“The Epic of American Civilization” is part of a mural that is made up of 24 panels, covering four walls of the Dartmouth College library. Jose Clemente Orozco did this mural in 1932-1934 while he was a visiting professor in the college; it is one of his most important pieces of artwork of his whole career. His inspiration for the complete mural came from the fact that the college was built to educated native Americans, as well as European colonists. The composition of this piece centers on a white woman on the right and a Mexican soldier on the left. The woman seems to be part of a society of firm order; where everyone is alike. It looks as if individualism is part of the past, no longer part of humankind. Notice that even the children are dressed and look like the adults. The arrangement on the right, along with the use of muted colors creates an uncomfortable feeling. Though everything and everyone follows the norms, the faith in humanity is still missing, the color that once occupied their lives has lost its vibrancy. Both Mexico and America advance in technology and education but are still stuck in corruption. The left side shows how Mexico was forced to be part of the conformist society. Though the composition of the left is chaotic, with no order, your attention will be directed to the middle, where a Mexican soldier stands. He seems to have lost the will to fight, allowing for the wealthy and materialistic to take over the Mexican idealism. The soldier appears to resemble Emiliano Zapata, the leading figure of the poor in the revolution in Morelos. He is placed in the middle of what used to be his land, now turned into an urban area, surrounded by all the advances achieved, but he doesn’t seem happy. Behind him, you can see a general about to stab him, as if to get rid of all the traces of the past, of how Mexico used to be. Orozco expressionist style, bright reds, yellows, and blues, along with violent and brusque scenes show how the elite are greedy pigs that don’t care about the wishes of others as long as they get what they please.