X is for X-rated

ISSUES
US activists, who were giving a talk in Turkey about the transformative power of art were criticized for naivete. Hurriyet Daily News

In regards to the US activists, their failure perhaps was not showing HOW art can transform by providing international and national examples. In general I find many underestimate the power of imagery until you start bringing up examples and issues of censorship.
Here are a list of photographs that changed the world.
The Art of Persuasion from the PBS series, How Art Made The World.
Free Government Information website shares info about a book highlighting the case of Dorothea Lange's banned photos of Japanese Internment in America.
The power of Advertizing
Here is a GREAT link list of Social Movements and Art Activism

Naivety is not understanding the power of art.

Talking about Activist Art
Bill Evertson did a blog entry about an interesting exhibit using rice and I had to share a photo of graffiti my son took near his campus in Jhongli City,Taiwan.

Not sure what it means other than trying to dispel a stereotype perhaps.
What do YOU think?

AND
Talking about graffiti, it is
and I am off to stick up a bit knitting (which was yesterday)
check out what the knit guerrilla's have been up to on grrl+dog's blog for feb 23 (K)NIT UP, woo hoo!

Comments

David Howard said…
Maybe "You eat not only rice" is like "I've drank the milk from a thousand cows" - Bob Dylan

I have my shirt of in self portraits as well - or maybe not as well.

So your comment about stereotypes might be right. Just like art and artists are cornered by stereotypes.

But maybe, all we have is stereotypes and those who decry them the most are the most stereotypical - the truly humble man doesn't know he is humble.
jafabrit said…
ah, you always bring up good questions to ponder.
I suppose the Hurriyet article articulates a disconnect with artspeak and audience. I've always though of art as similar to languages. The earlier you begin a language the easier to speak it. The easiest way to have a book thrown at you is to suggest some abstract principle will help solve your often times dire circumstances. Speaking without the immediate example of the art adds another confusing layer. On the other hand you could subtitle your blog "food for artistic thought" for your great links. They always give me something of substance to chew on.
jafabrit said…
I agree Bill. I have a bit of a grasp with artspeak, but when I read art forum for example I wonder what the hell they are dribbling on about half the time,LOL! My links, I enjoy exploring myself and feel others may enjoy them too. Thanks for the compliment. I can understand why someone who is facing dire circumstances or a difficult life would throw a book at them in frustration, not that I justify it but I understand it.
Casey Klahn said…
The fist commenter in the Istanbul article wanted Marxist language - he would exhibit anger as a tool, rather than a response, IMHO. The series of disconnects is endless.

Thanks for hooking me up to the PBS art piece, I'll enjoy exploring that. I am on the More Human Than Human page which links to your self portrait idea, perhaps.

As always, your blog and art content are deep and fascinating.
jafabrit said…
I think I would agree with you on that casey in regards as using anger as a tool. Isn't that PBS series wonderful.
Lana Gramlich said…
Thank you...this post just brought back last night's dream (which I non-typically forgot on waking this morning.)
Undaunted said…
Wow. Some of those photographs are horrific. No wonder more than one of the photographers ended up committing suicide. It's great that they bring issues to the public eye, but it must be such a hard job to do. I can't imagine the sense of helplessness that they must feel.
Philip said…
Just a guess - but I wonder of the rice graffiti is pointing out that people need more than rice. Much has been made in the press over the last year about the increasing price of rice and its devastating effect in the third world. But in fact that is only part of the story. The price of rice means that people have little left to spend on other food. For example my friend in The Gambia tells me that 65% of his father's income per month goes on just one bag of rice. Art activism? - yes I am all for it and it has been occupying my mind lately.
jafabrit said…
wow phillip, that is a great explanation and I think makes sense considering the issues you bring up.
I can't even get my head around the 65% of a persons income going to rice.That is incredible.

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