Political Art: Hobgoblins



"Hobgoblins"
This is a piece I made a few years ago, but still very relevant today.
It is made with a wood box I built, porcelain teeth, light fixture inside, and ceramic figure huddled on a shelf inside. The figure is sitting above the light to the left slightly so it is half lit and casts shadows in the box.. This adds to the ominous nature of the piece.There is also a statement written above the mouth if people take the time to look inside:

"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary".
H. L. Mencken

What is really sad is that the fear mongering works!

Comments

Anonymous said…
I like this. I always thought this was how the stock market worked....no logic whatsoever.

guess I haven't been paying attention: you've got your sidebar on the right now, right?
Anonymous said…
I love "Hobgoblins" - the freaky porcelain teeth, and interactive nature of the piece that engages the viewer if curious enough.

You're so right about fear mongering. I'm trying to keep a level head, but all the bad news and political noise makes me want to scream and stick my head in the sand.

Thanks for the link to Potters for Peace - I'd heard of them, but never followed up. Now bookmarked.
sarahelizabeth said…
very nicely incorporated artwork and statement!
Lana Gramlich said…
Ain't it the unfortunate truth. :( I recently watched "Zeitgeist," which is available for free online (if you Google that with "movie" you'll certainly find it, if you're interested.) It touched on a lot of issues, the fear-mongering of the American media being one of them. Neil Postman (I think his name was,) was also a good writer on the entire subject. Most people don't realize that 6 companies own 99% of all of the media outlets in the country. "Fair & balanced?" I should say not.
Kudos on this wonderful piece of art!
I like the teeth!
Undaunted said…
Fantastic! I love this piece! Wish I could see it in the flesh. It illustrates the point perfectly.
L.M.Noonan said…
Oh gawd, now I know what to do with Josh's wisdom teeth...Have you been knitting up a storm again? This site has the jafa look http://totallystitchin.net/index.php/2008/09/fill-er-up-with-fabric/
jafabrit said…
hiay marcia, I am playing catch up after being away for a few days. Yes, changed the blog template. still not sure about it though.

Cyn, glad you liked the link. well we are surely getting a belly full of fear mongering this week eh!


thanks sarah, so glad you liked the piece.

I will check out "Zeitgeist," Lana, thanks. fair and balanced, lol! you got that one pegged.

glad you liked the teeth lone beader. I think I need to be getting some more from my dentist :)

Oh my gawd loretta that link is just brill and so inspiring. thanks.

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