Political commentators like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh have been stretching the limits of civility for years. They compare their ideological adversaries to Nazis and Stalinists and assert that they are deliberately trying to destroy America and all that is good in the world. They openly hope for the nation to fail and even for it to be attacked by Osama Bin Laden again.
Fletcher Crossman, a British artist currently residing in the U.S., has opened an exhibit at the Eye Level Gallery in Charleston, SC, that explores this hostility and projects it out to its darkest conclusions. The pieces include Glenn Beck swinging from a noose over a gloomy New York skyline and Rush Limbaugh feasting on a pile of infant corpses. Interspersed are images of the media portrayal of similarly gruesome events including the assassination of President Obama. The media is not a peripheral addendum to the exhibit, but an integral part of the unfolding message. Crossman described the role of the media in comments to a local Charleston reporter:
“I use the media to not only progress the story, but to point the role that mainstream media has in adding spin to any issue,” said Crossman. “When you begin to study [media outlets] you begin to realize how even when they change a word or two, how twisted an idea can become to the public. It’s powerful.”
These works appear to be an inspirational and prophetic look at the consequences of hateful and irresponsible rhetoric. They are uncompromising in their judgments of fear mongering demagogues and their enablers in the press. They are beautifully presented in both concept and execution. Here is some video of the exhibit:
This is the sort of work that can have a profound effect on viewers. It can stimulate conversation and provoke action. It needs to be seen by as broad an audience as possible. I congratulate the artist for his insight and talent, and I hope that he can arrange for the exhibit to tour the country and gain exposure.
These pieces are disgusting. They are not the slightest bit inspirational or prophetic or beautiful. And it looks like he didn’t create any like-minded depictions of Keith Olbermann, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy or Joy Behar – unless he did and you’re just not showing them.
I’ll bet you loved that picture of Obama as an African witch doctor with a bone through his nose that was all the rage at the Tea Parties.
Well, you’re wrong – as usual. I thought that poster was disgusting. However, it was not as disgusting as the poster which showed President Bush’s bloody severed head being held up like a trophy.
Furthermore, that witch doctor poster was not “all the rage at the Tea Parties”. CNN had to look far and wide for offensive posters like that. I never ever saw any poster like that at any of the Tea Party events that I have attended. I watched an Inaguaration Day protest downtown Portland 2005 (I was part of a counter-protest) and counted at least three “Kill Bush” signs at that protest alone.
That witch doctor poster was commonplace. It was all over TV and the Internet at different rallies. I saw several myself at a Tea Party event where I live. I’m glad you’re being consistent at least by disapproving of it.
As an artist myself, perhaps I have a greater tolerance for creatively expressed visions, even when they are difficult to absorb. In this respect I think the witch doctor poster is a bad example because I don’t regard it as art. But I was a bit impressed with the Obama Joker poster, which I disagreed with thorough;y, but appreciated it’s expressiveness.
You may not like Crossman’s message, but his talent is apparent, and his vision evokes an emotional response (even in you). And that is the true purpose of art.
“However, it was not as disgusting as the poster which showed President Bush’s bloody severed head being held up like a trophy.”
That is pretty disgusting…but what is even more disgusting are all the innocent children in Iraq who got limbs blown off by roadside bombs or their flesh being burnt off by white sulfur chemicals. That’s pretty disgusting, of course we never see these images in the media or in art for that matter.
But yea…those damned lefty’s showing grotesque images of Bush….that’s outrageous isn’t it?
Making the Profit$ of Doom look bad? How can this be? Let us prey.
You have to look at this art as a reflection both on the people portrayed and the message sent by portraying it. For example, showing Rush eating babies is both an extension of Rush’s perceived nuttiness and other people’s villianization of him. It is exaggerating both sides to show how hateful both can be and show how silly it can be. It’s good art.