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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
 Posted - 07/08/2005 : 16:48:38
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A painting called "American Fundamentalists" done by Joel Pelletier has been touring freethought groups. As a Masters in Fine Arts candidate, I am speaking on a panel discussion about the painting at the Secular Student Alliance Con in late August. I am curious about other skeptics' responses to this painting.
The painting and details about it can be viewed at:
www.americanfundamentalists.com
And more about the SSA con can be viewed at:
www.secularstudents.org
Marf
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"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard
USA
4574 Posts |
Posted - 07/08/2005 : 17:01:52 [Permalink]
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Yeah, I don't know. Kind of heavy-handed in its symbolism. Though I'm sure "in your face!" was probably what the artist was going for. The painting reminds me of a series of political cartoons and caricatures just all stitched together on a single canvas, although I realize he did model the composition on another piece. It's just too overtly political for me to care much about as art. Politically, however, I mostly agree with the message.
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"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman
"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie |
| Edited by - H. Humbert on 07/08/2005 17:07:02 |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2005 : 01:32:46 [Permalink]
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"I don't knows nothin' 'bout art, but I knows what I likes..."
I had to go back to it several times to get the hang of the thing. Reading the cast of charectios was a big help, as I couldn't make out individuals in the painting -- aging eyes and cheap specticals.
I wonder if prints will be available.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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skepticality
Skeptic Friend
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2005 : 16:40:09 [Permalink]
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Mixed feelings...
It feels a little too much like the types of blanket propaganda that folks in the Secular, or Skeptical groups often point at and hate in others.
Not sure why, since I agree with most of what they are trying to do... But, feels dirty somehow. |
Derek Colanduno
host - skepticality
http://www.skepticality.com/ |
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skepticality
Skeptic Friend
USA
105 Posts |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2005 : 17:47:52 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by skepticality
Mixed feelings...
It feels a little too much like the types of blanket propaganda that folks in the Secular, or Skeptical groups often point at and hate in others.
Not sure why, since I agree with most of what they are trying to do... But, feels dirty somehow.
Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.
The painting told me nothing that I didn't already know, but the art is interesting if not fascinating. It reminds me a little of some of the political cartoons dating from before the American Revolution into the early 1900s.
And I'm dirty, anyway.... 
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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marfknox
SFN Die Hard
USA
3739 Posts |
Posted - 07/09/2005 : 23:02:51 [Permalink]
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OK, now that the ball is rolling, I'll say what I think. It is bad art. It is only an imitation of the Ensor painting in the most superficial of ways, the execution is inconsistent, and the whole things looks like an overwroght political cartoon that desperately wants to be fine art. It would make a fine book cover for a critical book about modern American conservatism, and that's about all.
So, um, did anyone notice that a good third of the people in the painting are not actually fundamentalists? (At least not by any commonly understood or standard academic definition of the word.) He includes libertarians and Jewish neo-cons, and calls them "economic fundamentalists" and "political fundamentalists". The artist's arrogant rants about his own painting on the website are actually rather entertaining. |
"Too much certainty and clarity could lead to cruel intolerance" -Karen Armstrong
Check out my art store: http://www.marfknox.etsy.com
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2005 : 02:28:45 [Permalink]
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Deleted 'cause it's early in the morning and the coffee ain't workin' yet.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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| Edited by - filthy on 07/10/2005 02:37:17 |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 07/10/2005 : 02:34:27 [Permalink]
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quote:
Originally posted by filthy
[quote]Originally posted by marfknox
OK, now that the ball is rolling, I'll say what I think. It is bad art. It is only an imitation of the Ensor painting in the most superficial of ways, the execution is inconsistent, and the whole things looks like an overwroght political cartoon that desperately wants to be fine art. It would make a fine book cover for a critical book about modern American conservatism, and that's about all.
So, um, did anyone notice that a good third of the people in the painting are not actually fundamentalists? (At least not by any commonly understood or standard academic definition of the word.) He includes libertarians and Jewish neo-cons, and calls them "economic fundamentalists" and "political fundamentalists". The artist's arrogant rants about his own painting on the website are actually rather entertaining.
Yes, I did. I liked it for it's chaotic collage of well known figures, most of whom I despise. I also liked the style. I still don't get the point of the thing, but that's not important, really. Perhaps it has no point.
Heh, show me an artist who is not a bit arrogant about his work, and I'll show you one who ain't sellin' many paintin's.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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furshur
SFN Regular
USA
1536 Posts |
Posted - 07/11/2005 : 10:49:44 [Permalink]
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I agree that it is just bad art. I think the concept is interesting and even the composition is ok - but his style (ability) leaves alot to be desired.
Everybody's a critic....
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If I knew then what I know now then I would know more now than I know. |
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