The White House has always represented the American nation and its foreign policy. The rooms and furniture were brought mostly from Europe in the 18th century and were created by copying European contemporary styles. European neo-classical and Victorian styles were used to create a great impression and impress the European leaders upon their arrival to Washington D.C. However, this European dominated design will not amaze anyone from Asia or from the Middle East where Europe represented the colonizer empire.
Since the Declaration of Independence through the 20th Century international affairs consisted of two major players; the United States and Europe, so it is understandable why the White House is carrying the stylistic elements of European fashion. With the changing political world map, non-European countries are becoming key players. China, India and naturally some of the OPEC countries are emerging as major economic powers in the world and will arrive to D.C. to sit down with American diplomats.
Cultural Symbols
Those Asian and Middle-Eastern diplomats while flattered by the European elegance of the White House, cannot find the cultural symbols to encourage them. If the Unites States wants to improve communication with Asia and the Middle East as President-elect Obama plans to do so, one of the most important changes that should be implemented should make the visiting diplomats feel more at home when upon arriving to the White House. Serving the appropriate dishes and playing the appropriate folk music for the diplomats is just the first step towards entènte diplomacy, but placing foreign furniture and art would perhaps enforce the good will of the new administration.
East Room
The East Room in the White House is located at the second floor and is one of the diplomatic centers of the building. The East Room had not been decorated until 1829 when McKim began to design it in to a grand Beaux-Arts style reception hall. The room was paneled based on the 1780 Louis XVI style living room in the Château de Compiègne and painted cream white. Further following European contemporary taste, three large Bohemian crystal chandeliers, an oak parquet floor and a carved and gilded suite of banquettes and console tables completed the room. Today, it remains in a very similar condition.
In 1938, working with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, staff architect Eric Gugler designed a concert grand piano built by Steinway & Sons. The piano is decorated with a gilded frieze illustrating American dance: alternating European style waltzes with western cowboy, African American and Native American dance, none of which figures have anything to do with non-European cultures.
Multicultural Redecoration
What the East Room needs is more non-European elements to send the welcoming message to all diplomats who decide to travel to Washington D.C. As President-elect Obama said it repeatedly, with his cabinet he will encourage communications with the other emerging countries. Redecorating some of the rooms with diplomatic purposes would be a great step towards that promised communication.
Trunkos Judit - Judit Trunkos is originally from Hungary and moved to the Unites States to obtain her undergraduate and graduate degrees in liberal arts. ...
