The Liberation Of Aunt Jemima
The Liberation of Aunt Jemima by Betye Saar and Aspiration by Aaron Douglas are the two pieces that I have chosen to compare for my Introduction to Humanities II analysis paper. These two African American artists make a social commentary about life in America and the issues faced by African Americans during the Harlem Renaissance and life after the Civil Rights Movement. Stereotypes dominated discourse surrounding African American life and culture in the late 19th century. Some artists aimed to obliterate and redefine the conventional image of Blacks, while others sought to magnify it, almost in an attempt of mockery. With this type of artwork, many new artists created pieces that portrayed these misconceptions with the purpose of raising awareness of how these ideas characterized African Americans and the realities that they faced.
Although exaggeration of stereotypes was common subject-matter among African American artists, attempts to redefine these false conceptions were more prevalent. Following the Civil Rights Movement and during the Harlem Renaissance, Blacks sought to change and improve the way that Whites viewed them. Artists such as Betye Saar and Aaron Douglas took these stereotypical beliefs and created pieces that portrayed African Americans in a new light with the concept of these stereotypes in mind, often implementing symbols of Black power or portraying their subjects as humble and civilized.
Picture 1 - The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, 1972
Betye Saar
Los Angeles, California
Assemblage style
Betye Saar established herself as a key African American artist who attempted to erase social stereotypes of African American women, calling for edification, or improvement of the perceptions of African Americans during a time of shaky socio-political conditions. In 1972, she sculpted The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, mocking the American stereotype of the African American woman. Aunt Jemima was used to characterize Black females as compliant and
Although exaggeration of stereotypes was common subject-matter among African American artists, attempts to redefine these false conceptions were more prevalent. Following the Civil Rights Movement and during the Harlem Renaissance, Blacks sought to change and improve the way that Whites viewed them. Artists such as Betye Saar and Aaron Douglas took these stereotypical beliefs and created pieces that portrayed African Americans in a new light with the concept of these stereotypes in mind, often implementing symbols of Black power or portraying their subjects as humble and civilized.
Picture 1 - The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, 1972
Betye Saar
Los Angeles, California
Assemblage style
Betye Saar established herself as a key African American artist who attempted to erase social stereotypes of African American women, calling for edification, or improvement of the perceptions of African Americans during a time of shaky socio-political conditions. In 1972, she sculpted The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, mocking the American stereotype of the African American woman. Aunt Jemima was used to characterize Black females as compliant and