Opening Paragraph: Hook in the audience with the story of the 1984 Campaign Rally for Ronald Reagan in Texas which was viewed as a battleground state at the time. Discussion of the visual cowboy symbols utilized for appeal to the audience (cowboy hat, swagger, laid-back contenance). Mentioning from the reporter of George Bush's ties to Texas as a plus to Reagan's campaign progress in the state for reelection. Sources used: Library of Congress: Media entitled - Campaign Texas 1984 (CBS News). Tie story in with Owen Wister's The Virginian and Thom Ross' illustrations and brief biography.
Paragraph #2: Classical definitions of a cowboy hero and visual representations of the heroic imagery. Demonstrate a connection between political appeal and western heroic imagery. Unveil the use of carefully crafted visual codes for politicians, that allow the politician to be flexable but still appeal to the main demographic or base audience. Transition statement between paragraph 2 and 3 should reveal the carefully crafted code of the protaganist in The Virginian of western cowboy heroic qualities and eastern elegance and sophistication. Sources should include Owen Wister's book and excerpts from Dallek's book.
Paragraph #3: Discussion of Thom Ross' ability to take a historic event and make it modern and sometimes even farcical, intertwining both western and eastern influences into his illustrations for the Centennial version of Wister's classic novel. The beginning of the connection between Ronald Reagan and Thom Ross' artwork for the piece should develop at this part of the paper. Citing Ross' Field History for background and specically earlier works from Ross' collection.
Paragraph #4: In depth discussion and argument for the similarities between Ronald Reagan videoclips and Ross' illustrations including the cover art throughout the body of the work. Specifically alligning a Reagan clip or photo to one piece of art by Ross. Sources Reagan library archives for photos and videoclips and Library of Congress Media clips. Also illustrations from Wister's Centennial version of The Virginian.
Paragraph #5: Continuing evidence of a connection: Ross' upbringing in California during Reagan's early political years in California. Ross' love for westerns and baseball around this time allow him to cite John Wayne as an influence in his artwork who was a contemporary of Reagan when he was transitioning from acting to politics. Sources include biographical material on Ross and Reagan as well as e-mail interview with Ross.
Paragraph #6: Reagan fits the mold of an influence. He jeers Gorbachev one moment but practices putting in the oval office with a prominent pro golfer (courtesy of Reagan Libary photoclip). The photo is strikingly similar to "Indian playing golf" by Ross. This would be a good time to address an antagonist argument to mine, I would explain that it is possible to overanalyze these connections but that the illustrations of Ross in Wister's reissue are not only possible but are likely to be in connection between Reagan's visual imagery and Ross' most recent work.
Paragraph #7: Conclussion. Tie in all of the connections while considering the opposing view.
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