Running head: SELF REFLECTION 1

Self-Reflection

Jesus Ledezma

Arizona State University Downtown Phoenix

English 102
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Abstract

This paper provides a brief analysis of Joseph Perez’s Out Shine mural.The presentation of

colors, symbolism, and rhetoric conventions help create the feeling of self reflection.

​ elf-reflection, mural, rhetoric

Keywords: S
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Self Reflection

Outshine by street artist Joseph Perez, who goes by the name Sentrock, is located

on the corner of West Hadley St. and South Montezuma St. This mural was painted on the wall
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of an apartment complex which is confined in a rocky parking lot. Though Sentrock beautifully,

uses color to convey the message of the mural, what ultimately stands out is the symbolisms. In

short, Sentrock uses the combination of colors and symbols to create a feeling of self-reflection

whenever the viewer stares at the mural.

At first glance, it is hard to unravel the main object of this image. But once the eyes

settle, a model of a person in a praying position covering its masked face is visible. Though the

colors are what make it somewhat difficult to decipher the person, it does not take away from the

mural. On the contrary, the colors serve to complement the painting. The two main colors that

dominate this mural are pink and blue. The pale pink on the arms may imply universality. This

theory can be seen as the color can be correlated to skinless flesh, thus by Sentrock coloring the

skin pink, he is showing that this person can be anyone. It is not black, brown, white, or yellow;

it is the universal color of flesh. Moreover, the blue surrounding the object is anything but bright.

This idea of being surrounded in blue is like being surrounded by the ocean. Other colors seen in

this mural are black from the clouds, the spider web, and the spider; Red from the bird and the

mask; and yellow from the tattoos, words, and sun.

Much of what is used in rhetoric is pathos. A lot of self-reflection can be seen within this

mural. The positioning of the model cements this theory as the praying position makes it seem as

it is reflecting on itself. The hand covering its face may indicate sadness and insecurity; it does

not want its face exposed. Furthermore, the object seems to be resting its arms on a barbed wire

wall. In rhetoric terms this can also represent pathos as it may symbolize being trapped behind a

wall. The tattoos on each arm showcase the two main emotions of humans: sadness and

happiness. The mask that is disguising the individual is in a form of the bird. In latent terms,
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birds represent freedom through flight. The ability to fly anywhere you want showcases

escapism. As such, the bird mask that is covering the individual means that it wants to believe

that he can fly, but the suffocating surroundings around are preventing him. Lastly, the only

words in this mural, apart from the artists signature, are the word “Out Shine” and “On Us”. The

words “Out Shine” are located on the top left corner of the individual’s shoulder. It wants to

outshine, but it believes it can not because of all the negativity around it. Nonetheless, the artist

inclusion of the words “On Us” on the individual’s arm seems to be indicative of the belief that it

is on us to out shine. Pathos, therefore, plays a significant role in this mural as it conveys human

emotions and self-reflection.

The setting of this mural is somewhat fitting. Located on a neighborhood many may

deem as the “ghetto” helps to showcase the concept of struggle. As the artist conveys, it is on us

to out shine and therefore it is on us to make it out of whatever situation we are in. The mural

was completed in 2017 by Joseph Perez, Sentrock. An artist with a heavy influence from the

Chicago art scene, Sentrock is a firm believer of being free. In an interview, he once stated, “The

ability to fly away is something I always use my art to do, get away or escape. I think a big part

of it started from how I grew up, seeing family members and friends locked up throughout my

childhood always inspired me to stay free” (Aztlancollective 2017). Moreover, the location of

this mural is in a mostly centered Chicano neighborhood. In another interview, Sentrock

describes how he draws from Mexican influences when depicting masked individuals (Heining

2018). Lastly, the concept of escapism is further cemented as Sentrock, in yet another interview

states about another mural with the same bird mask, “The young girl has a bird mask on, a
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symbol for wanting to find your own wings and fly away to be able to see more.” (Montoya

2018).

Though Sentrock deals with many messages, such as escapism, the overarching feeling of

this mural is self-reflection. Colors, symbols, and rhetorical elements help convey the feeling of

self-reflection as an individual who looks at the mural may see themselves as the individual.

They may reflect on the time when they too felt trapped behind a wall or a mask. We have all

had moments of doubt. The feeling of being surrounded by an ocean of depression. Though we

put on a mask to portray the image of what we really want to be, it is ultimately on us to out

shine from any negative situation we find ourselves in.

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References

Aztlancollective. (2017, April 6). You Can Take the Boy Out of Phoenix But You Can't Take

Phoenix Out of the Boy: The Art of Sentrock. Retrieved February 8, 2019, from The

Aztlan Collective website: https://aztlancollective.com/sentrock/

Heining, C. (Writer). (2018, March 27). Sentrock | Chicago's graffiti scene, working as a

full-time artist, and much more [Radio episode]. In ​The Cornerstore.​ Chicago, IL: WGN

Radio.

Montoya, A. (2018, May 1). New Mural Speaks of Growth. Retrieved February 8, 2019, from

Douglas Dispatch website:

https://www.douglasdispatch.com/features/new-mural-speaks-of-growth/

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