<u>Answer to Part A:</u> American Gothic represents Grant Wood's personal view of midwesterners.
The speaker in the text intends to defend the meaning of the painting from claims of its mocking depictions of midwesterners. It is stated a the painting had a deeper meaning about society, one that goes beyond the common observer's understaing.
The rest of the options are not the text's central idea since:
- The atmosphere of the painting does not revolve around medieval times, since that era ended in the 15th century. The figures in the painting represent americans, nation that was founded much later in time.
- In the text, it is not considered that the painting is a joke - quite the contrary -. The counter-argument to this is supported by the speaker.
- There are no political parties involved in this context, which denies the fact that the painting is a political statement.
<u>Answer to Part B:</u> "The irony is that the original painting itself may have been making more of a comment on society than many observers realize".
This statement supports the idea that beyond the observer's judgement on the depiction of the characters in the painting, the real meaning of this work might comprise the painter's personal view on the society being disputed over, the midwesterns.
