A brilliant idea came to me last night: teach Juanito how to paint as if he were alive during the American Revolution of 1776.
I've been homeschooling Johnny Angel for about a month now. Yes, he is learning a lot, but he is sick of reading and writing papers. In 7th grade we are learning about the American Revolution, the birth of America and essentially how to over throw the government (while completely ignoring the oppression colonists put on the indigenous population). As a human rights activist and mother, I really want him to embrace the revolutionary spirit of the lesson and of our era too.
Having been born on a military base in England, he identifies with global culture more than American culture. I believe he truly feels like a citizen of the planet rather than of just the U.S.A.
So, I'd been thinking about how to have him consider his place within our country. We looked through my old art history text book and read about Rococo and Neoclassicism of the late 1700s in England and the U.S. Colonies. We found it amusing that the poses of the subjects were so aloof yet overly dramatic. I said, "yes, but notice the lighting of the figure. The shadows are nearly consuming this person..." I asked to create a self-portrait using those key elements. When he showed me his sketch, I have to say, I was impressed.
Johnny's self-portrait was of playing a war inspired video game. The blood red letters flashing on the screen read: GAME OVER. Meanwhile, a vampire skull lays on the floor beside the television. The look on Johnny's character face is one of shock or annoyed disbelief. I asked him what he was trying to say with this piece he said, "Mom, America is in, like, three wars. We killed the guy we were looking for but these wars are never going to end. I know that by the time I'm old enough I could be drafted."
"You can't be drafted. They don't do that anymore."
"Really? Are you sure? Well, I think they will bring it back or something and I'll have to go."
"I won't let them take you. It's against our religion."
"Okay, mom," he said rolling his eyes, still a typical teenager in some regards. "So my painting is about the wars being over and I'm surprised that it's over and we all lost. All because of the all the oil and blood sucker banks that created all the problems that chipped away at America. Now they have a big powerful army and I'm just one person. I mean, how can I take America back over if no one under forty thinks like I do? I mean, seriously? Who?"
"The 13 colonies had a rinky dink army. What about how they over threw England?" I asked.
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