SUMMER INSTITUTE
June 24-26, 2014
Free Speech Art
Alternatively, use an overhead to project the art:
Rockwell’s Freedom of Speech may be found online at http://www.allposters.co.uk/sp/Freedom-Of-Speech-Posters_i1250493_.htm , and at many other websites.
Dan Nance’s 2010 version of Rockwell’s painting:
http://fineartamerica.com/products/freedom-of-speech-2010-dan-nance-canvas-print.html
Diego Rivera inspired mural by Elmer Brown with free speech theme on display in Ohio
http://www.cityclub.org/aboutus/history/freedomofspeechmural/tabid/226/Default.aspx
A kid-friendly, black and white drawing that invites questions such as: What kind of world are
we creating through our actions and expressions? Are we aware and responsible? What kind of
world are we creating? This drawing was a part of the "Words" exhibit at the Fingado Art
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
620 SW Main, Ste. 102, Portland, OR 97205
503-224-4424
www.classroomlaw.org
SUMMER INSTITUTE
June 24-26, 2014
Gallery in El Cerrito, California. Find the drawing at:
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/freedom-of-speech-helena-tiainen.html
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
620 SW Main, Ste. 102, Portland, OR 97205
503-224-4424
www.classroomlaw.org
SUMMER INSTITUTE
June 24-26, 2014
Discussion prompts
Study this painting. What do you know about the man who is standing?
1. What is he doing? Because his mouth is open, he seems to be speaking.
2. Where is he looking? He is looking up, probably towards a moderator who is leading this
meeting. However, notice that he also seems to be looking to a higher authority, which
suggests respect and something almost spiritual about his speech.
3. What is he wearing? A blue plaid shirt and a wrinkled jacket.
4. Are his clothes old or new? His clothes are wrinkled. His jacket sleeve on the lower right is
worn or tattered. The clothes are not new.
5. What might he do for a living? Why do you think this? His clothes suggest that he is a
manual laborer. Because his hands are much darker and rougher than the hand in the
lower right, he might work outdoors with his hands.
6. What is in his pocket? Folded papers—probably like the blue paper on the lower edge of
the painting. The letters on this, “…UAL REPORT”, “TOWN” and “… MONT,” suggest
that this is the annual report of a town in Vermont. Because it is folded and in his
pocket, we might guess that he has read this report.
7. Where is the viewer of this painting? Seated a couple of rows in front of the speaker.
8. How does this viewpoint influence how we feel about the man speaking? We are looking up at
the speaker. This might suggest that we admire or respect this person.
9. Where is this group of people? The flat black background could be a school blackboard.
The rail that the standing man is gripping could be a church pew. But in fact, they are in
a town meeting. Small New England towns often pass and discuss local by-laws and
budgets in town meetings. Each eligible voter has a right to speak and vote in these
meetings, sometimes called the “purest form of democratic governing.” In traditional
American assembly, citizens make their voices heard as they and their neighbors decide
the course of their community.
Look carefully at the people in this painting.
10. What might be the profession of the two men on either side of the standing man? Why do you
think this? Because they are in suit jackets, ties, and white dress shirts like 1940’s
professional men such as bankers, lawyers, doctors, and business owners usually wore.
11. What are these two men looking at? At the speaker’s face.
12. Are they listening to the standing man? Yes.
13. How did the artist suggest that they are listening to the speaker? Rockwell made the ears
slightly larger than life and they are looking at him. Notice the prominent ear in the
lower left corner.
14. Who is the oldest person in this painting? One of the men in black jackets on the left side of
the painting.
15. Who is the youngest? Maybe the speaker
or the woman wearing the black hat.
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
620 SW Main, Ste. 102, Portland, OR 97205
503-224-4424
www.classroomlaw.org
SUMMER INSTITUTE
June 24-26, 2014
16. Who probably is wealthiest? Maybe one of the men in suit jackets.
17. Who may be poorest? Maybe the speaker. Traditionally managers who usually wear
white collars are wealthier than laborers or blue-collar workers. The speaker literally is
wearing a blue collar.
18.
Do these people respect each other’s opinions? How has the artist suggested this? They
have gathered together and are focusing their gaze on the speaker.
19.
How has Rockwell made a humble citizen seem most important in this painting? He has
placed him higher than the others, at the apex of a visual triangle with quiet a few eyes
looking up at him. (Have students trace this triangle, which begins with the head of the
man to the left of the speaker and ends with the ears of the man on the lower right.) He
has created value contrast (the difference between light and dark) between the speaker’s
light, brightly lit face and the flat black background.
20.
How does the standing man feel about what his is saying? He seems very intent. His
hands grip the seat back in front of him. Notice the light reflections in his eyes.
21. Imagine a topic that the standing man might be discussing. Why might others in the room value
his opinion? Perhaps the man is telling how a decision will affect his life or family.
Maybe he is explaining why a town improvement is needed near his home, or how a
town rule will affect his job, or describing his dream for bettering his community.
Others might value his viewpoint because his life, background, and needs are different
than theirs.
Source: National Endowment for the Humanities, EDSITEment!, Norman Rockwell, Freedom of
Speech – Know It When You See It,
http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/norman-rockwell-freedom-speechmdashknow-it-when-yousee-it#section-16038
~~
Background
For inspiration for Freedom of Speech, Rockwell recalled a recent town meeting in
Arlington, Vermont where he lived at that time. He remembered how his neighbor,
Arlington resident Jim Edgerton, had stood up during the meeting and aired an unpopular
opinion. Instead of objecting to his remarks, his fellow citizens honored Edgerton's right to
speak his piece. Rockwell decided that their respect for Edgerton's unpopular viewpoint
perfectly illustrated Roosevelt's idea of Freedom of Speech.
Rockwell painted the characters as strongly contrasting. The central figure stands above the
rest. He is dressed in working clothes that have a slightly rough quality. He has a
determined look on his face. In his pocket is a rolled up program for the meeting.
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
620 SW Main, Ste. 102, Portland, OR 97205
503-224-4424
www.classroomlaw.org
SUMMER INSTITUTE
June 24-26, 2014
All eyes are on the speaker. Seated around him are his neighbors. All are holding the same
program. The men whose clothes we can see are all dressed in suits. We assume they are
businessmen. Mild disagreement crosses the face of the man on his right. He is smiling
upside down. His program is clenched in his hand. Yet no one interrupts the speaker.
Rockwell aptly captures the essential character of free speech with this painting.
Source: http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium/freedom-of-speech-helena-tiainen.jpg
http://rompedas.blogspot.com/2008/11/1943-seps-licensed-by-curtis-publishing.html
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CLASSROOM LAW PROJECT
620 SW Main, Ste. 102, Portland, OR 97205
503-224-4424
www.classroomlaw.org