While thinking about a mural I have seen before for last weekends discussion questions, I thought of a mural from Lansing (where I'm from). Lansing has a large African American population, and much of the street art and murals reflect that heritage. One mural in particular caught my attention because of all the famous people in it.
In the picture above you see two different murals, one new and one old, but they both represent the same thing. The murals were commissioned by the owners to represent the Equal Rights movement in the United States. The owners were proud of their heritage and wanted others to appreciate the work the people put into making the U.S. a better place for all people. Some of the major figures include: President Obama, Michael Jackson, Condoleezza Rice, and Martin Luther King Jr.
Looking at these murals emphasized for me what the murals in Mexico did for the people. Many murals now-a-days don't hold the same importance to the people with their subjects, but others do. This equal rights movement affected people of all classes and races, altering view and perceptions. The same can be said about the murals in Mexico. Artists like Diego Rivera, José Orozco, and David Siqueiros all used their art to convey messages to the people and alter their views on different subjects. Whether they were country people or city people, educated or uneducated, Mexican murals affected each group in different ways, but conveyed a higher sense of nationalism to all groups.
I feel that this painting by David Siqueiros really represents the idea of the murals affecting all the people of Mexico. In just the first row, you see soldiers, as well as a woman, who look ready to enter battle for the revolution. If you look closely throughout the painting, you see the people wearing different style and colored hats, representing their different backgrounds. They all may have different backgrounds with beliefs that clash, but they come together to fight for revolution that benefits them all.
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