<p>hi, i’m doing an exhibit on the anti-vietnam war movement and i want to create an effigy of lyndon johnson to depict the radicalism of the protestors, particularly during the chicago democratic convention '68. i’ve never created an effigy before but i’m interested because i’ve read much about it in history textbooks and such. in london’s trafalgar square, the british also toppled an effigy of bush. my project, of course, is not biased in any way…my purpose is simply to bring to life the events of the past, and effigy-burning was one of the tactics used to protest the vietnam war.</p>
<p>in short, how do you create an effigy? and what is the best way to make one, papier mache, fill a sack with crumpled newspapers? btw, it has to look professional. i plan to dress him up in full gear- suit, tie, and black pants- to give him the presidential look.</p>
<p>here’s an example, find george dubya bush, he’s most likely hiding at his estate in texas. tie a rope around his neck, hang him from a tree and burn his flesh.</p>
<p>Grrrr. Anyways, you actually burn a voodoo doll if you want an effigy. You can put oil on yourself and burn yourself too if you want. It’s a hot thing to do!</p>
<p>history could be interpreted in many different ways, as i’m sure you know. the protestors were radical, and i don’t think we’ve ever had a radical for a president, not unless you have an imaginative mind when it comes to politics.</p>
<p>Ok, despite massive the idiocy on this thread, I had to do something like this a while back. When I lived overseas, we celebrated British holidays. One was Guy Fawkes day- Fawkes was a guy who tried to blow up the king. They found him, drew and quartered him, and then burnt the remains. Ever after, Brits made effigies of him and burnt them on huge bonfires. Alot of fun, really.</p>
<p>I suggest you get several burlap bags (or sturdy bags of some type). Stuff them with straw, and then use newspaper to fill it out and make it look realistic. use ropes to tie the different burlap bags on- do it like this. One big burlap bag would be the body, a smaller the thigh, a smaller the upper arm or calf. You get the idea. Then dress him up nice and pretty to hide the weirdness underneath.</p>
<p>tj- i searched “effigy papier mache” online and found all kinds of history. it was a custom, for example, for the natives of a country in central america to burn effigies in a parade or something of the sort, to get rid of societal stigma.</p>
<p>i have a question…do effigies have to be burned? the judges might question the historical nature of my effigy. initially, i planned to hang him from a wooden post, like the depiction in hangman, just because it would be easier that way. but if it has to be burnt, i might put logs and fake ashes (so as not to ignite a real fire) at the base of my exhibit to depict a recently put-out fire.</p>