Damage Report - Do As I Say, Not As I Do

Join me today on The DAMage Report for ARTS DAY. 2pm PST / 5pm EST live streaming from LA on www.newdissidentradio.com

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Think of society as a scale. The aim of course is to maintain a perfect balance of ideas and community structure. Realistically, individual and group input tips the scale a little to the left, then a little to the right in a constant dance of “this is how things should be.”

It was no surprise to discover that uber conservative Amarillo, Texas is home to an art gallery and theater that is pushing radical, controversial arts into the public eye. The more rigid and moralistically uptight a community is, the more the artists in the community will try to rip back the hypocritical facades and reveal the truth laying underneath. The double talk of so-called community leaders like Reverend Grisham reeks to high heaven. In a perfect example of “do as I say, not as I do” he stated "you have to be cautious about what you promote (in art), because you might prompt a dangerous action based on those ideas." He promptly attempted to burn the Koran during the same damn week.

Nicely counterbalancing that type of religious fucktardedness in Amarillo are stage productions like "The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?" which contains references to incest, homosexuality and bestiality. Incidentally, the work won a Tony Award for best play in 2002.

 

Hypocrisy and subjective interpretation are common weapons used against the arts – especially art that is trying to show us something about ourselves and our societies. The loosely defined definitions of what is and is not obscene or inappropriate is a double-edged sword. It gives the illusion of freedom of expression while cloaking a giant bitchslap fist that enables individuals to impose their personal tastes and preferences on the creativity of others. Observations that true art that pushes the envelope must stand the test of time and prove itself by “longevity” is moronic and indicative of the nonsensical garbage that art critics spew. Please explain how art that is banned survives the censorship to prove its longevity to the public? But that’s okay. Really. Because artists are society’s rebels and hypocrisy is something we will push right past. We’ll just keep jumping up and down on the left side of that scale, forcing it back into balance.

http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2010-09-12/radically-redefining-art


For Anyone wanting to see the story of Rev. Grisham being thwarted from burning the Koran by a skateboarder, check this out: http://www.businessinsider.com/skateboarder-foils-would-be-koran-burner-in-texas-2010-9

Breaking Taboo Topics for Sept. 13, 2010 - 4pm PST/7pm EST on NewDissidentRadio.com

Breaking Taboo 4pm pst today live streaming from LA on newdissidentradio.com with internationally known artist Ken Meyer Jr.(no "s") and the Unholy Rev. Jeffrey Brunk. We're talking idiot art stereotypes, online sex, and Douche Bag Island: Liberals Smarter than Conservatives?

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Breaking Taboo - Blind to the Arts

Art is one of those areas that defies definition but that everyone seems to need to package up into a tidy box whenever possible.

The creative process is still the creative process and whether you're talking about applying oils to canvas or pen and ink to an illustration board - it ALL requires a certain level of skill and knowledge of the craft in order to create something with impact.

So why do people automatically elevate one kind of art while diminishing another? Illustration and comic art has some amazing talent tied to it - with artists that create moving, spectacular pieces of art. But because they have a tag of commercial application slapped on, the works are seen as... less.

Only a few illustrators and comic arts cross the threshold in the public eye from "art for kids" or "art for commercials" to "fine artists." 

Norman Rockwell of course comes to mind, as well as Frazetta - illustrators whose works have survived their commercial application to be vied for in auction houses.

Buying into the "its not as valid" myth are the artists themselves.

Part of the dilemma is many refuse to see themselves as anything more than illustrators. But take one of their paintings, put a frame on it, stick it on a gallery wall and the public will immediately embrace it as a fine work of art. The paradox is one that we as a society have created and perpetuate. The problem arises in that when something is dismissed, such as comic art - we (general public) deprive ourselves of SEEING - and the impact and gift of that art is lost.

Links form Ken: 

http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/gothic/gustavcover.html(now, she is a main character in this graphic novel, so she is all over the place...I have a few copies left)http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/gothic/anima_d.html (some of these I did not worry about likenesses, like this one)http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/misc/muchasabrina.html
http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/misc/pose.html (also from the gn)http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/misc/sabrinaglass.htm
http://www.kenmeyerjr.com/gothic/witchy.html

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Douche Bag Island - Pot Calling Kettle Black: Who is Smarter

A Psychology Today article surmises "more intelligent individuals are more likely than less intelligent individuals to espouse liberalism as a value."  The article has some interesting points but ultimately -it's a crock of speculative shit. And I say that as a liberal.

The entire hypothesis collapses due to weak conjecture and holes. The author tries to avoid the more liberal women and blacks are therefore more intelligent (according to his hypothesis) by saying race and gender don't count. Uh huh. Everything said could have been flipped the other way and turned into a counter-argument. Anytime ANYONE tries to slap a group into a generalized box and label it as smarter, dumber, better, worse - whatever... it smacks of narrow mindedness.

Trying to clump everyone together into some idiotic neat package reeks of schoolyard mentality. I'm not saying some conservatives aren't dumb as a box of rocks.... but then some liberals are as well. The dumb ones are usually those mindlessly spouting the ideas of others without having thought through their convictions.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-scientific-fundamentalist/201003/why-liberals-are-more-intelligent-conservatives

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Taboos: Flipping the Adult Dating Site Coin. I Choose Tails. Contributed by the Unholy Rev. Jeffrey Brunk

Most everyone is familiar with online dating sites such as eHarmony and Match.com But, every coin has two sides and the flipside of the saccharine sweet love matches those sites spawn is the more base, human nature-driven horizontal love matches that entice millions of curiously horny men and women to browse the myriad 'adult' dating sites in search of a carnal relationship. Long-term? Maybe, if FWB (Friends With Benefits) qualifies as long-term. 

The recent decision by Craigslist to discontinue the 'adult services' category only serves as a notice that the 'powers that be' consider those who utilized the services advertised in the adult category to be either psychopaths bent on exterminating masseuses and transgendered love machines or perpetually horny morons with a total lack of morals and self-control. Then, there are those who seemingly are morons, as is evidenced by the recent lawsuit launched by a gaggle of men against an adult dating site because they were unlucky in lust.

The pros and cons of online dating. There is something for eveyone, perfect and imperfect. The seamier side is thriving, undulating and thrusting itself into mainstream relationships. Slip into the latex, grab the webcam and hold on tight.http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/09/03/30106.htm

Filling a Burning Need

 One of the most controversial arts celebrations in the world takes place in the middle of the desert every year. Attendance for the weekend isn't cheap. Admission runs from $300-$360 per person. It's nasty, dirty, gritty with an abundance of drugs, nudity and ... art. Over 199 pieces not including the artistry evident in the Burning Man cars and Burning Man costumes.

With the wretchedly poor economy (and we all know artists are some of the lowest on the income totem pole) why would attendance be up? Over 50,000 showed up to celebrate the unconventional from all over the world. In fact, Africa is starting a Burning Man event as well. Why? 

My theory: because as our societies become more repressed we need an outlet and a place where we can gather with the like-minded. Here you have an event that exemplifies freedom of expression. So OF COURSE it is going to draw the artists, as well as those that celebrate their right to think, feel, and enjoy freely - without the hypocritical constraints and standards  society imposes. Not everyone in society is content to be told you shall or you shall not. So often it's the artists that push back.

The giant effigy that is burned at the end of the event is said to be symbolic of a letting go - releasing of worries, materialism, social misery. I disagree. I think it's a giant fuck-you finger setting the night on fire - reminding society that while it can dictate it can't control. Not the thoughts and hearts of a people needing the freedom to express.

Attendance up? Yeah - I think more people are crossing that line over to the fuck-you side as cultures become more and more rigid and dictatorial. Excuse me while I go out back and build an effigy to burn...

http://www.rgj.com/article/20100905/EVENTS04/100904022/1321/NEWS

http://www.burningman.com/

DAM Arts: Fighting for the Right to Express

Owen Maseko, a Zimbabwe artist, will go to trial next month for painting scenes of the 1980 Gukurahundi uprising, when 20,000 civilians were massacred by government troops. His art reopens discussions of oppression and violence in Zimbabwe. The images have been banned this week under the country's censorship laws effectively shutting down his ability to share his art and ideas with his people. 

Owen Maseko says “As an artist for the sake of the whole artist community, I have to challenge the ban. There is no way we can function as artists if we can’t be free to express ourselves. The most important thing as an artist is that we need to be relevant to the society we are living in.” 

The Media Institute of South Africa complained that the ban not only violates citizens’ right to freedom of expression but disregards the Banjul Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa. The declaration guarantees the right to impart information and ideas in print and art as a “fundamental and inalienable human right”. 

Maseko points out that if it goes to trial it means the police risk having the issue openly discussed and at the same time if they dismiss the case it means they automatically have to allow him to re-open the exhibition and the public can actually see it. The government is attempting to erase portions of Zimbabwe’s history.  

But pretending it doesn’t exist, won’t make it go away, instead it will allow the issues to fester. Allowing artists to touch the people - be their voice of anger, sorrow and outrage, provides an essential function in a society. Without it, the voiceless go mad. 

http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33875:artist-owen-maseko-to-fight-home-affairs-ban&catid=37&Itemid=37

Other Relevant links:
http://artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=40409 
 http://www.zimbabwejournalists.com/story.php?art_id=6862&cat=1