Anne MacLennan, an associate professor in the Department of Communication & Media Studies, has contributed to an article about the graphic artist Lynne Rennie. Rennie has developed a series of illustrations called Drawn to Canada inspired by symbols of Canada. The illustrations include depictions of Mike Myers, Tim Hortons, Much Music, Smarties and other classic Canadian imagery.
In the CBC article, MacLennan comments on the importance of Rennie’s artwork, saying that the trade war with the United States sparked a desire for Canadians to embrace their own distinctive cultural identity through symbols like those created by Rennie. From images such as “elbows up” that represent Canadian feistiness, to the show Degrassi which was representative of Canada’s diversity, Rennie’s work captures the beauty and uniqueness of Canada at a time when Canadians are embracing a strong sense of national identity.
.