What I Learned from the "American Stories" Art Exhibit in LA

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art currently has the special exhibit "American Stories" Paintings of Everyday Life, 1765-1915), which features pictures of American painters depicting figurative and fictional "stories" of American life.

While the person writing the picture explanations may have gone somewhat overboard, the main point of this special exhibit comes through loud and clear: Compelling stories capture people's attention and can be used to subtly sway people to the painter's...