Comments on: Do You Know Who This Is?

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:12:20 +0000

Please spell it out for me then as it can be easily miscontrued.

By: Kevin Levin

Kevin Levin — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:56:28 +0000

No I don’t Jim, but I never suggested that this was the case so your point is irrelevant. You missed the point of the post. Perhaps you think that this is an attack on Lee. It actually has very little to do with Lee if you were to get beyond your emotional response.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:45:19 +0000

Do you have documentation that says every square yard of property for every minute time was filled with slaves? That’s what I thought. The way you portray it, slaves would come out of his closets and drawers if you opened them.

I don’t see why you would target this painting without putting it in the context of our other nation’s significant figures. Example: Here are the pilgrims…but where are the natives? This must have been right before they exterminated them.

http://nationalheritagemuseum.typepad.com/.a/6a00e550caa66d8834010535ea1eb3970b-pi

Simply unbelievable quality of discussion here.

By: Kevin Levin

Kevin Levin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 12:53:41 +0000

I just realized that Lee is wearing a “puffy shirt”. Any Seinfeld fans out there?

By: John Buchanan

John Buchanan — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:17:11 +0000

Out in California, BG A.S. Johnston enjoyed a last meal with his subordinates, Win Hancock and Lo Armistead, all the while wondering where his sword was located. Meanwhile, college president William T. Sherman looked out the window of his office at the Louisiana State Seminary of Learning & Military Academy and tried to figure out how quickly he could get back to Saint Louis.

By: Kevin Levin

Kevin Levin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 09:33:23 +0000

Phil,

I’m not surprised by anything when it comes to this blog. It’s always nice to be able to laugh a bit given the nature of Civil War memory, which is often divisive and highly emotional. Than again, I am certain that some people out there are not laughing and think that this is just more evidence of my “carpetbagger” mentality. Wait…that’s pretty funny too.

By: Phil LeDuc

Phil LeDuc — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:15:15 +0000

Kevin, are you ever amused/bemused/surprised by the number of responses that a particular post will draw? I’m getting plenty of enjoyment (and some food for thought) from the reponses to this one. I find it really interesting how certain topics – often of a pop culture nature or the like – will often draw significantly more responses and comments than a posting regarding a more “heavyweight” subject. Civil War art always seems to be good for quite a few comments, as are a few other “hot-button” topics I’ve encountered over the last 2-3 years in the CW blogosphere (and those topics, like A-Rod’s cousin, shall be left nameless.)

Continued success – and fun – in the classroom and with the blog.

By: Michael Lynch

Michael Lynch — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:25:08 +0000

Indeed, not a bonded servant to be found. Maybe they should start selling these things with optional decals for those who want their art to mirror life. Just peel off the backing, and presto! A ragamuffin slave to stick right onto the canvas.

Suggested word balloon to paste above Armistead’s head in a Pickett’s Charge print: “Forward, Virginians! But while we’re all here, let me take this opportunity to reiterate that this whole thing started over the extension of slavery into the territories!”

And then we could have counter-decals for Lost Cause enthusiasts. “Holy crap, there are a lot of blacks fighting in this army.”

Basically, I think these artists are just trying to make a buck selling pictures, and they’re smart enough to know that most people would rather fill that blank space above the fireplace with something dramatic or inspiring than use it to engage in serious history. You don’t see many paintings of bloated corpses sprawled in the Petersburg trenches, either, but I think it has more to do with taste than a concerted effort to sanitize war.

–ML

By: Greg Rowe

Greg Rowe — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:05:10 +0000

I am finding all of this amazingly amusing…don’t have a heart attack, Kevin! Don’t look into the light! Check out my latest blog post and you’ll see why.

http://acwresearcher.wordpress.com/2009/02/19/as-the-fella-once-said/

By: matt mckeon

matt mckeon — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:11:35 +0000

Jackson surveyed the scene at Arlington, the profusion of flowers, and Lee in his tight black pants, velour vest, high black boots and open necked flowing pirate shirt. Jesus, that’s over the top, thought Lee’s trusted lieutenant, little realizing his own name would be forver linked with a milestone in the gay rights movment.

By: John Hoptak

John Hoptak — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:57:57 +0000

Kevin
Looking at it again, maybe he’s prentending to strum out a few power chords on his guitar…er…sword; maybe that’s why he’s outside, his wife had enough of him playing “Guitar Hero” in the house?

By: matt mckeon

matt mckeon — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:22:30 +0000

Johnson flailed wildly, but his prey easily eluded the bald general. Then he heard the quiet, but unmistakable words of command. “Bootsie! Mr. Whiskers!” The two felines immediately tumbled purring to Lee’s booted feet. “They obey only me, Joe” Lee said sternly. Johnson seethed at the catty insolence. Although by rights the senior general of the Confederacy, he realized that he would never be painted, or grace a calender.

Well, he thought, neither will any of the thousands of black Confederates, or those fucking cats.