The Bayeux Tapestry Analysis

Journal Assignment- Option 2

War is a reoccurring theme in artwork, be it during the Gothic art period or the modern art period. Not all wars are considered unnecessary or violent. Many artists throughout time have created artwork in an attempt to convey the positive aspects of the war or the memory of war. The Bayeux Tapestry painted in the 11th century and the Portable War Memorial by Edward Kienholz are perfect examples of artist’s efforts to influence the memory of a war. Both pieces of art also somehow show a cultural or societal reaction to the battle of the particular artwork.

The Bayeux Tapestry is made in the Romanesque style and is in a story-like format, which shows the events preceding the Norman Invasion. The first detail shows

The tapestry supposedly shows the victory of William, the Duke of Normandy in the last and missing scene. Due to the fact that the Bayeux Tapestry is created based on the Battle of Hastings any societal or cultural response to the tapestry also applies to the societal or cultural response to the battle. Societal and cultural responses to the Battle of Hastings that the tapestry reflects are the effects of the battle on the people of England. After the Normans won the Battle of Hastings, the English fell under them. The Normans started to take charge, and both society and the English culture changed. Some societal responses were that the English citizens or Saxons did not like William as a ruler and attempted to initiate rebellions, but they failed. Since William came into rule after the Battle of Hastings, he had to show authority he made the lenient Saxon laws strict so Saxon citizens could not go against his word. Also, William introduced the feudal system forcing Saxons to work on their own land with no say, causing a lack of societal response to William’s rule and the Battle of Hastings. The only cultural response to the Battle of Hastings was that William wiped out all the Saxon culture and implemented Norman culture due to the Normans being in charge. The tapestry reflects the societal and cultural response discussed by showing William and the horses on the tapestry to suggest power and

The Vietnam War would started in 1955 and ended in 1975, due to the involvement of the United States in this war the Portable War Memorial goes perfectly with the Vietnam war because both are based on the idea of patriotism. A societal response to the Vietnam War from the American perspective that the Portable War Memorial reflects is the United States involvement in the war. This is a response because when the Vietnam War started because America believed a communist rule of a country is not acceptable. The involvement shows a societal response to the war, which is reflected in the artwork with the soldiers trying to plant a flag in the ground. Which leads to the cultural response to the war reflected by the artwork. American patriotism. Patriotism is seen everywhere ever since mankind existed. American patriotism is a cultural response to the war because patriotism encompasses all the culture of one’s country. This cultural response is reflected in the artwork with the hotdog and chili restaurant, which is an “all American” food and hangout area. And the planting of the supposedly American flag shows a patriotic and cultural reaction to the