WHAT DO YOU THINK?
The commentary to this poster points to the silent heroes who make their mark in the world. Supreme Court Justice Cardozo urges us to seek those heroes who are not “larger than life,” but rather exhibit quiet heroism and bravery in the midst of everyday life.
What might Cardozo mean by the reference to “drum and trumpet”? What situations are announced by drum and trumpet? Are heroes usually found in those settings?
What characterizes a hero, or a “heroic hour”?
Does everyone become a hero at some point in his or her life? How so?
Can you think of a heroic act you were able to perform? How did it feel? Were you announced by “drum and trumpet”?
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
Each image calls out to us to examine it, to note our thoughts and feelings, and relate these impressions to the quotation. Often clues in the artwork suggest meaning and invite interpretation.
Graphic designer Milton Glaser uses perspective and invites us to explore the layering of private lives, quiet heroism, and public triumph.
How does the image present the quotation? Was this how you interpreted the quotation without the image?
Describe the objects found in the different sections of the image. How do they contrast with one another?
What do you think is symbolized by the quotation in the armchair under the portrait of Cardozo?
Why might Glaser have included a thunderstorm, but not a drum or trumpet in this image?
Copyright© 2012 Harold Grinspoon Foundation
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