Edit Annotated Bibliography - Essay Example

Yellow Terror This dissertation is about interpretation of Roger’s artwork called the “Yellow Terror”. The artwork is made up of caricatures of different images. My interpretation about the artwork is that it portrays the existence of racist stereotype during the World War II in America. The dissertation reveals how my interpretation relates with that of various authors in their articles. In addition, it is also supported by argument from two of our class readings. Platt, Susan. The Roger Shimomura and other shows.

Art and Politics now, 7 Nov. 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.In her article, “the Roger Shimomura and other shows,” Platt argues that Yellow Terror artwork indicated that during World War II there existed racist stereotypes in America. According to Platt, the piece uses caricature images painted in different colors and showing the state of misery. Platt argues that the different colors represent different racial groups which seem to be in disagreements. In my interpretation of the artwork, the images are painted in yellow and brown color.

These colors portray the existence of racial color between two groups of people. The yellow color represents the Japanese people while the other color represents the white westerners. Furthermore, it has been a custom for the westerners to refer the complexion of Japanese as being yellow. There is a similarity between my interpretation and that of Platt’s because the notion of colors used on the painting reveals racist stereotype in America. Graves, Jen. War Breaks Out at the Wing Luke Asian Museum.

The stranger, 17 Sep. 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.In his article Graves claims that Yellow terror artwork portrays chaos in a region consisting two different groups of people that are in disagreement. The author claims that there are Japanese images that look to be in a state of oppression. On the other hand, he talks of people in snake and rat images that represent the other group of people; the American people. Metaphorically, this implies that the group is poisonous and full of hatred towards the Japanese people.

In addition, Graves talks of some Japanese with elephant ears used for spaying. This implies that the Japanese people feels that the whole structure of Japanese American society do not comfort them because of oppression. Upchurch, Michael. ‘Yellow Terror’ art collection: Satire both bright and bitter. The Seattle times, 11 Sep. 2009.Web. 16 Oct. 2014.Upchurch claims that Roger Shimomura’s art work mainly focuses on the World War II Propaganda. The author argues that the ‘yellow terror’ artwork is an inspiration from the artist’s family history.

According to the author, Roger was born and raised in Japanese American society. All the images included in the artwork are reflection of the negative experience he encounters in his childhood. During World War II the social groups were divided in terms of visual culture. Color defined the visual recognition of a certain group. Being visible as white was a privilege and therefore led to racial stereotype in the Japanese American society.Matsumoto, Nancy. Roger Shimomura. Densho Encyclopedia, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.

In his article, Matsumoto focuses on the origin of Roger’s creative effort in art. The author claims that “the Yellow terror” was the product of Roger’s life experience as a Japanese American individual in Seattle. In comparison, Matsumoto’s work is similar to an earlier study done by Upchurch which show that Roger’s negative life experience determined his art work. Matsumoto argues that “yellow terror” art work used pictorial language of tradition. According to the author the painting echoes the historical event of World War II.

It is made up of cartoon icons which visually present stereotype groups. Seattlepi staff. Cultural collisions and pervasive prejudice: the art of roger shimomura. Seattlepi, 15 Feb. 2010. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.The author argues that “the Yellow Terror” painting brings out the perception of racism among the Japanese Americans. According to the Seattle staff, the dozens of caricatures in the painting reveals Japanese and American stereotypes being in the state of mayhem. The author use metaphors such as snake, beetle, fox, pig and monkey to describe caricatures that portray characteristics of enmity.

Considering Shimomura’s work in light of class course readingsThere are two class readings whose context of argument about racist stereotype relates to that of the Shimomura’s work. These readings include the ‘Black Hair/style politics’ by Kobena Mercer and ‘White’ by Richard Dyer. In addition, they focus on racial features used in racial representation of American society that consists of different ethnic groups, for instance, the black and white people and Asians (Mercer 122). There authors argue that color and hair style determine the visible racial position of a particular ethnic group.

It is this racial position that brings racist stereotype because one ethnic group finds itself superior than others (Dyer 144). However, Shimomura’s work consists of images painted in yellow and brown colors to represent certain ethnic groups. These colors portray the visible racial positions of those ethnic groups. The yellow color represents the Japanese while the brown color represents the American people. The difference in colors between Japanese and American leads to Americans having a higher racial position.

Ultimately, this brings racist stereotype among the Japanese American society. Works CitedDyer, Richard. White: Essays on Race and Culture. London: Routledge, 1997. Print. Graves, Jen. War Breaks Out at the Wing Luke Asian Museum. The stranger, 17 Sep. 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.Matsumoto, Nancy. Roger Shimomura. Densho Encyclopedia, n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.Mercer, Kobena. Welcome To The Jungle: New Positions In Black Cultural Studies. London: Routledge, 1994. Print.Platt, Susan. The Roger Shimomura and other shows.

Art and Politics now, 7 Nov. 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.Seattlepi staff. Cultural collisions and pervasive prejudice: the art of roger shimomura. Seattlepi, 15 Feb. 2010. Web. 16 Oct. 2014.Upchurch, Michael. ‘Yellow Terror’ art collection: Satire both bright and bitter. The Seattle times, 11 Sep. 2009.Web. 16 Oct. 2014.