PORTFOLIO LLCER PORTFOLIO ART AND DEBATE OF IDEAS

« PORTFOLIO ART AND DEBATE OF IDEAS To what extent can art make sense of emotions? Barack Obama’s speech, march 18, 2008 "We the people, in order to form a more perfect union." Two hundred and twenty one years ago, in a hall that still stands across the street, a group of men gathered and, with these simple words, launched America's improbable experiment in democracy.

Farmers and scholars; statesmen and patriots who had traveled across an ocean to escape tyranny and persecution finally made real their declaration of independence at a Philadelphia convention that lasted through the spring of 1787 Of course, the answer to the slavery question was already embedded within our Constitution - a Constitution that had at is very core the ideal of equal citizenship under the law; a Constitution that promised its people liberty, and justice, and a union that could be and should be perfected over time. This belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people.

But it also comes from my own American story. But race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now.

We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality. But it is where we start.

It is where our union grows stronger.

And as so many generations have come to realize over the course of the two-hundred and twenty one years since a band of patriots signed that document in Philadelphia, that is where the perfection begins. Justice Langston Hughes - 1901-1967 That Justice is a blind goddessIs a thing to which we black are wise:Her bandage hides two festering soresThat once perhaps were eyes Ted ELLIS INTRODUCTION « ART SHOULD COMFORT THE DISTURBED AND DISTURB THE COMFORTABLE », such is Banksy’s idea.... Over the past two years, I had the opportunity to work on several themes.

The one that caught my attention the most was “art and debate”.

Indeed, this theme makes it possible to raise many questions about our society, and that is why I have decided to work on racism.

I am going to answer the following question: To what extent can art make sense of emotions? Through their works, artists express themselves and they even have the power to change people’s perspectives: it may be a painting, a speech or a poem, or a film..

They are very important for the society and I wanted to introduce you to some works of art. I will try to answer this question by studying several documents: First, an extract from the movie 12 ANGRY MEN, then a poem by Langston Hugues , A speech by Barack Obama delivered in 2008 and finally a picture by Ted Ellis. First, I will develop how artistic creation arouses people’s feelings and then how artists can be considered witnesses of their time to shape people’s minds. Art allows artists to transmit an idea or a message to impact society through their works.

The art of creation allows reader, viewers to react.

Creation arouses feelings to pass a message.

Artistic creation is a necessary part of humanity because it encourages to make sense and develop our thinking. DEHUMANIZATION of black people was a common feature in art in the 1950s or 1960s in order to pass a message, especially during the period of the Jim Crow laws.

It is used to shock the audience. 12 ANGRY MEN a movie produced BY Sydney Lumet in 1957 is the perfect example..

The film tells the story of a jury of 12 men as they deliberate on the conviction or acquittal of a teenager charged with murder on the basisof reasonable doubt; I chose the extract between several jurors, the scene is happening after the 5th vote, and 3 people voted « guilty » including juror N10.

In this extract, we can hear Juror N10 making racist comments.

Indeed, he only calls black people « THEY » He doesn’t want to call them by any names which is a proof of exclusion and separation.

They are not part of his world.

He even refers to them as « WILD », he says that they drink alcohol They are « big drinkers » « ignorant bastards » « violent, ignorant » . cruel, they DEHUMANIZE black peopleIt is pure hatred.

Racial slur acts as an electroshock.. Those words are pejorative and In the same way, the famous.... »