"Injustice Case" (1970) by David Hammons

Legalizing Survival

Cultural & Intellectual History

Lesson 16

 

Hammon"s work of art encompasses a body-printing process fused with silk-screen painting. "Injustice Case" features an African American man strapped to a chair, straining to be free. He is framed by an American flag.

 

 

Question:

 


Given that the man is strapped in the chair, but is framed by a symbol (the flag) synonymous with democracy, how would you interpret the symbolism conveyed? Does the work convey impressions about maintaining forms of social control that either reinforces or clashes with democracy? If so, how?

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Consideration:

 

Four principal features in the Hammon work are a chair, strap, frame, and flag.

 

Question:

 

What impression does each symbol in the Hammon work convey about the judicial system in the United States?

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Feedback:

 

Read the following essay on justice and compare how your impressions about symbols in the Hammon work stack against arguments in the piece read.

 

Consideration:

 

Given the symbols that surround the human figure in Hammon's work, despite not knowing the facts about what has brought the person to this state, write an essay that explains why these symbols imply a case of justice or injustice?

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Assignment:

 

Consider that the human figure in Hammon's work is about to be put to death, and discuss why you feel that symbols in the work suggest that his survival would be illegal.

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Consideration

 

On October 15, 1969, Vietnam Moratorium Day, over 200,000 protesters marched in Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C. A second moratorium in November brought 250,00 protesters parading to the Washington Monument. 10,000 demonstrators were tear-gassed near the Justice Department

Exercise:

 

 

Discuss whether or not it was just or unjust for citizens who did not want to be involved in a war to be tear-gassed near a federal building because they expressed disfavor with the actions of their government.

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Consideration:

 

 

In spring 1970 students were killed when gunfire erupted on the campus of Kent State in Ohio with a predominate student body politically defined as white, and at Jackson State in Mississippi with a predominant student body politically defined as black.

 

Exercise:

 

Search both Kent State and Jackson State incidents to determine and discuss what amounts to justice or injustice relative to both incidents.

 

 

 

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