1. What is America (to you)? How does art allow us to define America?
Imagine someone knew nothing of America. Describe what you would tell them about what America is to you in words and/or pictures in the space below.
If you are having trouble with this, consider the following:
What do you think of when you think about America?
How do you interact with your surroundings in America?
What is your emotional reaction to thinking about America?
What is something that seems similar to America and how is it similar?
What direction does America seem to be going in?
essential question:
How does art allow us to define America?

2. What do you notice in the work of art?
With any art, consider:
What do you notice in the work of art?
Why are these elements included (the focus of the work, the combinations)? What do these elements mean?
What do you think the overall work of art is trying to say?
Finally, consider what questions you might ask the artist about their work.
Let’s look at a few examples together to begin…

3. first ever Captain America comic book. 1941
What do you notice in the work of art?
Why are these elements included (the focus of the work, the combinations)? What do these elements mean?
What do you think the overall work of art is trying to say?
Finally, consider what questions you might ask the artist about their work.
first ever Captain America comic book. 1941

4. Jasper Johns. Map. 1961 What do you notice in the work of art?
Why are these elements included (the focus of the work, the combinations)? What do these elements mean?
What do you think the overall work of art is trying to say?
Finally, consider what questions you might ask the artist about their work.

5. Consider the image of America created from the song “God Bless the USA” and the song “Words of Wisdom.” Answer the following questions about these.
What do you notice about these descriptions of America?
How are these descriptions of America similar or different?
How is one of these similar or different from yours?
Now, add something your description on the front of this page now that you have seen others’.