"Imagine" by John Lennon Compared to "Moratorium" by Jaspar Johns

Jaspar Johns painted this flag for a nationwide coordinated protest against the war in Vietnam in 1969.  He was known for his pop art, specifically of the American flag.  But in this work, he strayed from his usually red, white, and blue flag and used green, orange, and black instead, portraying a toxic flag.  There is a single white dot in the middle representing a bullet hole.  The flag represented how most of the United States felt unfavorably about the war and the effects of the war on the nation.  Both this poster and Lennon’s “Imagine” show a negative view of the war. Lennon’s song has lyrics giving hope for the future at a time when war and disparity shaped the nation.  He describes a time when everyone can live in peace without war, while Johns shows what the war has done to the country through his portrayal of the American flag.  Both artists use their own talents to send a timeless message that spreads across the country and takes a stance against the violence of the Vietnam war.
-Julia