We Are Americans, There Are No Heroes
Political figures and particularly those occupying the Presidency in the United States are a pertinent case study for systemic power in America. Throughout history, the media coverage connected to the presidency often communicates messages that mask the intentions of an administration and allow issues to go unspoken. We are Americans, There Are No Heroes, delves into the concept of idolization and heroism in American Politics through the re-contextualization of archival images and text in the form of photography and video. This project is an attempt to contemplate how constructed power effects a civilians perception of who a governing leader is and what they represent. With the inclusion of text from inaugural addresses, print media, and personal letters, this work evaluates what vernacular used throughout campaigns and eventual Presidential terms. As a whole the work aims to tackle broader concepts of nationalism as a prohibitor and problematize the narrative of the “white American icon.”
Hyperlink to project: https://therearenoheroes.squarespace.com
