Norman Rockwell's O America

The art of Norman Rockwell as a backdrop to Celtic Woman's O, America. I probably didn't do justice to either...

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Norman Rockwell
• O America
• Celtic Woman

[coolram52]

I heard this song for the first time the other day. I make a lot of YouTube videos myself, and I always go to check to see what others have already done. I wanted to do one for "O America", but then I stumbled across this one and thought "Wow, I can't come close to topping that!" Outstanding job, and yes, you did do Norman Rockwell justice. What a fantastic concept that was!

[75901Texan]

I apologize for the delayed response and thank you for the kind words. I don't check my related email account as often as I should.

I don't dabble with videos/slideshows much but was inspired by the song to do SOMETHING with it. Norman Rockwell's intimate capturing of Americana over the decades seemed a natural.

Again, many thanks.

Texan

[lithead]

Anyone else notice that this America portrayed here is almost completely white? How are you planning to get that America back?

[75901Texan]

I noticed it after I had finished the project but what's the point?  His later work was more "inclusive" but I gather he painted America as he saw it.

In my opinion his work reflected small town American values more than anything else. Also in my opinion, much of small town America still holds to those values. THAT'S what it's about; not race or anything else.

[infantryman0311]

I joined the Marines to be a grunt at 18 years old in 2002 and was raised by a Vietnam veteran who was raised by a WWII veteran. I love this country, defended this country, and would not object to being called back into service to defend her again. I cannot stand it when people tell me that my love of America is "blind patriotism." Great video.

[tflfnf]

Wonderful!  Why would anyone want to fundamentally transform this?

[75901Texan]

I presume the silhouette you refer to is my humble avatar. It is intended to be a representation of a Texan and coincidentally, the usual impressions that imparts. You know, "Don't mess with Texas" and the like. I gather your imagination has conjured up something different???

[4tinman8]

to lithead: I grew up in small town America all over America. Never a town over 10,000 population. Yes, it is Norman rockwells fault that he did not paint the picture of my Dad Korean Vet) and his Black foreman (Korean Vet), eating lunch and playing cribbage on the plains after setting two miles of fence. That would have protrayed america that big city people never saw.

[75901Texan]

I don't think this was addressed to me so I hope you won't mind my butting in...

Since its inception America has had a mingling of cultures, probably moreso in modern times than any other country in the world.

The difference seems to be that in times past the huddled masses that came here actually wanted to be Americans. Most loved just about everything about America, warts and all, and for the most part were intent on melding into the American character.

Not so any more. Why is that?

[lithead]

You're right - this isn't about skin color. It's about the mingling of cultures, both the old and the new, when new ethnic, religious and national groups move into a homogenous people with similar backgrounds, heritage and beliefs. America is vastly more urban and multi-ethnic now than it was 70 years ago.

How are we planning to keep the values of "small town America" when most Americans don't live in small towns? What even qualifies as a "small town" these days?

[dittomom1]

Does everything ALWAYS have to be about race? Always?