Final answer:
Ken should cover American artists and writers who tackled societal and gender stereotypes in their work from the 1940s onwards, including figures like Norman Rockwell, Andy Warhol, Judy Chicago, Sylvia Plath, and James Baldwin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed pertains to the selection of artists that Ken should cover in his speech for the American History Festival at his college. Ken's speech is focused on American artists who delve into societal and gender stereotypes in their work. To address the themes in the question, Ken should consider artists from different periods who have actively represented and challenged American culture, namely those from the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and beyond. Likely candidates for this topic could include figures like Norman Rockwell, whose illustrations often depicted American life, and later artists such as Andy Warhol or Judy Chicago, who challenged social norms through their art.
Additionally, Ken could explore writers of American literature since 1945, such as Sylvia Plath or James Baldwin, who addressed aspects of American culture and social issues in their work. To this end, interpreting, comparing, and contrasting selected works can offer a comprehensive view of the cultural shifts and the engagement with societal and gender stereotypes through art and literature.