Week 2: Political Butterflies
9October 8, 2013 by maggiew@uoregon.edu
Hello again my dears! Glad to see that you are doing your homework. 🙂
So, for this week we’re looking forward to a lecture from our spectacular Professor Mossberg on moments in history where artistic creations have directly influenced governmental actions.
In order to greatly impress your advisor–the person who will be your front line support for four years of college– I want you all to research a particular artwork or art movement that has directly influenced a political policy, legislative act, etc. While you could do something that spurred a population to revolt against a government (remember the artwork I talked about during New Student Orientation? ), I will have something special for those students that can find an artwork that directly influenced the GOVERNMENT rather than the population first. It can be fine art (painting, sculpture, mosaic), literature, architecture, even music if you like. The point is to explain WHAT the work you’ve chosen did, HOW you think it managed to do what it did, and the all important WHY do we care today?
I’d like you to post your choice before class on Wednesday. It doesn’t need to be a long explanation, but you need to answer the WHAT, HOW, and WHY. If you can, add a link or source to where you got the information.
Can’t wait to read what you guys choose!
Cheers!
Your Fearless Leader
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A more modern example of art influencing politics is Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ song “Same Love.” Through its strong lyrics and arguments in support of gay rights, “Same Love” echoed a sentiment that many Americans across the nation agrred with. After its release, DOMA was struck down, and many states made it legal for gay couples to have the same basic marriage rights as heterosexual couples. This song reminded America (and the American government) of the lingering discrimination that still exists in our country. Although America is a country based upon a principle of freedom, Macklemore publicly brought to light the fact that by not allowing homosexual couples to express their love, we were ultimately denying them their rights. Much like Michele Norris brought up the conversation of race in our summer reading book, this artist brought up the conversation of gay rights in a brave way, and dared to make it a national conversation. By framing it in a logical way, and appealing to the emotions through the use of story, Macklemore connected with his audience through song. “Same Love” was even a top 40s hit, and it aired constantly, demonstrating that his message resonated with others. While a recent example, it proves that art is still relevant in changing the mindset of those in political power, or expressing a larger view point.
Here’s the link to the YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0
I’m sorry this post is going to be kind of long, but when I saw this assignment it reminded me immediately of one of my favorite topics. There’s a great Ted Talk on this topic by a UO alumni that I’ll link to below.
The art movement I decided to look at for this assignment was the fashion industry in the United States. While this is not a specific “movement” per se, the relationship between government legislation and the fashion industry, specifically concerning copyright protection and Intellectual Property, is very interesting. While many other industries (music, literature, etc.) have strong copyright protection in the United States, there is no copyright protection for clothing garments. This has led many groups such as the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to form and advocate for legislature that protects garments. They argue that a lack of copyright protection has led to the prominence of knockoffs and fast fashion stores (copies of designers taken straight from the runway), like H&M and Forever 21. These knockoffs, according to groups in favor of copyright protection, hurt designers financially. On the other hand, opponents of copyright protection for garments argue that knockoffs really don’t effect the high fashion market (ie the same people who buy designer clothes wouldn’t buy the knockoff version and visa-versa). Additionally, copyright protection of garments in other countries has proved ineffective. It is either too difficult to copyright a garment or so easy that two almost identical garments could be copyrighted. Opponents have also pointed out that in other art industries with strong copyright protection it is difficult for artists (specifically emerging ones) to become successful.
This all boils down to viewing fashion as art or utilitarianism. Or in other words, “is a Fruit of the Loom t-shirt art in the same way that a haute couture dress is?” When viewed as art, some might argue for copyright protection because of the uniqueness and covetable nature of high fashion. The U.S. government, though, ruled garments too utilitarian to copyright during the early 20th century. Still today this issue is being fought over. Unlike other art forms that might appear too out of grasp, we all make conscious decisions about the clothes we buy (and wear).
The Ted Talk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLUzgWAEGjY
The example that I found is that of James Nachtwey’s photography. He is a photojournalist who has reported on many wars and issues both domestic and international such as the war in Afghanistan, industrial pollution, and prisons worldwide. His photographs inflict an uncomfortable feeling on the viewer, causing them to want to make a change in the problems that they see. I know that this is not a direct influence on the government, but making the people aware of issues that they may not otherwise be aware of is the first step in making a change in the government.
Here’s a link to a gallery of some of his photos: http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/
An example of art influencing government and society is Indian-British novelist Salman Rushdie’s “Satanic Verses”. The story, published in 1988, included magical realism and dream sequences that referenced Muhammad and parts of the Qur’an and Islam. The book caused immense controversy among Muslim communities because some believed the references made were blasphemous and offensive, although the author did not intend them to be so. Consequently, the book was banned in many countries with large Muslim populations. The most serious response to the book’s publication was an ordered execution of Rushdie by the leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini. He issued a fatwa, an Islamic decree, because the book was considered a threat to Islam. I think this novel caused such an uproar because it was considered offensive to a large group of people about their faith within countries that are governed based on their faith. It’s an important and relevant issue because in certain countries, the government still acts strictly on movements/people who may seem threatening to their belief system or power structure, especially in Islamic republics. More specifically, restrictions of expression are carried out, such as controls put on women’s appearances and clothing.
What I find most intriguing about the way art can influence politics is how, in a few special cases, a single piece of art has been used as the bases of two or more political movements that hold different stances on the same issue. Rather than one movement being the oppositional response to another movement that has found its inspiration in a piece of art or literature, each side in the conflict is using the same piece of art to back up its own reasoning and logic. I hope I’m making sense. I feel like this is a little bit difficult to put to words.
The particular example I’m thinking of is the film “Reefer Madness,” which–through the use of unfounded and overdramatic scare tactics–attempted to steer its viewers away from the use of marijuana. The plot of the film follows a group of teenagers as they experiment with the drug and, following such heinous events as a hit-and-run, murder, suicide, and rape, descend into madness. Of course, when the film was first released it was repeatedly used as a backdrop for anti-marijuana advocates to spread their message. The film’s ascension to popularity incited fear and of the drug among its viewers and served to temporarily solidify marijuana’s status as a strictly illegal substance in the United States.
With the rise of the drug’s commonality amongst the hippies of the mid-1960’s, however, people began to view the film as humorous and unserious. Ever since, “Reefer Madness” has been referenced by pro-legalization advocates as one of the most prominent misunderstandings regarding marijuana and the implications of its legalization. “Reefer Madness” was successful as a tool for both pro- and anti-marijuana advocates due to the extreme nature of its images and plot.Today, the film is viewed as a joke and has even attained the status of “cult classic” because of these over-the-top scare tactics. Rather than continuing to advocate for a marijuana-free America, “Reefer Madness” has become a representation of the ridiculousness most pro-legalization advocates see in the efforts to keep marijuana criminalized.
I’ve chosen Andy Warhol’s series of Electric Chair projects. It’s an exhibit that reflects on capital punishment in a America which is a very controversial politic topic today, was very controversial in the past, and I’m sure will remain controversial in the future. That’s one thing that I find interesting about these works in that, unlike what we discussed regarding propaganda, these works are still remaining very relevant to the present despite being produced in 1964. We care today because it’s been 5 decades, half a century, and these works can still spark controversy. I attached the link to the page regarding the exhibit at the Warhol Museum and one thing I find very interesting is the addition of the audio. It totally makes the exhibit as a whole more powerful and really gets people thinking on a critical level. I definitely recommend you check it out. I think the project as a whole managed to be so powerful because of the simplicity of a single empty chair in an empty room. It’s totally creepy and just emanates death to me. http://www.warhol.org/education/communityprograms/electricchair/
The photographs of Ansel Adams played a significant role in promoting the environmental movement. Specifically, his black and white photographs inspired the government and public to appreciate the beauty of the American West, particularly Yosemite. With the growing appreciation of nature and government’s newfound desire to preserve the natural world, Adams was able to advocate for the National Park System and environmental groups such as the Sierra Club. Ansel Adams’ photographs are still admired today because they remind us of the mystery, wonder, and beauty of the natural world. A link to his photographs is here http://www.anseladams.com.
I chose the iconic “Napalm Girl” photo taken by Nick Ut during the Vietnam War. The photo was later awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1973. It depicts a little girl, crying in the streets naked after her village had just been firebombed by an U.S airstrike. Coverage of the photo spread instantly to many major news outlets, and through the power of print, it revealed the side of the Vietnam War hidden from the public. This photo had a large impact on politics because of the nature of the Vietnam War it depicted. Many Americans at home were against the war and the military tactics utilized by the US government such as Agent Orange and napalm carpet-bombing as seen in this photograph. Even though it has been four decades since the photo was taken, it left a legacy in war media and policies. It revolutionized the way war is captured today and in 1980 with the help of the photo, the use of napalm in civilian warfare was outlawed under international law.
I’m particularly interested in modern street art. Street art is a really broad term – it encompasses everything from spray painted works on walls, to physical props placed in public areas, and even mosaic works composed of everyday materials. It’s important not to confuse street art with “graffiti”. Though graffiti and street art share common characteristics, their messages and intent are often very different. Graffiti, in my mind, is most commonly associated with gangs – its primary purpose is to mark territory or to spread repute. However, works of street art often carry messages with a clearly political charge.
We’re all familiar with one of Sheppard Fairey’s pieces of street art – that is, his unofficial Obama 2008 campaign poster, “Hope”. For many, this is the image that immediately comes to mind when the election comes up in everyday discourse (even though Sheppard Fairey created the image independently of Barack Obama or his campaign).
However, I contend that the most important, influential, and universally recognizable street artist in the world today is Banksy. Completely anonymous, Banksy has traveled all over the world, leaving markers of his presence through his often satirical street pieces. Famous works of his include a “beat up phone booth” – one of the iconic red London phone booths, which he stole and re-structured in his workshop to make it look like it had been mugged and left for dead with a pick-axe sticking out out it – also, his notorious fake bank notes, his murals on the Israeli West Bank Wall, his live painted “elephant in a room”, and his extensive stencils (frequent subjects involve anthropomorphic rats, policemen, elderly people, and small children).
His pieces often showcase a wry sense of realist humour – “I Don’t Believe In Global Warming” was simply the line of text… submerged in water. Another of his works, which sold at an auction for millions of dollars, was a piece of paper with the words, “I can’t believe you idiots pay for this shit” scrawled across. Banksy likes to comment on the evils of capitalist society – in 2009, he terrified bystanders in a London intersection when he created an exhibit that appeared to be a young girl (really just a hollow mannequin) being lifted into the air by a gigantic red balloon with the McDonald’s logo on it. He also notoriously put up a series of “Do not enter water, radio-active nuclear waste present” signs up around ponds in a Bristol park, which the police department unwittingly corroborated by stationing officers to tell people not to worry.
Street art, and the work of Banksy in particular, often makes us pause. It distracts us from our busy, urban lives, and forces us to think, “Is this society really perfect?”