STAND YOUR GROUND 

Jon McNaughton created "Stand Your Ground," a contemporary painting that reflects a polarized American identity. In the context of ongoing debates about gun control, racial justice, and national pride, McNaughton presents a muscular, white soldier holding an assault rifle with the American flag billowing behind him. The title of the painting, “Stand Your Ground,” directly references controversial self-defense laws. By placing an armed soldier at the center of the composition, McNaughton seems to evoke a sense of masculine power and military might. The presentation invites us to consider the emotional and political symbolism embedded in images of soldiers and flags. The painting is an exploration of how traditional representations can be reinterpreted to serve contemporary political agendas. How does this image make you feel, and what does it tell us about the ongoing culture wars that shape our society?