Final Draft- writing guide

5 Basic steps to successful writing

According to Sommers, “The students place a symbolic importance on their selection and rejection of words as the determiners of success or failure for their compositions.” As a student writer, I also began to notice the same to be true about my writing as well as my other classmates. Students , and even professionals, struggle with writing because they worry too much about word choices, grammar, and punctuation and not enough about the content. I will provide 5 easy steps to help anyone successfully focus on their overall argument and content:

1) Find the beginning, 2)Find the best candidate for your point, 3)Go back to your thesis every once in a while to see if it matches the body, 4)Find each sections introduction and conclusion and 5)check your facts.

As a student writer

I. Find the beginning

Identify what will be your opening sentence. It can perhaps be something more vague than the focus of your paper that may raise questions or curiosity for the reader. Also, a more bold statement may be effective. This could serve as a successful eye opener that typically keeps the reader engaged and alert.

Here is an example of a bold introduction. This is bold because the words womanizer and revolutionist are attention grabbers and appeals to a reader’s curiosity. Also, setting up words that are contrast to each other, womanizer and revolutionist creates a bold statement, which is in contrast to a person who “honored the working class.” This provokes interest because people like heroes and in our society heroes that are often public servants (they usually fight for the common person often without payment of reward). In they say/I say also notes that the usage of a strong introduction will capture the attention of the attended audience. (see below)

“Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited…”

II. Find the best candidate for your point

Per Nancy Sommer’s article, Revision Strategies of Student Writers and Experienced Adult Writers, “I ask major theoretical questions of my ideas, respond to those questions, and think of proportion and structure, and try to find a controlling.”

This part of your paper is the thesis. It should express your key point. This statement should also be reinforced in the conclusion as well.

A. Keep in mind that the thesis is typically the last sentence but not always of your introductory paragraph. In the example shown below the thesis is not exactly the last sentence. The writer identifies her key point in a very subtle way and that flows swiftly. (see example below)

“Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger, who was a well- known architect. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to United States entry into World War II and Pflueger’s unexpected death. During this time Diego was part of the Mexican Muralist Movement and the Pan American Unity mural was the perfect opportunity to intertwine social realism and ancestral art. Currently this mural is housed at the Diego Rivera Theater at City College of San Francisco.”

This is acceptable yet could be stronger. It could be stronger because it seems that it only covers one solid point in the thesis when it should cover several. It is a bit on the vague side. What happens after, the Pan American Unity could be mentioned. It could have more details.

B. Here is another example of a stronger thesis that covers multiple points that will be covered through the body. (See underline below) It is direct and clear. Notice how the thesis statement does not appear sooner in the paragraph. The main focus is elaborated on for some time before mentioning what will be talked about in the paper. (see example below)

“Many Americans face countless concerns and uncertainties when confronting the central facts of our health care system. A few out of the many reasons that contribute to these doubts are those who have health insurance see a rising cost in prescriptions and treatment prices; all of which create negative and unhealthy side effects. For those who cannot pay for allopathic medicine or simply want to look into alternative forms of treatment for enhanced results, there is a less costly and more long-term affective method. This method can also be used as prevention as well as self- healing therapy depending on the severity of the illness. This method lies in Reiki. Reiki has been proven to decrease anxiety, enhance clinical outcomes, and reduces symptoms of chronic conditions. It is easily accessible, low risk, easy to use, beneficial and causes no side effects. “Practitioners believe Reiki has the potential to rebalance the biofield at the deepest vibrational level, thereby removing the subtle causes of illness while enhancing over all resilience.” (Miles and True, 2003)

A good thesis statement should have a clear view of what you intend to prove. It should not be a simple summarization of facts from research. It should be well thought out.

III. Go back to your thesis every once in a while to see if it matches the body

If you mention that you will be talking about x, y and z in the thesis make sure that those three points are covered in your paper and turned into large sections. Everything must tie together. If one point in your thesis is vaguely mentioned in the body go back and elaborate on it more. (see below)

“Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger, who was a well- known architect. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to United States entry into World War II and Pflueger’s unexpected death. During this time Diego was part of the Mexican Muralist Movement and the Pan American Unity mural was the perfect opportunity to intertwine social realism and ancestral art. Currently this mural is housed at the Diego Rivera Theater at City College of San Francisco.”

The conclusion reinforces the thesis on Diego Rivera’s artwork because it refers to the mural’s general but central representation. (see below)

“Diego had a conversation with Dorothy Puccinelli in reference to his main purpose for this mural which is stated as follows “I believe in order to make an American art, a real American art, (it) will be necessary (to have) this blending of the art of the Indian, the Mexican, the Eskimo, with the kind of urge which makes the machine, the invention in the material side of life, which is also the artistic urge—the same urge primarily but in a different form of expression.” Hence, I believe Diego did convey his message on the Pan American Unity Mural, in which he paid homage to both the ancestral side and machine side and all the working class people. Diego illustrated this by comparing the times in his mural North compared to South America. The unification of the ancestral side and machine side are both forms of art and progression that represent “All of America”.

IV. Find each sections introduction and conclusion

Each paragraph should have a conclusion that will lead into the next paragraphs introduction smoothly. The conclusion should have something to do with the following introduction. This keeps the reader from getting confused. (see below)

Here is a great example of the conclusion and introduction working together.

“Detection of such imbalances allows the practitioner to cleanse the patient from negative feelings, emotions and physical burdens. (Intelihealth) According to practitioners, all of the body systems can be covered within 30 to 90 minutes. (Intelihealth)

Patients claimed to have felt warmth, tingling, sleepiness, relaxation or invigoration during sessions. (Intelihealth) These are positive side effects of Reiki. The sensations are an indication that the practice is effectively working. When done properly, one’s spiritual well-being is….”

This works well because the last sentence is talking about how all the body systems can be covered in 30-90 minutes and in the next paragraph it talks about how patients claimed to have felt warmth, tingling, sleepiness, relaxation or invigoration during sessions. This ties up nicely because all these sensations can be felt during the 30-90 minute coverage of the human body systems that was mentioned in the previous paragraph’s last sentence. They are within the same subject and slowly change the subject as the paragraph progresses. The next subject is stated and the next paragraph will have a sentence that is within the same subject of the last paragraph and so on. “To keep an audience engaged, a writer needs to explain what he or she is responding to-either before offering that response or at least, very early in the discussion.” (Bizzel 18)

V. Check your facts

Check your facts and make sure that they are not embellished with words such as vehemently, largely and/or overt. As a writer it is important that you have credibility. The reader must feel confident when reading facts. Citing and quoting will help immensely.

Here is a perfect example of a non-embellished fact. (see below)

“This includes state anxiety, blood pressure, galvanic skin response, muscle tension, and skin temperature that was monitored prior to, thought and after the Reiki session. (Miles and True 2003)”

In conclusion, it is crucial to focus on getting your point across when writing a paper. Per Sommers’, “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere. Start by getting something—anything—down on paper.” Grammar and other errors can be revised when the paper is done. It is best to focus solely on getting your point across rather than focusing on numerous things at once. This can be difficult if multi-tasking is not your specialty and more so if neither is writing. Another way of making writing easier is doing proper research. This will help with your interest level if you are already not fascinated on the topic. When proper research is not done writing takes longer due to excessive back and forth shuffling through notes. This may encourage writer’s block. When this occurs it is best sometimes to force yourself to get your words down. These words may not be useful in the end although it is a great way to exercise your brain. In doing so, the process will shorten, and your thesis, body and conclusion will tie up successfully. You have the ability and creativity to become a successful writer.

draft#2 - writing guide

5 Basic steps to successful writing

Writing is a form of art. The beauty of putting words together to form your own expression or point of view is a creation in itself. This form of art has more freedom than you think. Don’t let guidelines fool you. There are over two hundred thousand words in the English dictionary. This leaves room for countless options. As a student writer, I have experienced many blocks in the past due to what I thought were restrictions causing me to have anxieties. For example, I disproportionately concerned myself with technicalities such as: MLA format, number of pages, grammar, structure, punctuation and repetition of words. Later, through extensive writing, I have come to realize that practice makes perfect. Writing is like a research project. The only way to gain confidence in writing is by doing more of it and by exploring new ideas in making it work for you. For example, I realized that the MLA format actually creates a more smoothly organized paper. I started to think of guidelines as helpful tools rather than restrictions. And don’t get hung up on word choices; worry about this during the revision process, which is also known as rough drafts. I went through many struggles in writing to get to the confidence I have now. Be patient and have fun with it. Don’t let letter grades or teacher’s criticisms distract you from becoming a successful writer. Just remember content is key.

As a student writer

I. Find the beginning

Identify what will be your opening sentence. It can perhaps be something more vague than the focus of your paper that may raise questions or curiosity for the reader. Also, a more bold statement may be effective. This could serve as a successful eye opener that typically keeps the reader engaged and alert.

Here is an example of a bold introduction. This is bold because the words womanizer and revolutionist are attention grabbers and appeals to a reader’s curiosity. Also, setting up words that are contrast to each other, womanizer and revolutionist creates a bold statement, which is in contrast to a person who “honored the working class.” This provokes interest because people like heroes and in our society heroes that are often public servants (they usually fight for the common person often without payment of reward). In they say/I say also notes that the usage of a strong introduction will capture the attention of the attended audience.

“Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited…”

II. Find the best candidate for your point

This part of your paper is the thesis. It should express your key point. This statement should also be reinforced in the conclusion as well.

Keep in mind that the thesis is typically the last sentence but not always. In the example shown below the thesis is not exactly the last sentence. The writer identifies her key point in a very subtle way and flows swiftly.

“Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger, who was a well- known architect. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to United States entry into World War II and Pflueger’s unexpected death. During this time Diego was part of the Mexican Muralist Movement and the Pan American Unity mural was the perfect opportunity to intertwine social realism and ancestral art. Currently this mural is housed at the Diego Rivera Theater at City College of San Francisco.”

This is acceptable yet could be stronger. Here is another example of a stronger thesis that covers multiple points that will be covered through the body. It is direct and clear. Notice how the thesis statements do not appear sooner in the paragraph. The main focus is elaborated on for some time before mentioning what will be talked about in the paper.

“Many Americans face countless concerns and uncertainties when confronting the central facts of our health care system. A few out of the many reasons that contribute to these doubts are those who have health insurance see a rising cost in prescriptions and treatment prices; all of which create negative and unhealthy side effects. For those who cannot pay for allopathic medicine or simply want to look into alternative forms of treatment for enhanced results, there is a less costly and more long-term affective method. This method can also be used as prevention as well as self- healing therapy depending on the severity of the illness. This method lies in Reiki. Reiki has been proven to decrease anxiety, enhance clinical outcomes, and reduces symptoms of chronic conditions. It is easily accessible, low risk, easy to use, beneficial and causes no side effects. “Practitioners believe Reiki has the potential to rebalance the biofield at the deepest vibrational level, thereby removing the subtle causes of illness while enhancing over all resilience.” (Miles and True, 2003)

A good thesis statement should have a clear view of what you intend to prove. It should not be a simple summarization of facts from research. It should be well thought out.

The conclusion reinforces the thesis on Diego Rivera’s artwork because it refers to the mural’s general but central representation.

“Diego had a conversation with Dorothy Puccinelli in reference to his main purpose for this mural which is stated as follows “I believe in order to make an American art, a real American art, (it) will be necessary (to have) this blending of the art of the Indian, the Mexican, the Eskimo, with the kind of urge which makes the machine, the invention in the material side of life, which is also the artistic urge—the same urge primarily but in a different form of expression.” Hence, I believe Diego did convey his message on the Pan American Unity Mural, in which he paid homage to both the ancestral side and machine side and all the working class people. Diego illustrated this by comparing the times in his mural North compared to South America. The unification of the ancestral side and machine side are both forms of art and progression that represent “All of America”.

III. Go back to your thesis every once in a while to see if it matches the body

If you mention that you will be talking about x, y and z in the thesis make sure that those three points are covered in your paper and turned into large sections. Everything must tie together. If one point in your thesis is vaguely mentioned in the body go back and elaborate on it more.

IV. Find each sections introduction and conclusion

Each paragraph should have a conclusion that will lead into the next paragraphs introduction smoothly. The conclusion should have something to do with the following introduction. This keeps the reader from getting confused.

Here is a great example of the conclusion and introduction working together.

“Detection of such imbalances allows the practitioner to cleanse the patient from negative feelings, emotions and physical burdens. (Intelihealth) According to practitioners, all of the body systems can be covered within 30 to 90 minutes. (Intelihealth)

Patients claimed to have felt warmth, tingling, sleepiness, relaxation or invigoration during sessions. (Intelihealth) These are positive side effects of Reiki. The sensations are an indication that the practice is effectively working. When done properly, one’s spiritual well-being is….”

V. Check your facts

Check your facts and make sure that they are not embellished with words such as vehemently, largely and/or overt. As a writer it is important that you have credibility. The reader must feel confident when reading facts. Citing and quoting will help immensely.

Here is a perfect example of a non-embellished fact.

“This includes state anxiety, blood pressure, galvanic skin response, muscle tension, and skin temperature that was monitored prior to, thought and after the Reiki session. (Miles and True 2003)”

The tone is not too strong nor is it aggressive.

In conclusion, it is crucial to focus on getting your point across when writing a paper. Grammar and other errors can be revised when the paper is done. It is best to focus solely on getting your point across rather than focusing on numerous things at once. This can be difficult if multi-tasking is not your specialty and more so if neither is writing. Another way of making writing easier is doing proper research. This will help with your interest level if you are already not fascinated on the topic. When proper research is not done writing takes longer due to excessive back and forth shuffling through notes. This can encourage writers block. When this occurs it is best sometimes to sort of force yourself to get your words down. These words may not be useful in the end although it is a great way to exercise your brain. In doing so, the process will shorten and your thesis, body and conclusion will tie up successfully. Do not let grades get in the way. You can be a great author. Remember, always keep in mind that we all like different literature.

Guide to Writing Assignment- Draft

5 Basic steps to successful writing

I. Find the beginning

Identify what will be your opening sentence. Perhaps something more vague than the focus of your paper that may raise questions or curiosity for the reader. Also, a more bold statement may be effective. This could serve as a successful eye opener that typically keeps the reader engaged and alert.

Here is an example of a bold introduction.

“Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited…”

II. Find the best candidate for your point

This part of your paper is the thesis. It should express your key point. This statement should also be reinforced in the conclusion as well.

Keep in mind that the thesis is typically the last sentence but not always. In the example shown below the thesis is not exactly the last sentence. The writer identifies her key point in a very subtle way and flows swiftly.

“Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger, who was a well- known architect. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to United States entry into World War II and Pflueger’s unexpected death. During this time Diego was part of the Mexican Muralist Movement and the Pan American Unity mural was the perfect opportunity to intertwine social realism and ancestral art. Currently this mural is housed at the Diego Rivera Theater at City College of San Francisco.”

This is acceptable yet could be stronger. Here is another example of a stronger thesis that covers multiple points that will be covered through the body. It is direct and clear. Notice how the thesis statements do not appear sooner in the paragraph. The main focus is elaborated on for some time before mentioning what will be talked about in the paper.

“Many Americans face countless concerns and uncertainties when confronting the central facts of our health care system. A few out of the many reasons that contribute to these doubts are those who have health insurance see a rising cost in prescriptions and treatment prices; all of which create negative and unhealthy side effects. For those who cannot pay for allopathic medicine or simply want to look into alternative forms of treatment for enhanced results, there is a less costly and more long-term affective method. This method can also be used as prevention as well as self- healing therapy depending on the severity of the illness. This method lies in Reiki. Reiki has been proven to decrease anxiety, enhance clinical outcomes, and reduces symptoms of chronic conditions. It is easily accessible, low risk, easy to use, beneficial and causes no side effects. “Practitioners believe Reiki has the potential to rebalance the biofield at the deepest vibrational level, thereby removing the subtle causes of illness while enhancing over all resilience.” (Miles and True, 2003)

The conclusion reinforces the thesis on Diego Rivera’s artwork because it refers to the mural’s general but central representation.

“Diego had a conversation with Dorothy Puccinelli in reference to his main purpose for this mural which is stated as follows “I believe in order to make an American art, a real American art, (it) will be necessary (to have) this blending of the art of the Indian, the Mexican, the Eskimo, with the kind of urge which makes the machine, the invention in the material side of life, which is also the artistic urge—the same urge primarily but in a different form of expression.” Hence, I believe Diego did convey his message on the Pan American Unity Mural, in which he paid homage to both the ancestral side and machine side and all the working class people. Diego illustrated this by comparing the times in his mural North compared to South America. The unification of the ancestral side and machine side are both forms of art and progression that represent “All of America”.

III. Go back to your thesis every once in a while to see if it matches the body

If you mention that you will be talking about x, y and z in the thesis make sure that those three points are covered in your paper and turned into large sections. Everything must tie together. If one point in your thesis is vaguely mentioned in the body go back and elaborate on it more.

IV. Find each sections introduction and conclusion

Each paragraph should have a conclusion that will lead into the next paragraphs introduction smoothly. The conclusion should have something to do with the following introduction. This keeps the reader from getting confused.

Here is a great example of the conclusion and introduction working together.

“Detection of such imbalances allows the practitioner to cleanse the patient from negative feelings, emotions and physical burdens. (Intelihealth) According to practitioners, all of the body systems can be covered within 30 to 90 minutes. (Intelihealth)

Patients claimed to have felt warmth, tingling, sleepiness, relaxation or invigoration during sessions. (Intelihealth) These are positive side effects of Reiki. The sensations are an indication that the practice is effectively working. When done properly, one’s spiritual well-being is….”

V. Check your facts

Check your facts and make sure that they are not embellished with words such as vehemently, largely and/or overt. As a writer it is important that you have credibility. The reader must feel confident when reading facts. Citing and quoting will help immensely.

Here is a perfect example of a non-embellished fact.

“This includes state anxiety, blood pressure, galvanic skin response, muscle tension, and skin temperature that was monitored prior to, thought and after the Reiki session. (Miles and True 2003)”

The tone is not too strong nor is it aggressive.

In conclusion, it is crucial to focus on getting your point across when writing a paper. Grammar and other errors can be revised when the paper is done. It is best to focus solely on getting your point across rather than focusing on numerous things at once. This can be difficult if multi-tasking is not your specialty and more so if neither is writing. Another way of making writing easier is doing proper research. This will help with your interest level if you are already not fascinated on the topic. When proper research is not done writing takes longer due to excessive back and forth shuffling through notes. This can encourage writers block. When this occurs it is best sometimes to sort of force yourself to get your words down. These words may not be useful in the end although it is a great way to exercise your brain. In doing so, the process will shorten and your thesis, body and conclusion will tie up successfully. Do not let grades get in the way. You can be a great author. Remember, always keep in mind that we all like different literature.

ideas for academic writing guide

I think I will incoporate all my papers into to this assignment/ a guide to writing and break it down in 3 sections. I think I want to focus on sommers for me that is what I learned the most from but we shall see. I probably will use the writing for college as a template for my paper.
I will use the They say/I say in reference to the gatto essay I wrote - for structure and thesis?
I will use essay from Sommers for the revision section. And then maybe use my gatto paper to as my polished piece to incorporate everything I learned.

final- assignment #3

Diego Rivera Pan American Unity Mural

Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger, who was a well- known architect. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to United States entry into World War II and Pflueger’s unexpected death. During this time Diego was part of the Mexican Muralist Movement and the Pan American Unity mural was the perfect opportunity to intertwine social realism and ancestral art. Currently this mural is housed at the Diego Rivera Theater at City College of San Francisco.

The “Pan American Unity” is a fresco mural constructed in five panels that move from left to right and that represent all of America—North America compared to South America. The murals colors are all earthy tones created from paints Diego made himself by using traditional natural pigments. I felt Diego painted the South using more vibrant and traditional usage of Latin colors creating a warmth feel. The North is painted with an industrial look and cold feeling. I believe the representation of the Golden Gate Bridge in the top right corner seems to signify a bridge between the two cultures and suggests San Francisco as a possible neutral meeting place between them.

When many people look at this mural, they see Diego’s attempt to unify North and South. While I find this interpretation valid, I also think it’s important to focus on Diego’s interest in socioeconomic issues. If we look at the images he uses, the layout of the panels and images, and his use of historical references throughout the mural, we can see the centrality of class issues for Diego.

I felt the most powerful panel is the middle panel or panel number three. On the left side of the central figure is the Aztec goddess Coatlicue. She is the goddess of life, death and earth. For the Aztecs she was “Lady of the Serpent Skirt,” goddess of all life, gods as well as humans, animate as well as inanimate (Rivera, 151). Coatlicue has her right hand fully extended in the air with four jade calluses representing wealth. Coatlicue believes when you work with the soil or earth you are wealthy she also depicts the South. The other half of this central figure is a auto plant-stamping machine, which most likely belongs to the Ford Motors Company. This unifying image represents the union of the North and South America, machine and plastic arts. At the bottom of the panel Frida Kahlo his wife and Mexican artist has a paint brush and palette in hand ready to work on a new portrait maybe depicting her passion for of the plastic arts. Behind Frida is Diego with Charlie Chaplin’s wife, Paulette Goddard planting the “tree of life” showing the closeness of Pan Americanism. Possibly even depicting his love affair with Paulette behind Frida’s back or Diego getting even with Frida for her affair with Trotsky. Above them is a wooden carving of a ram, which is the San Francisco City College’s mascot. On the bottom right corner of the panel Diego painted Timothy Pflueger. Timothy has his blue prints of the San Francisco City College Library in hand that was never built due to his sudden death.

The first panel’s theme “The Creative Genius of the South Growing form Religious Fervor and the Native Talent for Plastic Expression”. This panel shows the beginning of Mexico City and how it was derived with the high mountains and volcanoes. Quetzalcoatl a high priest is in the upper left hand corner teaching the Indians. The Indians are utilizing the earth by making their own gold jewelry, sculpting, carving, and painting, showing possibly where gold jewelry derived from and techniques in carving, painting etc. There is a portrait of Nezahualcoyotl, the king of Texcoco, bottom left hand corner; it looks like he is trying to make wings to fly, possibly played many roles- maybe an inventor of new ideology. There is a deer dancer at the top right corner of the panel. A feather serpent is coming out of their hut and crossing the land. The serpent’s head, which is made of stone, lands into panel two. The cross reference to this Panel is Panel five, “ The Creative Culture of the North Developing from the Necessity of Making Life Possible in a New and empty Land” it appears the top part of this panel is displaying the gold mining era. There are oil wells, a guy farming for new crop and the bottom half of this panel is Henry Ford and bottom left hand corner, Thomas Edison inventing the light bulb, Robert Fulton engineer of the first successful steamboat and an artist painting a wooden cigar Indian. This panel definitely represents ideology development in the north and the utilization of mother earth for natural resources.

Panel two begins the incorporation of the “Past and Present” which is cross referenced with panel four “Trends of Creative Effort in the United States, The Rise of Woman in Various Fields of Creative Endeavor Through her Use of the Power of Manmade Machinery”. At the top of Panel two it has Helen Crlenkovich a national diving champion doing a back flip in air above the bay bridge possibly during the worldfair with spectators watching her, while artisans are sculpting the stone serpent head. Marking what was happening at that present moment. While at the bottom of panel represents the past, in the background is the Liberty Tree and in front are the founders of independence that represents both north and South America, fighting for equality and against slavery at that same time period. At the bottom left corner of panel is the back of Diego painting a fresco mural and behind him are the local artisans creating their artwork. At the top of Panel four is a picture of Alcatraz Island and Treasure Island. Diego paints Emmy Lou Packard, his assistant and next to her is Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous architect and a little girl. There is a wooden sculptor carving a figurehead that looks like it would be made for a ship. There is a woman doing a back flip above everyone while a couple female fellow swimmers are watching and next to them is a women in a suit with blue prints possibly an architect. This upper panel definitely acknowledges the rise of women. The bottom half of this panel has the image of Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini all leaders in dictatorship. Charlie Chaplin is below them who created the film “ The Great Dictator” at the time of World War II. I believe this was symbolic in representing two different styles of leadership: totalitarian dictatorship that was occurring in Europe versus the belief system of liberty in America.

Throughout the North America panel, I believe Diego purposely separated the working class from the upper class, I felt Diego showed this by having the working class at the bottom of panel and upper class at the top. Also it appeared that there were no people of color- only the wooden Native American Cigar Indian that was being painted- for me depicting negative association that Native Americans are smokers. I felt that Diego maybe giving an underlying tone that racism and stereotype existed.

Diego had a conversation with Dorothy Puccinelli in reference to his main purpose for this mural which is stated as follows “I believe in order to make an American art, a real American art, (it) will be necessary (to have) this blending of the art of the Indian, the Mexican, the Eskimo, with the kind of urge which makes the machine, the invention in the material side of life, which is also the artistic urge—the same urge primarily but in a different form of expression.” Hence, I believe Diego did convey his message on the Pan American Unity Mural, in which he paid homage to both the ancestral side and machine side and all the working class people. Diego illustrated this by comparing the times in his mural North compared to South America. The unification of the ancestral side and machine side are both forms of art and progression that represent “All of America”.

Draft 2- of assignment #3

Diego Rivera Pan American Unity Mural

Diego Rivera was a womanizer, revolutionist and honored the working class. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger, who was a well- known architect. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to United States entry into World War II and Pflueger’s unexpected death. During this time Diego was part of the Mexican Muralist Movement and the Pan American Unity mural was the perfect opportunity to intertwine social realism and ancestral art. Currently this mural is housed at the Diego Rivera Theater at City College of San Francisco.

The “Pan American Unity” is a fresco mural representing all of America—North America versus South America. The murals colors are all earthy tones. Diego makes his own paint through traditional natural pigments. Diego painted the South using more vibrant and traditional Latin colors creating a warmth feel. The North is painted with an industrial look and cold feeling. Diego painted the Golden Gate Bridge in the top right corner signifying a bridge between two cultures (North and South), possibly San Francisco a neutral meeting place. The mural is constructed in five panels that went from left to right.

I felt the most powerful panel is the middle panel or panel number three. On the left side of the central figure is the Aztec goddess Coatlicue. She is the goddess of life, death and earth. For the Aztecs she was “Lady of the Serpent Skirt,” goddess of all life, gods as well as humans, animate as well as inanimate (Rivera, 151). Coatlicue has her right hand fully extended in the air with four jade calluses representing wealth. Coatlicue believes when you work with the soil or earth you are wealthy she also depicts the South. The other half of this central figure is a auto plant-stamping machine, which most likely belongs to the Ford Motors Company. This unifying image represents the union of the North and South America, machine and plastic arts. At the bottom of the panel Frida Kahlo his wife and Mexican artist has a paint brush and palette in hand ready to work on a new portrait maybe depicting her passion for of the plastic arts. Behind Frida is Diego with Charlie Chaplin’s wife, Paulette Goddard planting the “tree of life” showing the closeness of Pan Americanism. Possibly even depicting his love affair with Paulette behind Frida’s back or Diego getting even with Frida for her affair with Trotsky. Above them is a wooden carving of a ram, which is the San Francisco City College’s mascot. On the bottom right corner of the panel Diego painted Timothy Pflueger. Timothy has his blue prints of the San Francisco City College Library in hand that was never built due to his sudden death.

The first panel’s theme “The Creative Genius of the South Growing form Religious Fervor and the Native Talent for Plastic Expression”. This panel shows the beginning of Mexico City and how it was derived with the high mountains and volcanoes. Quetzalcoatl a high priest is in the upper left hand corner teaching the Indians. The Indians are utilizing the earth by making their own gold jewelry, sculpting, carving, and painting. There is a portrait of Nezahualcoyotl, the king of Texcoco, bottom left hand corner; it looks like he is trying to make wings to fly. There is a deer dancer at the top right corner of the panel. A feather serpent is coming out of their hut and crossing the land. The serpent’s head, which is made of stone, lands into panel two. The cross reference to this Panel is Panel five, “ The Creative Culture of the North Developing from the Necessity of Making Life Possible in a New and empty Land” it appears the top part of this panel is displaying the gold mining era. There are oil wells, a guy farming for new crop and the bottom half of this panel is Henry Ford and bottom left hand corner, Thomas Edison inventing the light bulb, Robert Fulton engineer of the first successful steamboat and an artist painting a wooden cigar Indian. This panel definitely represents ideology development in the north and the utilization of mother earth for natural resources.

Panel two begins the incorporation of the “Past and Present” which is cross referenced with panel four “Trends of Creative Effort in the United States, The Rise of Woman in Various Fields of Creative Endeavor Through her Use of the Power of Manmade Machinery”. At the top of Panel two it has Helen Crlenkovich a national diving champion doing a back flip in air above the bay bridge possibly during the worldfair with spectators watching her, while artisans are sculpting the serpent head. Marking what was happening at that present moment. While at the bottom of panel represents the past, in the background is the Liberty Tree and in front are the founders of independence that represents both north and South America, fighting for equality and against slavery at that same time period. At the bottom left corner of panel is the back of Diego painting a fresco mural and behind him are the local artisans creating their artwork. At the top of Panel four is a picture of Alcatraz Island and Treasure Island. Diego paints Emmy Lou Packard, his assistant and next to her is Frank Lloyd Wright, a famous architect and a little girl. There is a wooden sculptor carving a figurehead that looks like it would be made for a ship. There is a woman doing a back flip above everyone while a couple female fellow swimmers are watching and next to them is a women in a suit with blue prints possibly an architect. This upper panel definitely acknowledges the rise of women. The bottom half of this panel has the image of Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini all leaders in dictatorship. Charlie Chaplin is below them who created the film “ The Great Dictator” at the time of World War II. I believe this was symbolic in representing two different styles of leadership: totalitarian dictatorship that was occurring in Europe versus the belief system of liberty in America.

Diego had a conversation with Dorothy Puccinelli in reference to his main purpose for this mural which is stated as follows “I believe in order to make an American art, a real American art, (it) will be necessary (to have) this blending of the art of the Indian, the Mexican, the Eskimo, with the kind of urge which makes the machine, the invention in the material side of life, which is also the artistic urge—the same urge primarily but in a different form of expression.” Hence, I believe Diego did convey his message on the Pan American Unity Mural, in which he paid homage to both the ancestral side and machine side and all the working class people. Diego illustrated this by comparing the times in his mural North versus South America. The unification of the ancestral side and machine side are both forms of art and progression that represent “All of America”.

assignment #3-"real-life" writing

Diego Rivera Pan American Mural

Diego Rivera was a womanizer and revolutionist. He was born in Mexico but studied in Europe where he became renowned for his paintings. He was then invited to join the “Art In Action Program” hosted by the 1940 season of the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island in San Francisco by Timothy Pflueger. Timothy wanted Diego’s mural to be incorporated in the San Francisco Junior College Library; however, construction of the library was halted due to US’s entry into WWII and Pflueger’s death.

The “Pan American Unity” is an al fresco mural representing all of America—North America versus South America. Diego’s most powerful panel is the middle panel or panel number three. The Golden Gate Bridge in the top right corner symbolizes the bridge between two cultures – North and South. On the left side of the central figure is the Aztec goddess Coatlicue. She is the goddess of death and the earth. Coatlicue has her right hand fully extended in the air with four jade calluses representing wealth. Coatlicue believes when you work with the soil or earth you are wealthy she also depicts the South and ancestral side. The other half of this central figure depicts modernization and the North. The central figure is a auto plant stamping machine, which is most likely belongs to the Ford Motors Company. The auto plant stamping machine is the central figure to demonstrate the present. At the bottom of the panel Frida Kahlo his wife and Mexican artist has a paint brush and palette in hand ready to work on a new portrait. Behind Frida is Diego with Charlie Chaplin’s wife planting the “tree of life” showing the closeness of Pan Americanism. Possibly even depicting his love affair with Paulette behind Frida’s back. Above them is a wooden carving of a ram, which is the San Francisco City College’s mascot. On the bottom right corner of the panel Diego painted Timothy Pflueger. Timothy has his blue prints of the San Francisco City College Library in hand that was never built due to his sudden death. This panel informs the viewer of current events for the time period while incorporating the ancestral arts of the South.

The murals colors are all earthy tones. Diego makes his own paint through natural resources. Diego paints the South using more vibrant and traditional colors creating warmth. The North is painted with an industrial look and cold feeling. The cold feeling is due to the lack of light.

The first panel shows the beginning of Mexico City and how it was derived with the high mountains and volcanoes. Quetzalcoatl a high priest is in the upper left hand corner teaching the Indians. The Indians are utilizing the earth by making their own gold jewelry, sculpting, carving, and painting. A feather serpent is coming out of their hut and crossing the land. The serpent’s head which is made of stone lands in panel two. Panel two begins the incorporation of the past and present.