Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?
Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?
Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#1
Posted: 1/8/08 at 1:48am
For example, Ian Curtis of Joy Division hung himself after watching Werner Herzog's STROZEK and then listening to Iggy Pop's THE IDIOT.
Mark David Chapman killed John Lennon after reading THE CATCHER IN THE RYE.
Spaulding Gray killed himself apparently after watching the film BIG FISH.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#2
Posted: 1/8/08 at 6:15amYes, I do, and it makes me sick when they make movies about it even more. Anything to make a buck...it's disgusting. I hear that soon the movie will be out about Chapman. You know why a movie would be made about John Hinckley before James Brady? Because hero doesn't sell...sensationalism does. I think that Chapman would have killed John Lennon if he read "Catcher in the Rye" or not. That was just a lame excuse for a sick man that wanted the limelight.
Stand-by Joined: 11/5/07
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#2
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:32amMentally ill people who are inclined toward acts of sensational violence will always read more into a work of art than what is intended. It doesn't matter what they read, they will eventually find what they are looking for in one work or another. Why do ask? Are you planning a violent act that you feel is dictated by a novel or movie?
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#3
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:54am
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Cruel_Sandwich stomps feet, kicks little sister and begins pout session after reading Ida Noodleman's insightful post. Movie to be directed by Tim Burton.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/26/04
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#4
Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:00amIt's WIERD, but I read your topic title as just the opposite - people who create 'art' from horrible acts. Photographic images of victims of crimes being the least of these. These are totally reprehensible to me. The one's you actually meant are (as Ira said) the results of a victim of mental illness mis-reading the item in question. There's no telling how their minds are going to interpret otherwise innocent items.
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mamie4 5/14/03
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#5
Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:26amDon't forget, Cruel: That eighties kid tried to kill himself after listening to Judas Priest! But he was a nobody, not a celebrity at all so I guess it doesn't count.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#6
Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:09amNope, not at all. I mean I am constantly reading your ridiculous posts and I've not so much as even smacked the cat.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#7
Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:42amI don't ascribe to the theory that being exposed to those works of art were the direct causes of the violent acts.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/23/05
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#8
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:23pm
The only thing that I find REALLY weird is Cruel_Sandwhich.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#9
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:33pm
Now his spam isn't even original.
He starts posts because of other comments in other threads.
JUST STOP POSTING NEW THREADS!
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#10
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:35pm
"It's WIERD, but I read your topic title as just the opposite - people who create 'art' from horrible acts."
Mamie---I thought the same thing!
I was expecting to discuss Picasso's masterpiece Guernica or James Cameron's Titanic.
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re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#11
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:48pmbesty I FINALLY get to see Guernica in Madrid in April. I am SO psyched!
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#12
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:52pmElphaba, it is amazing in person. Much larger than I expected it to be.
The opposite of creation isn't war, it's stagnation.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#13
Posted: 1/8/08 at 7:56pmStick I am so excited. That and the Prado will be the highlights of Madrid....well, and the thick hot chocolate and churros!
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#14
Posted: 1/8/08 at 8:57pm
What about Botero?
He painted a whole series of paintings that dealt with Abu Ghraib.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#15
Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:40pm
the only thing Botero makes me do is smile! 
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#16
Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:58pm
Did you see the other Abu Ghraib paintings?
The man is incredibly talented (my favorite is the fat Mona Lisa), but those Abu Ghraib ones are pretty sick. I can't post any here, but you can find them online.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#17
Posted: 1/8/08 at 11:03pmNo, I haven't-Ididn't know about them. I'll check it out.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#18
Posted: 1/8/08 at 11:16pmAustin, thank you for "exposing" me to this work of Botero. I just spent some time on various sites looking and reading about the pieces. (I'm a little embarrassed that I didn't know about them).
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#19
Posted: 1/9/08 at 12:39am
Don't feel to bad. I found about the Abu ones in a really good GQ article. I think it was GQ, anyway.
As an artist, you have to do what you have to do. And painting those paintings is something he felt he had to do. As far as I know, he won't sell them. He doesn't want to make a profit off such a horrible act.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#20
Posted: 1/9/08 at 12:46am
I agree that as an artist you have to do what you have to do, and he did.
I don't like the paintings at all. It would be interesting to see what path his art takes from there. Will he continue on his political phase? We'll see.
Stand-by Joined: 11/5/07
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#21
Posted: 1/9/08 at 7:36am
I've always loved Botero's work, but I haven't seen the Abu Ghraib paintings yet. Will have to check those out.
I agree that an artist should do what they ahve to do and an artist can use acts of horror to make a strong statement, just like they can use beauty to the same effect. However, if you're talking about someone using art as a reason for committing acts of violence and believing that the art has given them some sort of message to do so (that seems to be what the original post was asking), that's just mental illness and has nothing to do with the art.
If you're talking about using acts of horror and violence in art to shock people with no intent to make a statement, that nothing more than sensationalism done to gain attention. The purpose of any form of art, whether it's based on violence or beauty, should be to make people think and feel, not just shock them or gain attention for the artist.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#22
Posted: 1/9/08 at 10:24am
"If you're talking about using acts of horror and violence in art to shock people with no intent to make a statement, that nothing more than sensationalism done to gain attention. The purpose of any form of art, whether it's based on violence or beauty, should be to make people think and feel, not just shock them or gain attention for the artist."
I wonder if and how you can tell the difference in motives from viewing the work.
I don't refer to Botero here, though. I'm quite sure he's sincere.
I hope he returns to his former style.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/10/03
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#23
Posted: 1/9/08 at 10:25am
I applaud Botero's Abu Garib series. It creates a more permanent visual reminder of the blood on our hands. Wouldn't want one hanging in my hallway, but I'm glad the paintings exist, and hope lots of people get to see them.
Through the ages, art has depicted the suffering of man...often as it's being inflicted by others. Museums are filled with horrific images, but they don't have the ability to hurt us as much because enough time has passed that they don't feel personal. Or don't make us feel responsible. Or guilty.
re: Do you feel weird about art connected to horrible acts of violence?#24
Posted: 1/9/08 at 10:35am
Actually, I'd like to amend what I said about Botero being sincere. He is sincere in his motive to cause us to think. However, since he does admit that the acts he depicted are not what actually happened at Abu Ghraib, and that he created them after reading an article written about the prison, he has added sensationalism to the work.
He hasn't accurately depicted what went on.
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