Christmas Eve and Raring to Go! 

Scott Gustafson painted this image of ‘Christmas Eve and Raring to Go!’ in a style that evokes illustrations of children’s books. It brings up interesting questions about cultural traditions and their representation. The image depicts Santa Claus and his reindeer, along with elves, preparing for their Christmas Eve journey. It's set against the backdrop of what appears to be Santa's workshop, which has been represented in popular culture as being in the North Pole, thus implying a nothern European or American cultural background. The presents all over the world that Santa Claus delivers speaks to a history of colonialism and the global dominance of certain countries. The image prompts us to consider the role of institutions like publishing houses and advertising agencies in shaping our collective imagination around holidays like Christmas, as well as the way folk stories become ingrained in the cultural norms of society. Understanding the context of this image, the power structures and cultural forces at play, requires a historical analysis. This kind of understanding helps us realize that our interpretations of art are always influenced by our own historical and social situations.