Is this too "scary" to be hanged up in my school's hallway?
By emskoneko
@emskoneko (805)
United States
February 19, 2007 11:44am CST
My assignment was to write a verse for a blues song and to put it on a poster. I was told to put a lot of effort into it. So I did. This is the verse:
They carried away my daddy's soul.
They carried away my daddy's soul.
A broken man hangs from a tree.
The verse was inspired by the pain that once and still exists in racism. I'm sure many of you can picture the scene that the very portrays.
Now the artwork. I first made a tree with bare twisting branches. On the trunk of the tree, there were vague faces full of pain and tears. Shadows of tall men in white loomed behind this tree. On one of the branches, a rope with a noose hanged from it. Wooden crossed with the word "daddy" etched into them was placed by my verse. In the lower right corner of my poster, there was a girl with full black eyes crying. I wish I could show you the poster but it is in my locker.
A morbid scene, right? Too morbid? I was told to bring it down. They said it was a bit frightful. But the emotion of the words and art were supposed to send a certain message. The blues was based on a person's suffering and sadness. I'm not sure if my school's authority was right or I am wrong.
4 responses
@kit2501 (39)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I think that your response to the assignment was definitely one of great effort and emotion, and for that you should be praised (and hopefully get an A+). You are correct in what the blues as a genre of music are supposed to express and your words and images do send that message. I can empathize with your frustration at being censored, especially because you were following the directions for an assignment. However, I think that censorship in an institution, such as a school, is harder to fight as the administration must be concerned with the safety and well-being of all of the students. Do you think that the reaction of your fellow classmates to your poster would be a positive or a negative one? Could you forsee your poster aggrevating some angry (possibly even violent) reactions from others in your school? I think that is what the administration is trying to prevent by having you take down your poster. I'm not saying that I necessarily agree with their decision, but that censorship in the school tends to work slightly different than, say, in an art gallery. Keep up the good work, though, and don't be discouraged!
1 person likes this
@emskoneko (805)
• United States
20 Feb 07
Thank you for understanding and for showing me the correct way of looking into this. I can see how some might find offense in my poster. I think I am just sad that effort and commitment was somehow wasted. Or maybe that is just how I feel at the moment. I'm sure I'll be over this soon.
@kit2501 (39)
• United States
21 Feb 07
You are more than entitled to feel sad about not being able to showcase your talent and effort. It definitely sucks to have to silence something that you feel strongly about. See if you can enter your poster into some sort of artistic venue- like an art show or a poetry contest. Good luck!
1 person likes this
@emskoneko (805)
• United States
22 Feb 07
That sounds like a good idea. I have already calmed down about this and am now ready to use my poster for something more beneficial and helpful. Thank you!
@emskoneko (805)
• United States
20 Feb 07
They are in high school though many do not act like they are in one. They should be mature enough. But other problems such as seeing it the wrong way may arise.
@dusty1020 (174)
• United States
20 Feb 07
i guess it depends on your audience. like how old they are. if this is for school and young children will be exposed to it, i can see some validity to censrship. i think the sentiment is great for a mature audience though.
@emskoneko (805)
• United States
20 Feb 07
I think my high school should be mature enough. but I think that the wrong view may be seen in my poster.
