Dear Reader,
I am posting from the far left coast. Here in Santa Cruz its cool waves and cool buds...in the open. I stumbled upon an article that showed our Leader disguised as THE JOKER alla Keith Legger (sp?) in Batman. It was shocking at first glance. There are some in the art world that love to shock to drive home a point. Is this too far? My son , when he first saw it said...can they do that...its racist. Yet I'm sure if they did that to an image of the last president no one wold notice. In fact, around the blogosphere some are trying to figure out who the artist is behind this guerrila art. There is no signature. Can it be that they are aware of how charged the message is. In fact, will the photoshop facial manipulation overwhelm the central message on the poster which is Obama's Socialism. In any event, this poster is cropping up all over L.A. . Where will PosterMan post next?
Is art protected? Are there limits? Even if the message is clever, can it go too far? Should Government arbitrate? I am sure there is more hand wringing on the left as they always scream about the preciousness of free speech....of course they came up with "politically correct" to cover their arse....developing
I am curious as to your thoughts. Go ahead and post anonymously....I would like to hear honest responses....
Posts
"Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it."
ReplyDeleteBravo to the artist who dares to say publicly what everyone else of whispering - what is being mumbled under ones breath or behind closed doors. If our educational system wasn't so poor maybe the artist's meaning would be less of a shock.
Still, I rest on the words of Gamaliel in Acts 5:39
"If this is the work of men it will come to nothing, and if it is the work of God you cannot overthrow it lest you be found to fight against God." (paraphrased)
Frank,
ReplyDeleteWe already have socialism, corporate socialism. We give free land, water rights and freeway exits to corporations. Try getting that as a contract artist. We wave environmental protections and allow labor violations all in the name of corporations. Most of which are foreign now since we don’t actually make anything in America we just create service industry jobs. Do you want fries with that?
The left and right political ideologies are for morons who don’t realize they are already slaves to their government, paying more than half their income in taxes. We just gave over two trillion dollars to corporations. All the founding fathers warned against the banking system having too much power, yet here we are
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a monied aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power (of money) should be taken away from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs." Thomas Jefferson
"History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and its issuance." — James Madison
peace,
Armand
Armand,
ReplyDeleteI just finished James McCoullough book on John Adams and Madison and Jefferson were Federalists who hated , with a passion , Hamilton who designed our initial Federal Banking system.
The concept goes that once you federalize HealthCare then the Government has total control. Consider that the new plan being discussed right now has a provision for the government to review end of life issues with the elderly. I believe its cradle to grave issues like that that has some people going crazy....anyway , thanks for the good insights and I'm off to play at the Boardwalk.
There is a Plein Air exhibit at the Santa Cruz Art Museum and I will report on that if there is anything good.
blessings,
Frank
Hi Frank,
ReplyDeleteSo let’s start with the first question posed by you about the Obama pic “There are some in the art world that love to shock to drive home a point. Is this too far?”
No I do not feel that this is a picture that has gone too far. I think it is a creative way for the artist using political art to make a statement and open dialogue between the left & the right on the presidency of Obama and the policy of the administration.
If one recalls the Marietta Georgia bar owner Mike Norman, featuring cartoon chimp Curious George peeling a banana with Obama’s name at the bottom of it as going too far. He got away with it no government intervention just a lot of negative media. he also claimed he wasn't racist.
I asked my wife about the image as she is a woman of colour {mixed like Obama} and I wanted her take on it, if she found the image offensive? Was the message over the top? She didn’t even care, it didn’t faze her, just a shrug of the shoulders & she walked away.
If we are talking shock art, then there is far worse, like my tax dollar going to an obscure European artist that hangs raw beef on the ceiling at a government art gallery, letting it rot to represent, lord knows what? Ageing? The decay of society? How about the chocolate Jesus, was the artist making a statement or trying to get 15 minutes of fame?
I also defy anyone to claim it to be racist & then articulate it to be so. If it went too far how so? I just can’t see it.
I think the message is powerful; it won’t be lost on anyone.
You state that if the image was on Bush no one would notice. I disagree I think it would be just as powerful if not more so as history has already defined his successes and failures.
I think at this point I need you {Frank} to clarify Socialism or Obama socialism, or hmmm… maybe it is good old boy Canadian socialism in a capitalist country :) forgive me I couldn’t help the dig. The word socialism is too broad, what are the policies other than health care that fit your spectrum of what defines Obama socialism.
I wonder if Shepard Fairey is losing his mind, just wee bit of a twist on his Obama images.
I wish the guy came out & signed the images. That would be some great media; it really would open up to some great debates in the media.
Warmest Regards with no wringing of his lefty hands, is for freedom speech and always iffy on political correctness Pete
let me quote for agreement:
ReplyDelete"The left and right political ideologies are for morons who don’t realize they are already slaves to their government, paying more than half their income in taxes. We just gave over two trillion dollars to corporations. All the founding fathers warned against the banking system having too much power, yet here we are
"
I for one welcome a policy where a human being is treated as such rather than a number to make money from including when we're sick and need help. what kind of society pushes the limit to capitalism to the point of throwing people out of hospitals if they cant pay??
relax everyone here in europe we had freeish healthcare for everyone for a very long time now and guess what? the govmnts are not collapsing,no doom and gloom consequences, no total control, no dictatorships or socialism.
simply people who before couldnt afford can now have appropriate medical assistance if they need to.
yup there is a lot of waste and lots of money go there but then if you can afford to do a war in iraq (remember how much you spent there?) you can definately afford to care for your populations health..
i fear the men who supported the war in iraq but are against this.
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI cant post in depth as I am on the move today but I do want to address several misconceptions about our health care system.
Thanks for posting ;v)
thank you Frank probably it comes across as a very ignorant view of the american reality wich i must admit being guilty of,
ReplyDeleteit just seems a very humane move and for who is used to such a mechanism for a lifetime doesnt seem to be such a problem at all..so you can imagine it feels a bit weird reading around the net that so many people oppose this.
the way i see it is: if there is someone injured in the road that needs my assistance I would stop and help the dude without expecting anything back just like anybody elses..so if we do this as single individuals I feel this this value should be broght forward in the society as a whole..
we *insert nationality here* care for the sick, and give water to the thirsty..
oh no wait..that's only on sunday in church.
America is a nation of slaves. America is a business. The people are bought and sold like slaves everyday. It is disguised by the idea of freedom. Wanna prove it?
ReplyDeleteTry to say no.
If every blue collar worker decided to stay home for a week...the same week of the year; and not buy sell or trade, the government would force them to go back to work at gunpoint.
Remember the UPS strike. Maybe not at gunpoint but then that strike wasn't big enough but they were forced back to work.
America is a business and people are the commodity and this nation wants to be corporate headquarters for the economy of the world.
How better to disguise slavery except with the idea of freedom.
Make no mistake slavery has yet to rear its' ugly head.
I applaud the artist in this case. If he was truely free he wouldn't have to hide his identity.