“Personas”, a sculpture by George Segal, presents a conceptualization of the events at Kent State University in 1970. This work would be considered conceptual art as it emphasizes the idea of generational struggle through the use of biblical figures. The sculpture expresses the power that older people have over the younger generations, specifically “the power of life and death over their children to exercise love, compassion, and restraint.” The positioning of Abraham and Isaac is in service of this concept as a restrained Isaac is kneeling to Abraham, in which Abraham has power over him with a weapon in hand. This artwork creates innovations in the connection between the art itself and the reason for its production. Looking at the Kent State situation from the perspective of generational power creates a new dynamic between the students protesting the Vietnam War and the military’s response. The piece itself is a mimesis, as it was based on an episode from the Hebrew Bible.

This work is political in the sense of its opposition to the Vietnam War. It clearly expresses that the military response projects this idea of generational power, something that is not depicted as positive by the sculpture. The sculpture portrays the message that the older generations have this power over the younger generations, especially in terms of life and death. During the events at Kent State, four people were killed and nine others were wounded. Segal used this biblical allegory to materialize his opposition. I think this piece attempts to effect a change in the world by conveying this striking scene from the Hebrew Bible, showing that this same demand for obedience and faith in which the scene holds and which took place at Kent State is intrinsically toxic; no one should lose their life because it is in another’s power to take it.

Segal’s expression through this sculpture is an effective way of communicating with the world. The positioning of the people emphasizes his message while also evokes a sense of emotion from the viewer, something that may not have been as effective if the artwork was depicted solely on paper. The sheer size of the sculpture puts the events into perspective, making it more realistic and therefore connecting the viewer to the art as well as the time, even though it was created in 1970. The message is universal to all periods, as generational power still holds in some ways.