Understanding the shifting interpretations of liberty and freedom in territories with significant U.S. military involvement
The U.S. spends a lot of time and money getting involved in overseas affairs, particularly in the name of democracy and "freedom," yet there's a disconnect between the message we want to send (and think we are sending) and the message that's received on the other end. This series of three double-sided posters explores that disconnect. By taking the pledge of allegiance, translating it into the language of a nation we've invaded or have been militarily involved in with serious negative consequences, and then translating it back to English, I symbolically expose the discrepancies between what we say and the results of what we do as a nation. The back side of each poster features an image of a major U.S. landmark, such as the Grand Canyon, flipped on its side and inverted so you can't tell land from sky or foreign from domestic. The assumptions viewers make upon first viewing play a key role in understanding how we ascribe a sense of "otherness" to the places we invade, which ultimately creates a mental gap between ourselves and our accountability on an international scale. Playing off the theme of military involvement, the back of the poster also provides the viewer with directions and fold lines to turn the entire poster into a paper drone.
Series of three, 24" x 36", 2016
- Designer
- Annie Leue
