1.  How was art used as a political tool in ancient times?  How is it used in current day politics?  Give an examples for each.  


          Kings and rulers in the ancient time used art for visual persuasion.  Derius the Archer was the first political image/logo shown on a "billboard".  Alexander the Great used images of his face on a coin to reach out to all the people in his kingdom and also used statues to get his image out. Every person, doesn't matter the language, can understand and relate to art. Alexander used his face because people are more influenced and intrigued by what they see in a face.  By looking at a face you can tell what they are like.  For example, Augustis/Octavian used an image of his face with big curly hair and a stern face.  The republican people did not receive this image well because of this particular face, so he changed it to a softer, more humble looking face with straight short hair, and people were more open to him then.  The idea of putting a face on a coin is still used today.  All our currency has a face of a leader on it.  Art is used a lot in today's politics as well.  One example is with presidential elections.  Having just the right campaign logo and slogan is essential and having the right display and setup for important speeches is critical.  People associate the candidate with the images and things around him that represent him.  

Self-Portrait

1. Take a self-portrait photo. You can use a mirror, a tripod, or hold the camera in front of you to do this. 
2. Then, create a self-portrait using signs, shapes, and forms which describe you as a person, using one page. You can use design software (such as Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop) or draw by hand. 
3. Write a one-page explanation of the two, answering the following questions

1. How does your empirical representation (the photo) differs from your rational and/or symbolic representation (the signs)? 
2. Are there any areas of intersection? 
3. Why did you choose the symbols you did? 
4. What in your photo describes you symbolically or rationally?

     My empirical representation differs from my symbolic representation in several ways.  Since I was limited to signs, symbols, and simple shapes there is a lot less detail in the symbolic self-portrait. I also choose to keep the self-portrait I made all black and white unlike the real photo.  There are also unnecessary lines and filled in space in the symbolic self-portrait because of the symbols I was using.  There are many areas of intersection in my symbolic self-portrait. The leo signs(hair),nose,paint,basketball players and heart are all intersecting with the peace sign.  I intentianally intersected the hair to make a more filled look. 

     Every symbol I used making my self-portrait represents me. The top hair is the symbol for Leo because I was born on August 23rd. The ears are paint and a paint brush because I am artistic and like to draw and paint.  The bottom part of my hair which is put into a side ponytail is made from spirals/swooshes.  This is to represent the my busy and energetic life. My face is mainly made with a big peace sign.  I do not like to fight.  My nose is a heart because I have a big heart and love and trust easily.  My jaw bones are shaped with a basketball player shooting a basketball which leads to the eyes.  Basketball is my favorite sport and takes up most of my time.  My eyebrows are symbols of a girl to show that I am a female.  My teeth are symbols of luggage because I love to travel and missionary work interests me.  My chin is made up of the cross symbol because I am a christian and my neck is a One Way sign because I believe Jesus is the only way.  

     In the empirical photo the way I am dressed and styled my hair represents me.  I am wearing my bright and colorful sweater which describes my artistic and energetic side. My hair in a ponytail represents my active side.  It gives a clue that I was just working out/playing basketball. My smile also describes me.  It shows that I am a happy person.