“Against Jefferson” Explanation Paper
In crafting my video, I chose to focus on a few specific themes about Jefferson that made him a flawed candidate for the election of 1796. I attempted to specifically and repeatedly connect him with three ideas: the idea of factionalism and partisanship, the idea of abandoning duty and the nation, and the idea of excessive loyalty to France.
It was important for me to begin with the same portrait of Jefferson displayed and then inverted so that he faced two separate directions and so I could immediately begin undermining his credibility as a constant and unwavering leader, something he was repeatedly criticized for failing to be. I wanted to visually make Jefferson seem like a two-faced man and I wanted my opening quotation to be a question rather than an assertion so that viewers would not too quickly find themselves being told what to think, something that reduces the effectiveness of advertisements.
I chose to use an image of a political cartoon entitled “The Providential Detection” with the first segment of the Oliver Wolcott quotation because it depicts Jefferson bowing before French gods and preparing to throw the United States Constitution into a fire, an image that resonates with the fear expressed by Wolcott, as well as the sentiments of many Americans. The second part of the Wolcott quotation is partnered with a period-correct image of Paris, featuring the home in which Jefferson lived on the near left corner of the street. Both the quotation and the image serve to tie Jefferson to French culture and interests, as well as to undermine him as a potential leader of America.
When I posed the question of whether Jefferson truly is a disinterested and constant servant of the people, I chose to show an image of Monticello, the place to which he escaped and retired instead of serving his country. The next quotation uses an image of a Revolutionary War-era map of the south, which further hints at Jefferson’s lack of courage and service during the Revolution.
I chose to display the second of only three portraits of Jefferson I used with the quotation about Philosophy to further undermine Jefferson’s credibility as a practical and constant ruler. It helps that the portrait is one taken during his time in Europe and that it features him in extravagant European clothing. I also chose to use the Ken Burns effect to zoom in both on the mess of papers in his lap and then the ornate piece of sculpture in the background for the purpose of making Jefferson seem even more European. I wanted it to be clear that this is no portrait of Washington on horseback, something that I imaging would have resonated with American voters of the time.
I followed the portrait of Jefferson in repose with a portrait of Washington in action for the purpose of visually comparing the two men. I wanted to subconsciously make it clear that Jefferson was no General Washington and would be unable to live up to him in character or action, let alone in the highest office of our country.
The next quotation, which speaks ill of Jefferson’s virtue, is superimposed over a medal from the state of Virginia which Jefferson had coined. The medal features the slogan “Happy While United” and is a symbol of the strength of the state of Virginia, which Jefferson was perceived to have abandoned, as well as the triumph over tyranny, once again illustrating Jefferson’s shortcomings with regard to the American Revolution and throwing off of the British monarchy. Following the medal, it was important for me to use one more portrait of Jefferson. I did not want to entirely depersonalize him by the end of the advertisement, however, I did not want him to look heroic either. I chose to intentionally blur the portrait to obscure his specific features, symbolically making it impossible for the viewer to know much about Jefferson’s image or what he would turn out to be if they were to see him clearly, reducing his credibility as a presidential candidate.
The final three images I used were the first, second, and third drafts of the Great Seal of The United States, in that order. I wanted those to be the final images the viewer saw because it was important to me that the viewers understand the importance of the United States, as well as the fact that the nation is still young, somewhat uncertain, and definitely evolving. The use of drafts, as opposed to finished works, I felt, illustrated the somewhat precarious state of America and the need for a constant and trustworthy ruler. For the same reason, I chose to use a direct appeal from a newspaper editorial to the people as my final quotation. I wanted the viewers to feel the imperative nature of rejecting Jefferson’s candidacy for president and to understand that a vote for him is a vote for faction and disunity rather than a vote for America.
I chose to use Mozart’s Requiem as a score not only because it was appropriate for the time period, but also because it is a death march in which drama mounts throughout the piece. I wanted to illustrate both the grave nature of what was at stake with this election, as well as the mounting tensions and drama associated with the election. I felt that this piece of music captured the tone I was attempting to create throughout the advertisement.
Sources for Anti Jefferson Video
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jeffworld.html
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/images/vc187.jpg
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/maps/baltimore-map.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rebellion_to_Tyrants_colonial_medal_Virginia.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Great_Seal_Charles_Thomson_Preliminary_Design.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HopkinsonPrelimGreatSealDesignObverse.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HopkinsonGreatSealDesignObverse.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Great_Seal_Charles_Thomson_Preliminary_Design.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:US_Great_Seal_1782_drawing.png
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi8vJ_lMxQI