DEFINING POLITICS

     How do I define politics?  When I think of politics I think of ancient Greece and the development of a governing body to create laws to govern the individuals in each polis or city-state.  So, in simple terms I think of politics as a governing body who creates and enforces certain laws to govern the people of their city, state or country.  When I think of politics in this way, I think of unity within a region or city-state.

 



This above image is a combination of words which each illude to the politics and many of the words have negative connotations.  I chose this image because politics has many negative aspects to it.
 



     Thinking of the political climate we live in today here in America and the definition changes to a more complicated and messy one.  In this environment, especially around election time, the terms which come to mind to define American politics are negativity, corruption, and broken promises.  When I think of the political climate that surrounds me today, instead of thinking of unity I think of division.  Democrats vs. Republicans, liberals vs. conservatives, etc.  The image above shows the images of the donkey and elephant, which represent the two main political parties in the United States, the Deomctas and Republicans.  They are standing on a map of the the United States, facing eath other in what looks to me like a confromtational manner, like they are facing off or preparing for battle and the two parties are constantly battling so much between each other that the pepole they were elected to represent are often forgotten.

     Yes, when I look at politics in America I define it as complicated and messy, but I also see the positive aspects of living in a democratic political environment and having the ability as a people to not only voice our views but to be able to vote and change the world we live in.  Of course becaue of the division in American politics, this change occurs gradually over time and many who use their voice don't live to see this change.  The above image, although it does not show a same sex couple, it does show a couple holding hands but looking in a different direction.  The fact that they are wrapped in American flags, with the political party images of the elephant and donkey litterally butting heads over this issue, makes it a blatent political image on the state of marriage in America today.  The title "Politics of Love" also makes it obvious that this is a political image.  As I look at the image, although the same sex couple is holding hands, they are not facing each other.  This says to me that they are trying to hold onto same sex marriage in one way but turning away from it in another..

   Although I think of the negativity involved in American politics, I also think of democracy and am thankful that in America we do have a voice and the right to vote.  So, when I think of politics, democracy and America I also think of all the freedoms we are afforded and all of the freedoms we are still fighting for. Today the issue of marriage equality and is ever present in the media and it is one such freedom that groups of individuals are fighting for and their voice is slowly changing the world we live in.  The above image uses the check mark in a ballot box as the V in vote and simply states "Vote for change".  The use of the black and white square representing a ballot box with the V in it shows a type of action, checking the box.  The elongated right side of the V and vertical angle of the line suggests movement or action.  To me, the V in the ballot box in itself  is illustrative of the fact that action is necessary to elicit change or movement in a different direction.