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John Singleton Copley Analysis

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Navya Nataraj Mrs. Marks AP Language and Composition 20 January 2018 John Singleton Copley and The American Dream The American Dream started out as simply the idea that every citizen has the equal opportunity to succeed. This very broad notion has changed and warped over America’s history. One of the ideas that the American Dream has been twisted into is the importance of status symbols. In what has become a rat-race to become wealthy, people have zeroed in on the value of appearing wealthy (Meacham, Jon). Why else would there be a demand for designer clothes, sports cars and mega-mansions? In a way, the appearance of status has become the new American Dream. Interestingly, 18th Century painter, John Singleton Copley, who started painting before …show more content…

The painting titled “Watson and a Shark,” is a thorough example of his venture into historical paintings. The painting depicts Brook Watson, an orphan who went on to hold a political position, being attacked by a shark. While it may appear that Watson is laying passively in the foreground waiting to be rescued, his positioning references the famous sculpture, Borghese Gladiator. This artistic allusion portrays Watson as a warrior and a survivor, not a victim. While Copley’s portraits elevated the subject’s economic status, this historical rendering elevated Watson’s moral status. The painting is meant to allegorically show what Watson overcame, namely a crippling shark attack in the literal sense and his humble beginnings as an orphan in a figurative sense. Furthermore, the plainly-dressed sailors are not doing anything to help Watson. They are simply watching and hoping that Watson survives the attack, but aren’t being productive towards his survival. On the other hand, the wealthy gentleman, as depicted with his buttoned jacket and buckled shoes, is doing all he can to fend off the sharks.The contrast underscores the power of the …show more content…

It has gone from the idea that everyone is given an equal opportunity to succeed to the importance of status and materials. In “A Boy with a Flying School”, he reiterates that by focusing the eyes of the viewer on the gold chain and the sheek clothes that the boy is wearing. Likewise, in “Watson and the Shark”, the clothes of the man at bow of boat is dressed nicer than the other crew members. He shows that the subject is parallel to the object by strategically positions the subjects body in a way to communicate wealth and

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In the essay “The American Dream: Dead, Alive, or on Hold?” Brandon king argues whether or not the American Dream is still alive and well in the USA. The author makes a strong case that the American Dream is, in fact, still held to a high degree of belief in America. Not only does he successfully argue that it is still alive, he presents information that shows how the Dream itself has shifted from a rags-to-riches story to one of a stable, happy life. Overall, King’s use of strong emotional appeals, coupled with his employment of sound reasoning and statistics make his argument that the American Dream has evolved over time very effective.

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A lingering question to many of the less fortunate in America pertains to the existence of the so-called “American dream.” Does this American dream exist and is it attainable? The American dream inspires many immigrants move to America, hoping to better their lives and those of their families. However, in the novel, Nickel and Dimed, Barbara Ehrenreich’s attempt achieve the American dream deems it not possibly attainable. Likewise, today, in the twenty-first century, the American dream is still not attainable.

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The american dream is an ideal of everyone to achieve the hope of having a better life and making great amounts of money but in that sense they aren’t realizing what things they are leaving back and how much they’ll have to sacrifice or loose to gain that thought of American dream. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and “ Harlem” by Langston Hughes both shows how the american dream gives hope but the pursuit of hope demolishes. Which is illustrated by the characters showing the corruption of wealth and their moral values. Gatsby the most wealthiest and meticulous person from West Egg which represents new money a society parades its cash through obvious utilization and luxurious drinking and partying but his american dream was only Daisy

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Presents accepted historical truths from a new perspective. The drowning man depicted symbolises that Anglo-Saxon people are drowning out the communities, and cultural differences of the African Americans and aboriginal people, ruining their unique identity. The group of indigenous Australians sitting around a camp fire and one larger figure on the right in the composition, portray Bennett’s feeling of not being accepted by either the Aboriginal people or the Anglo-Celtic. This painting directly links with the lost identity of Gordon Bennett and many others of the lost generation people with his confused cultural background. He raises questions through his artworks about both his own individual understanding of who he is and also the oppression and racism towards the Australian Aboriginal people particularly as recorded in

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