REFLECTION
Q: What is Photomontage? What websites have you found with good examples of/information on photomontage.
​
A: To me, photomontage is the creation of a new image from two or more existing images, that makes a person think differently about the combined images than they did about each one individually. The final product may be seamless or more obviously “edited” and merged together. This process can be accomplished by cutting, glueing, overlapping and rearranging existing pieces of the pictures to create something new.
In the link below, there are over 1,000 examples of photomontage, as well as a definition of the term and well known artist’s works.
Q: Who is your favorite photomontage artist? Why?
​
A: As I research artists of this specific genre, John Heartfield’s work stands out to me because I find his work humorous, but in a way that is appropriate to the time and place he lived. This is a good example of his humor, showing what a chicken might look and act like without a crucial part of its body. This link focuses on Heartfield’s works throughout the rise of Nazis. http://cloppy17.blogspot.com/2015/10/john-heartfield.html He reacted to the rough times with humor, and truth to the photos he created. He wanted to send a different message across to viewers with each photo, that were all truthful. Heartfield wanted to explain to the people that power in the country had simply changed hands with Hitler taking over, but nothing had changed in democratic terms.
​
Q: If you were to create an image that has a political and/or social message, what does that mean to you? What are some examples of this?
​
A: For as long as we remember, images have been used as evidence of what is real. Over the years, though, as technology improves, people can manipulate this and change the way people look at images. Political cartoons have been used to change the way voters view candidates or others in power. Emotional reactions are the ideal in situations like these. These altered images are meant to spark a response and evoke change.
This image, found on the blogspot website above, by John Heartfield, shows how society at the time was completely dominated by the regime, and it was impossible to escape. The photos represents how difficult things were during a food shortage. Everything from eating with weapons to swastikas on the walls show how little power the people had.
This picture was inspired by one of my favorite country songs, "Burning House" by Cam.
This piece focuses on the issue of climate change/ global warming and the affects it has on our planet over time. By creating a wallpaper looking background by cloning an image of a clock, as well as adding a desert background on the other side and text, I hoped to create a feeling in viewers' minds that time is going by quickly so we must help preserve the world we live in.