Question

In the “The Filipino’s First Bath: McKinley --‘Oh you dirty boy!’”

Who is the man in the bathing suit? Who is he bathing? What does the water say? What does this represent? Who are the 2 people in the background? What is the artist’s purpose in drawing this?

Answer 1

In the artwork titled "The Filipino’s First Bath: McKinley --‘Oh you dirty boy!’", Emilio Aguinaldo is shown bathing the Philippines, representing the subjugation by the United States. The water symbolizes the control of the United States. The artist's purpose is to depict the power dynamics and cultural imperialism in the Philippines.

Step-by-step explanation:

The caricature shows President McKinley bathing a Filipino child in water labeled 'Civilization,' criticizing the U.S.'s paternalistic imperialism after the Spanish-American War. In the artwork mentioned titled "The Filipino’s First Bath: McKinley --‘Oh you dirty boy!’", the man in the bathing suit is Emilio Aguinaldo, the first president of the Philippines. He is bathing another man, who represents the Philippines itself. The water in the artwork does not directly say anything, but it represents the subjugation and control of the Philippines by the United States, as depicted in the artwork's title. The two people in the background are President William McKinley and Lady Justice, symbolizing the power and authority of the United States government. The artist's purpose in drawing this artwork is to convey the unequal power dynamics and cultural imperialism experienced by the Filipino people during this period.