MICHAEL T. FIGUEROA
NIU ART Education+design
VCBD 3
Big Idea/Subject: Individual identity
Major Theme:Expression
Medium/ Presentation: Mixed Media
Visual Components: Line, Shape, Balance, Color, Space
Category: Pop Art
Authorship: Eddie Colla
Title: Accomplice
Original Location: Home Studio
Discription/Interpretation:
We see right away colors of the United States, (Red, White, and Blue) Stars, stripes, bald eagles, silhouettes of people in formation and saluting (impression of soldiers) Stencil font and the word “Heroes”, Budweiser beer logo, and a figure right in the center in a iconic pose of Jesus. This figure I mention last because when you see it, you want to avoid it as much as possible. The reason I wanted to avoid it until the end is because anything to do with religion and evil are very taboo and I feel that the meaning could be negative. You have a very patriotic looking image, but when you focus on the elements you can’t help but to see the figure in the center. The figure is wearing a pointed black mask or cover.
Colla appears to express his feelings on the US military and it’s involvement with the 9-11 prisoners. The well-known images by Abu Graib, that went viral caused uproar on trust we have/had for our government, military and country. What if our country is ran by people who could be just as evil as our supposed enemies. My interpretation is that it’s a political statement on government awareness and is unconventional POW tactics.
Use in Teaching:
Given this image without context, who can tell me how this image makes you feel at first sight?
Does this image display some kind of message?
Is the message positive or negative?
Does this image make you question it meaning?
Why do you think Colla, use Graib’s image? If we wanted to make a point about any social issues like Colla has in Accomplice, what works and what makes this piece successful? What visual elements are used? Using a Post-Secret card, students can make a political statement using elements of design.