Above: This is a sculpture representing what Medusa from Greek mythology would have looked like; created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1630. The meaning of Medusa’s image has been changed and distorted through the centuries as different regions of the world have taken in her image and used it to convey their own meanings and…
Many people’s first if not only introduction to the goth subculture is through popular media. While it can be exciting for the subculture to receive any recognition, the representation is often stereotypical and stigmatized. There are a few ways that goths are usually portrayed in pop culture, so I have compiled three examples that portray…
Tropes – defined as recognizable plot elements, themes, or visual cues that convey something in the arts – are all around us in our everyday life. There is one particular trope that has long been the face of America since she first made an appearance; the Statue of Liberty. In 1885, America was gifted the…
A trope is an image used within the media often enough to be recognized in different settings. Tropes often can have an underlying message or can be used to project a specific stereotype to their audience. For this assignment, I wanted to use a product that has been around for many years and has evolved…
Basis This original encaustic painting, titled “Christ Pantocrator”, was first completed in the 6th-century, will be the basis of the following interpretations. The painting depicts Jesus as the Christ in a classical Byzantine style, which often aims to capture the duality of Jesus as a figure of both divine and human nature. Many metonymic tropes…
The idea of Lady Columbia first originated in a poem from 1697 by Samuel Sewall who proposed “Columbina” to be the name for the American colonies in honor of Christopher Columbus. It wasn’t until 1775 during the American Revolution war that it gained popularity through a poem written by a black slave, Phillis Wheatley where…
Performing services for an individual, group or organization; a hero is one who is willing to risk their lives in defense of certain ideals. “The key to heroism is a concern for other people in need” (Zimbardo 2011). Heroes serve great deeds to society and also function as an indicator of that society’s morality and…
The use of the eagle as a trope in the media is widely known and very recognizable. The eagle, especially when used in the media is commonly associated with being a symbol of the United States. Specifically, the bald eagle has been the nation’s emblem since 1782. Upon the sight of a bald eagle, some…
Damsel in Distress Trope Rachael Litavecz This 1953 advertisement for ketchup reads, “You mean a woman can open it?” (“Beyond Belief: Shocking Vintage Adverts from the ‘Golden Age’ “). The advertisement features a close-up of a woman’s face and her holding a ketchup bottle. The advertisement’s imagery and text promotes the hassle-free design of the…
Geishas have been a part of Japanese culture, as they fulfilled many different roles including performers, courtesans, artisans, entertainers, etc. Historically, being a geisha was considered a profession of high-status requiring thorough and extensive stages of training. Known for their particular style of makeup and traditional attire, geishas have been acknowledged as forms of art…
My chosen trope for this assignment, Asian stereotypes, has been very present in media for many years. Because this can date back to the time of the Chinese Exclusion act in 1882, if not much earlier, the earliest forms came in political cartoons. In present day media, we can see many memes involving the common…