened in history, do you know of any mural works whether there on buildings or billboards or walls that depict evil today? If so, should those be destroyed as well? And I’m just trying to determine the validity of your proposal that because many people are speaking against it it should count for something. Can you explain that a little bit more with some detail?

And finally, you indicated, “I believe the message should be repainted in a way that does not personally display the exact moments of what happened.” Would you propose that it be repainted and depict false history?

Let’s look at some biases.

“This $50 shirt is too expensive for me”.

“We have this piece on sale. You can get it for 25% off”.

“That sounds like a good deal. I will buy it.”

What type of bias is this and how can we avoid it?

Reference: Holm, C. (2015). The 25 cognitive biases: Uncovering the myth of rational thinking. [Kindle version]. Retrieved from amazon.com

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/102153)Caitlyn Pienkowski (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/102153) Yesterday

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Hi Professor,

The painting, in my opinion, should be recreated into more of a monumental aspect, rather displaying the harshness of the history. It doesn’t seem offensive to any of those who aren’t directly affected so I don’t believe we take personal affect to it, when we should. If I can put it in perspective, it is as if someone made a raw painting of 9/11, every harsh detail that went on that day, I think it would be hard to look at since most of us remember that day. I don’t think any of us want to look at a painting of any harsh details of that day. We’d most likely want to see a memorial painting of that day, like a

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painting of the Tribute in Light display New York has. That is a beautiful remembrance of tragic history. I’ve seen on shows of survivors (of any kind) painting/drawing pictures of their tragedies, but in a beautiful remembrance.

As far as who exactly should re-paint it, I am quite unsure of that answer. It should be someone who was a victim or possibly a victims family member, if somehow someone can figure that out. I believe it would make sense for someone to paint their own tragedy of what happened, or have someone who relates to that situation if possible. I know that has happened many years ago so a victim would be impossible, however a relation to a victim would sound appropriate.

I say the subject is personally vulnerable for the people and family members who were affected by the history behind the painting. It’s a painting painted by a person who wasn’t there to be a victim of what happened. Even though I believe the intentions were to show the evilness of the KKK, it is a raw painting of that time which is hard for some to see, as it would make anyone emotional.

I do not know of any mural works that depict evil as of today, I would not doubt there isn’t any though. And if so, I don’t believe they should be destroyed but taken down and re-designed, remembering of more positive aspects.

I say that if majority of the people find something offensive, I believe that should count for the school to seriously think about taking the painting down as the people of their school wants to feel comfortable. The people who speak should count in what actually happens to the painting.

(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/99157)Wei Wen Chiang (https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/99157) Tuesday

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What do you think should be done with the artwork? I chose the California Washington Mural. It is an image of Benjamin Washington pointing at the other side meanwhile there are a group of men with guns standing next to native American’s dead body. I think this painting should be painted over by something that has more educational meaning. I do not have anything against this mural, but I do not like the place it is at. School should be a place that promotes peace instead of violence and this painting gives me a sense that guns can solve the problems and concur the world. According to Moyer, the Vice President believes that students shouldn’t be exposed to violent imagery — that it’s degrading (Moyer, 2019).

Does the historic value of the artwork require that it be saved regardless of message? I believe the artwork should be saved only because its historic value and artwork value. I think this art should be saved but move to another place, like a museum or library, places for people that have strong interests in history. According to the textbook, the first rule of fair-minded interpretation is to be sensitive to context and purpose (Facione, 2016). It is important to look at the purpose of this mural, which is the historical meaning of

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it, instead of our own interpretation. But yet, not everyone can view it fairly.

Should the context in which people now view the artwork have an impact on the decision of what to do with it? People have different way of viewing things. I believe everyone’s voice should be heard regarding to making the decision of what to do with it.

What message do you think the artwork conveys? When I first saw this mural, I interpret it as simple artwork that the author realistically painted the history. I did not see the dead body next to the troops. After clicking into the article, I realized why this painting is controversial. I believe this artwork conveys the realistic part of the history; it is just telling a story.

Reference: Facione, P. & Gittens, C. A. (2016). Thinking critically. 3 . Ed. Pearson:Boston, MA. Moyer, J. (2019, June 28). San Francisco school board votes to paint over mural of George Washington’s life. Retrieved July 14, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/san-francisco-board-of- education-votes-to-paint-over-schools-george-washington-mural/2019/06/27/77e00446-982f-11e9-b503- 8e101553431a_story.html

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(https://chamberlain.instructure.com/courses/65138/users/97891)Sonja Sheffield (Instructor) 12:02pm

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