MUPPETIAN GOTHIC
TITLE: Muppetain Gothic
AUTHORSHIP: Anonymous
BIG IDEA: Parodying historical art
MAJOR THEME: Humorous intersections of pop culture icons and famous paintings
MEDIUM: Digital Image
VISUAL COMPONENTS: Balance, unity, form, shape
CATEGORY: Pop culture
ORIGINAL LOCATION: Buzzfeed.com
DESCRIPTION/INTERPRETATION: The image depicts Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy wearing traditional human American farmer clothing. There is a farm in the background and the two characters are standing side by side in the foreground of the image. They face outward, their gaze is fixed on the viewer. The background scene, and character construction, is based off the classic work, American Gothic by Grant Wood, painted in 1930.
This image combines pop culture references with a very iconic American painting. In contrast to the original image where the man holds the pitchfork, Miss Piggy is depicted with the tool in hand. Kermit stands idly beside her. This choice subverts our notions of traditional masculinity as it was presented in the original image. This contemporary rendition of a classic American image shows how today’s women are capable of running businesses and participating in society in dominant roles. The image gives power to contemporary matriarchy. Additionally, the image investigates ideas of parody and is intended to be a humorous societal commentary. There is humor in that these are animals represented as puppets in human clothing. There is shock factor in that it’s unexpected that these well-known characters would be superimposed into a painting that is very familiar and well known.
USE IN TEACHING: Showing this image in contrast with the original American Gothic painting would create a point of reference. The Muppetian Gothic can be interpreted as feminist because Miss Piggy is holding the pitchfork. A corresponding lesson could investigate the intersections of pop culture icons and traditional works of art. Students would be asked to consider a traditional painting that they feel depicts a theme that is antiquated or a view with which they disagree. Using PhotoShop students would digitally add pop culture/contemporary characters or images to shift the dialogue about their chosen work.
For classroom discussion, I would show Muppetian Gothic along side American Gothic for comparison. Development questions would include: What is different and what is similar between these images? Is Muppetain Gothic humorous to you? Why? How does adding these characters to this setting change the meaning of the image? What do you think this juxtaposition is intended to convey? Is there a social comment you could make by combining another pop culture reference with a traditional painting?
SOURCE: http://www.buzzfeed.com/angelameiquan/36-pop-cultural-reinventions-of-the-american-gothi-70fn?sub=1782909_596558
TITLE: Muppetain Gothic
AUTHORSHIP: Anonymous
BIG IDEA: Parodying historical art
MAJOR THEME: Humorous intersections of pop culture icons and famous paintings
MEDIUM: Digital Image
VISUAL COMPONENTS: Balance, unity, form, shape
CATEGORY: Pop culture
ORIGINAL LOCATION: Buzzfeed.com
DESCRIPTION/INTERPRETATION: The image depicts Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy wearing traditional human American farmer clothing. There is a farm in the background and the two characters are standing side by side in the foreground of the image. They face outward, their gaze is fixed on the viewer. The background scene, and character construction, is based off the classic work, American Gothic by Grant Wood, painted in 1930.
This image combines pop culture references with a very iconic American painting. In contrast to the original image where the man holds the pitchfork, Miss Piggy is depicted with the tool in hand. Kermit stands idly beside her. This choice subverts our notions of traditional masculinity as it was presented in the original image. This contemporary rendition of a classic American image shows how today’s women are capable of running businesses and participating in society in dominant roles. The image gives power to contemporary matriarchy. Additionally, the image investigates ideas of parody and is intended to be a humorous societal commentary. There is humor in that these are animals represented as puppets in human clothing. There is shock factor in that it’s unexpected that these well-known characters would be superimposed into a painting that is very familiar and well known.
USE IN TEACHING: Showing this image in contrast with the original American Gothic painting would create a point of reference. The Muppetian Gothic can be interpreted as feminist because Miss Piggy is holding the pitchfork. A corresponding lesson could investigate the intersections of pop culture icons and traditional works of art. Students would be asked to consider a traditional painting that they feel depicts a theme that is antiquated or a view with which they disagree. Using PhotoShop students would digitally add pop culture/contemporary characters or images to shift the dialogue about their chosen work.
For classroom discussion, I would show Muppetian Gothic along side American Gothic for comparison. Development questions would include: What is different and what is similar between these images? Is Muppetain Gothic humorous to you? Why? How does adding these characters to this setting change the meaning of the image? What do you think this juxtaposition is intended to convey? Is there a social comment you could make by combining another pop culture reference with a traditional painting?
SOURCE: http://www.buzzfeed.com/angelameiquan/36-pop-cultural-reinventions-of-the-american-gothi-70fn?sub=1782909_596558