The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, 1972

Introduction

This paper aims to focus on the work of art by Betye Saar. The piece of art that this paper will analyze is the Liberation of Aunt Jemima, 1972. The liberation of Aunt Jemima is an impressive piece of art that was created in 1972. This piece of art measures 11 ¾ by eight by ¾ inches. The painting is as big as a book. The central theme of this piece of art is racism (Blum & Moor, pp. 17).

With this piece of art, Betye Saar has addressed the issue of racism and discrimination. In The Liberation of Aunt Jemima, the artist has portrayed the image of stereotypical racism. The emblem of Aunt Jemima appears in three guises. The central figure of Aunt Jemima appears in the form of the feminist power of blacks (Landauer and Selz, pp. 149).

The image of Aunt Jemima was initially used a bitter witty in 1972. The image appeared in different guises. The painting is effective in highlighting the issues of power and distinctiveness. The painting has several implications for racism in the society.

Analysis

The Liberation of Aunt Jemima depicts how a subject can be organized and displayed through different ways. This piece of art by Betye Saar depicts how various mediums can be used to reflect the point of view of the artist.

The painting of Aunt Jemima is an emblem of a mammy. In real life, mammies have diverse responsibilities. Mammies perform diverse roles in a home. They perform various household chores; take care of children, and others. In many societies, mammies are no more than salves. In the history, mammies were also considered sex slaves of their masters.

In 1972, the painting portrayed the common orthodox image of a black woman. This image was of a domestic servant. However, in the chaotic Black Power era of the early 1970s, Aunt Jemima, is also holding a rifle.

At first glance, this piece of art does not look like a painting or a photograph. However, at the first glance, the viewer comprehends that it is a series of mixed-media. The artistic work is an assemblage of random objects.

Interpretation

The liberation of Aunt Jemima is a symbol of the servitude of black women. The painting has communicated the existence of persistent racism in American life. In the vision of the artist, the symbol of Aunt Jemima is a revolutionary ...