Patriotism and Creativity

According to George William Curtis, “A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle”.

All through history and time immemorial, the domineering theme in art and literature is patriotism. We recall during times of war that the love for the country is a stirring engine to amalgamate men against their invaders. It is like speaking the unspoken language of unity.

The past trails still have shadows in the present. Images, biographies, stories of great leaders and soldiers are well preserved not only in the museum but also in visual arts galleries. The works of great painters and sculptures like Michelangelo and Da Vinci are still exhibited. It is still open both for artistic and historical purposes. Walt Whitman’s poem: Oh Captain, My Captain!, is a subtle attack to the war then existing. A number of poems, songs and short stories made during those times have common denominator and this is patriotism.

Probably, the most memorable patriotic art are war posters. Several have been made then to recruit men to join the army and defend their state. Example of this is the Lady Freedom, which is a World War 1 recruiting poster.

Today, patriotic art is everywhere – clothes, automobiles, movies and the net – practically everywhere your eyes can set on. The unleashed creativity becomes more helpful in commending great people, places and events which have contoured our heritage - in the revelation of the momentum toward the love for our country!