From paintings, to music, to protests, to health care--Marxist theory abounds. Let's try applying the Marxist lens to the following paintings.
"Pigstown Council Annual Meeting" by Jalaini Abu Hassan
"Liberation of Baghdad" by Sandow Birk
"In Smog and Thunder" by Sandow Birk
"A Painting for a Government Poster" by John Falter
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I really liked all these paintings. They were interesting, and hectic, crazy looking, yet there was a balance that really allowed you to look at the painting.
ReplyDeleteSandow Birks painting Liberation of Baghdad is interesting. The American soldier standing all by himself ontop of the tank, and then below him the only other ones on the tank or even touching it are the American soldiers. The faces on everyone and the general mood is happy and celebratory, but it still is showing that the American soldiers have the power, because they are always taller or up higher than the non soliders they are around. its just interesting to see that even though in time of whats to be thought of a "peacetime" there still is that power struggle within a newly freed city.
I agree with Mary, in the painting Liberation of Baghdad the american soldiers do hold the power. It is werid to see they are all celebrting when everything around them is blown up, or if you didn't notice there are two dead people laying on the ground. I aslo noticed that there are two dogs. You can never tell when a dog is fighting or playing, and in this picture its not quite clear, maybe the dogs represent that even thought it may be a celebration we are still fighting.
ReplyDeleteIn the painting Power Games, there is a ton of stuff going on. There is a lot of red and eyes. I also observed The lady on the left with a green sweater, and a blonde girl in blue. The entire painting looks like it's reflected over, But the right side crosses over at points, like the green faced figures arms. airplanes and toothbrushes are also in the painting and it seems maybe they could represent cleanliness being taken in war? war being what the planes represent.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to point out something interesting I noticed in "Pyramid of Capitalist System". Despite all the people and captions the first thing that really stood out to me was that the artist placed a sack of money above the "I Rule You" category. This could represent that this highest branch was closest to complete economic power, but I think it has more to do with the artists belief that money is even more important than humans, higher even than the ruling class, in the capitalist system.
ReplyDelete"The Painting for a Government Poster" is all about power, clear and simple. Maybe that's why I was drawn to it; it was simple enough to understand at first glance but has a bold statement.
ReplyDeleteAn SS officer is forcing men to work, lifting heavy objects while the German beats then with the butt of his rifle. What I found interesting was that the workers are shirtless, perhaps indicated a lack of power, wealth, and/or status. Even more intriguing is the fact that the workers ARE strong, muscular. Even the older looking man, though he is lower and off to the side of the painting, he too is strong built and able bodied. Another thing to point out is that there as a barbed wire fence in the back ground, giving the idea that this would be happening in a concentration or labor camp. But the men in the painting are a stark contrast to the pictures we've all seen of the prisoners in such labor camps during WWII.
My question, then, is who is this poster directed towards? Those who arguably don't have power in the painting seem far from weak.
In the painting, "Liberation of Baghdad," it openly portrays that the United States is in control. They engulf the center of the painting, and have almost all public support (with the possible exception of the two dead fellas on the edges of the canvas). Flowers are being thrown in appreciation and celebration.
ReplyDeleteCloser scrutiny reveals that while all of the common buildings are lying in ruins, the temple in the distance remains intact and undisturbed by U.S. presence. This temple symbolizes those in power within the country itself. While the United States may have conquered a couple of common criminals (dead fellas mentioned before), the true threat still exists in the corrupt bourgeoisie inside the temple. This hidden message is completed by the pair dogs; blood will still be shed, the fighting has only begun.
I love Willy's comment about the "Pyramid of Capitalism System" painting having money placed at the tope of the pyramid, about the "I Rule You." I believe this has huge significance. Money is what motivates, or should I say, controls people.
ReplyDeleteI noticed at the bottom of the pyramid, on the floor, is a baby. What is this statement supposed to mean? That the people on the last level of the pyramid, the level that has the most people- the working people at that, are as helpless as a baby? Maybe I'm not seeing it correctly, but if you ask me, that's very blunt. I also noticed that the lower level is the only level that is racially diverse.
If you look at the 4th level, the one that has "We Fool You" written next to it, the 3 people on this level are all celebrities. Is the artist trying to say that fame is close, if not equal, to power? And that the power they possess is controlled by the higher level?
On what nick said I think the poster is pointed towards the working class. They are trying to rise up but the government pushes them downward. working class are powerful and can not realize their full potential. I made a few other observations to tie on to Nick's comment.They are shirtless, and I agree that shows their status more, but they are not bruised or have scratches physically and that could mean they also don't emotionally, which leads me to believe that they have strength inside themselves. The men all hold red pillars but the one on the right and the highest one holes a brown piece of wood. Maybe that man is beginning to rise upward and fight for what he wants. Also, the sky is pink with swirls of white and bleeds to a blue color.
ReplyDeleteI was viewing the painting “Hollywood” and so much wrong is in this painting. One of the first things I noticed is that all the women have spotlights shining on them and have yellow hair. I suppose this symbolizes that they are in the “spotlight” of society and famous, holding the power in this scene. I am not entirely sure why they are blonde, however. Maybe the blonde is supposed to symbolize the “tainted” side of the rich, since white means purity?
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that I found funny was the buildings on fire in the background. The entire focus of the painting is on the women, that you don’t notice the chaos going on in the city. This could symbolize that so much horrors occur to common society. But it is over shadowed by the rich and beautiful.
After depicting the "Power Games" painting, I agree with Merissa and how she said there is a lot going on. What I find interesting is how everything seems to be reflected and that each reflection is altered in different ways. I wonder if the artist is trying to convey the idea that not everything is the way it seems. Or maybe it could possibly be the difference between socioeconomic classes. I would take the left side of the painting to be the lower classes, simple because the right side has a copious amount of eyes “watching” the lower and the ring on one of the red hands. I also see a hand on the bottom left corner caressing what seems to be a red child. I take this idea as a symbol of empathy the people of the lower class have towards each other. I also noticed the right side, or the upper class side, also has a balcony. Perhaps this is to convey the message the right side is above the left? Also, each side seems to be united by the toothpaste-airplanes that are providing for each side. I see this as society; that the left (lower class) side and the right (upper class) side are being united through what society provides for them.
ReplyDeleteIn "Liberation of Baghdad", I also noticed the Americans being placed in power like Mary said. However, one thing no one has mentioned is the tanks. They are the actual power in this situation, and their power is transfered to their owners (the soldiers). This is a good example of different classes, not necessarily within our country, but within the world. As a whole, the Americans are of higher socioeconomic status than the Iraqis. I also noticed the small flag in the hand of the soldier on the tank, and it reminded me of what Tyson said about how patriotism keeps poor people fighting wars. I think that definitely applies here when there wasn't a clear reason for our invading Iraq.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the Garden of Eden painting. The biggest thing that stood out to me, was the black in white in the left corner with the wooly mammoth. It looked like it was walking out of the picture in a way. I took it as the past and history, being wiped out and in its place is modernized america.
ReplyDeleteAdam is playing xbox and drinking a coke, and I felt like Hollywood being connected to all the buildings by the color strips represents how the media takes over our lives at times, and connects us all to the good and bad of our world.
Does anyone have an idea of why the animals are there?
Building off of what Julie said about women being the center, I'd like to talk about the apparently topless women in the center. I believe the artist is using her, not only to distract from the burning city and chaos, but also as a symbol of the ideologies that distract from Marxist thinking and keep the proletariat oppressed. For instance those distracted by religious views would claim that she isn't wearing nearly enough clothes and is morally inappropriate, thereby focusing on her and not the fire in the background. The Rugged individualist would argue that this is her choice and since she is being filmed, it is art and freedom of expression, again ignoring everything else. Finally the patriot would notice her as as an actress, or at least part of a film in progress, and congradulate her on joining one of the nations most profitable businesses, the film industry. Since she's part of the film she's making money and supporting American capitalist business- very patriotic. All focus through these ideologies is on her, the center of the piece, and not on the working class where it belongs.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at the Government Poster painting and it’s obvious that it revolves mostly around power. Either directly by the SS officer stomping on the back of the workers, or the lack of power the working men are putting up.
ReplyDeleteI’d have to agree with Nick about the men working. If this is indeed supposed to be a portrayal of the WWII camps why are the men strong, able-bodied men. Most in the concentration camps were weak and dying not thriving and muscular. The people in the concentration camps were not fed properly and it just seems odd, and misplaced that these men would be so strong. Merissa also makes a good point, with the working class beginning to up rise and overtake the ruling tougher class.
Danille, I think that the animals are there because the picture is suppose to represent a lot of nature and natural things. It seems like a clash between old and new. Its strikes me odd though that Eve is Above Adam when usually men are "above" women. I also notice that Eve is handing Adam a rose, but he looks like he won't take it. The city in the background has a McDonalds which is one of the most powerful companies in business these days.
ReplyDeleteCaitie, I didnt even see that while looking at the picture. With eve having those rose in her hand, it gets me thinking. Are women more in tune with the natural aspect of the world, and they attempt to spread it more than men would?
ReplyDeleteThe power shift is the clash between the old and new. Its easy to see that the power is most definitly with the new as it takes the majority of the painting, and is pushing the old out.
Is that what is happening in our world today?
Merissa made a good point that I had not thought of before. The largest man holds a piece of wood, not a red beam, while the oldest looking man is the lowest point, hunched over.
ReplyDeleteSomething interesting to think about. Does THIS symbolize that the young will rise to power and the old will fall prey to the system? I'm not sure.
I looked at the Pigs Towncouncil painting. In this picture, the artists shows two different sides of the governement. One man is transparent and has a long nose like Pinochio. I can infer that this man can be a dishonest man that people see right through, like no one can trust him.
ReplyDeleteThe second man is naked and has the head of a pig. On this side of the painting Babi Harus is inscripted all aorund him. Researching it, I believe this means Pig Definitely. The pig in this picture has a shorter more stout nose. Does this mean his more honest than the other? The backround of this painting I found that Malaysian people called some political leaders pig farmers because they were after just power and wealth. So now which man is the dishonest man?
"In Smog and Thunder" is a really interesting piece. There is some sort of battle going on, which I assume is the war between the upper and lower class. There is also a little valley between the two sides, which could symbolize the gulf between the haves and the have nots. One thing that did puzzle me was the mickey mouse in the lower right corner. It seems really out of place. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
ReplyDeleteI also looked at the Hollywood painting. In this picture the first thing that catches your eye is the girl in the center of the painting. All the light is on her. She is surrounded by all these people shotting cameras. The woman in the center could represent the upper class while the working, lower class surounds her.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I noticed that off to the side was another scene being shot. This has another person in the spot light while others surround him or her. Based on these little grouped scenes plus the one big scene in the middle, I think this painting shows our government. Each scene is like a state. Each state has its one Senator or Governor (leader). The one big scene in the middle could be the President's scene. Like the woman in the middle could be the highest class there is.
I also notice like a burning city or object in the backround. What is that? What does it symbolize?
Mary makes a very strong point in the painting "A Painting for a Government Poster". It's ironic how the shirtless men seem muscular when they should be very weak and scrawny. But maybe the brown thing isn't necessarily a plank but some sort of chest, maybe showing that there's more burden on that guy than the rest of them.
ReplyDeleteI looked at the Garden of Eden. I thought it was interesting how Adam and Eve were placed so far from Hollywood yet it still reached them via the television and game system. It almost seems to be saying that no matter how pure you are, you are tainted in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to know why the flower is placed in the foreground. What is that symbolizing?
I'm going to tag along with Mary and Zach. I'm jumping on the train for the Government poster... They both talk about how "ironic it is that the shirtless men seem stronger, when they should be week and scrawny"... or so one would think. Maybe the artist is trying to send a message with this. that for some reason these people, no matter how strong they may be, cannot break away from the authority that control's them. that they choose not to. Not because they don't think they could win. But because of that sense of higher authority over them, intimidates them. Like our middle class that we were talking about. There's enough of us to fight against the main-stream. We make up most of the American society, but why don't we do anything... We know we can win... But we also know that there is authority over all of us... How does this work in our minds? What in the world is stopping us? We could have anything our way if we all worked together... but then again... there's also that sense of individualism that we all have to ourselves... Which is what Emily touched on a lot in class earlier today. I wish we would have focused on that a tid bit more. No matter how we unite, we will all do it with our own intentions. The person to the left of us may want something a little different than the person to the right. And maybe that's exactly what fails to unite us all together. I could have just answered my own question... but I could still believe there is more to it. I don't know, hopefully someone helps me out.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Power Games, I found it really interesting, as Merissa and Emily said, to really focus on the reflecting images. The entire pictures seems to be symmetric, reflecting images, but it's not at all, it is merely the facade of just that. I think that Emily is right when she said that this change in the reflection is saying that things are always as they seem. Through a marxist lense, I also saw the same things as Emily. The eyes watching, looking down upon the left side and the ring on the hand on the right side. I find it interesting also that the upper class side is on the "right" side...
ReplyDeleteIn the painting "Pyramid of Capitalist System", literally, the painting is inaccurate where it says "You are here". If Obama or Simon Cowell was looking at this painting, they surely wouldn't be placed at the bottom. It all depends on who's viewing the painting. Another way that this painting is inaccurate, to me, is that the upper class is placed below military and fame. This just doesn't make sense to me.
ReplyDeleteWhen I took a look at power games, I noticed the symmetry as well. I liked that Ashley and Emily mentioned that the eyes were looking down. That was the main thing I noticed through the Marxist Lense. I feel like the amount of red in the painting is significant as well. Maybe the whole Red Scare idea or anger/rage between the two classes?
ReplyDeleteThe other piece of art I looked at was The Garden of Eden. I thought that by placing the naked folks in the foreground, the artist was kind of glorifying the simpler lifestyle. However, if they were going for that approach, it could be criticized much like the Great Gatsby as it is contracting in the fact that the naked folk (who I believe symbolize Adam and Eve especially) are playing a video game on a television set. I think this expresses the idea that nothing goes untouched by hollywood--by the media. I also thought that this was supported by the rollar coaster looking links connecting the buildings and hollywood together.
ReplyDeleteThe other I received was the pyramid of capitalism. It shows that the leaders we have will rule us, the media will want to control us, the military we have will keep us in line, the upper class will benefit from everything. the middle class will struggle between, and the lower class will simply struggle... and the focus of capitalism... is money. Which is strategically placed on the top of the pyramid. How convienent eh?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, whether by my poor vision or the size of the artwork, I could hardly examine "In Smog and Thunder" to my satisfaction. From what I can tell it is a clash of factions; the proletariat versus the bourgeoisie. Scattered throughout the landscape are various materialistic possessions, most of which are on the upper class side of the painting. Also on the side of the bourgeoisie is a "Free ATM" sign, which is a statement that the rich don't have to work for their money. This is an interesting statement within a unique approach to the modern day struggle for power.
ReplyDeleteI notice that no one has commented on the “America” painting. I believe that it is actually kind of sad if you actually take a look at it and think about it. Positioned in the front is an African- Americans fist and a Native American. The African- American is holding up a fist which is too stand for power, and the civil rights movement that took too free African-Americans from the racism they experienced, however, he is still “chained”. The Native American is crouched down, holding a gun, and to me it seems like he is defending “his land” that the white settlers had “taken” from him.
ReplyDeleteIn the background of the picture is a giant ballot piece of paper that stands for government and the freedom of choice. Do we really have as much of a choice as we think we do or does government really control everything?