That picture of the hooded man on the box with electrodes is....ART!!

[homelandpunk]

Hear me out.
It is a very artsy picture.
I mean as image, a representation of SOMETHING indefinable, it qualifies. And I apologize my brain works that way, but to me, it is highly stylized iconic art. Pure genius (were it done on purpose, of course). That it is unintentional, however, does not make it any less appealing. That there is no artist (conventionally speaking) behind the art does not nullify the existece of this piece or any others in such a category. Now at this point you are supposed to scream "APPEALING????!!! ARTSY???!!!"
Well, yes. I like it. It appeals to my sense of what art is.
The picture will be famous for centuries. Not famous like the pic of the South Vietnamese General popping a bullet into the head of the young VC. (Though some may argue that is art also.) There is more to this one than mere atrocity documentation.
I certainly hope the man who was the subject of this photo adjusts to what he was put thru. I hope that inbred ugly ass bitch "Lucky" Lyndie crawls back under her rock when she is released from prison 25 years from now.
But that ONE picture is art. The rest disgust me.
Okay, tell me I am one sick bastard. Or that it is too early to make these observations, even if the opinion may be correct. OK, It might be too early to say what I have, but art does not wait for a time period to elapse. It is what it is.
I do know it will forever be an indictment against Bush and the current militarization of America.
I really don't intend flames, just discussion.

[bobbieinok]

1. Susan Sontag (I think) has written on fascist aesthetics

[homelandpunk]

9. oooooo....good one. I'm a fascist.

Unintentionally produced works of art by fascists does not make the piece aesthetically appealing to fascists. In fact, fascists would rather the picture just go away.
I like it for what it is VISUALLY. Because it's art.

[grasswire]

2. Enduring, yes.

I can't keep my eyes off it.

[CatWoman]

3. Uh................................huh

[alittlelark]

4. Kinda on par w/ the 'Napalm Girl'

in Vietnam.

[hedda_foil]

7. Precisely like the Napalm Girl.

[Must_B_Free]

12. I thought the Inverse Klansman was like Napalm Girl.

The one with the suffer in the black hood on the box with wires.

It's the haunting one. And that hood and robe are suggestive of the KKK costumes.

[homelandpunk]

16. I think that is the one I am referring to....unless there is another?

[homelandpunk]

10. yeah, I can see that.

It is missing certain elements this one has going for it though.

[alcuno]

5. I bought the Chicago Sun Times today because it's plastered on the front.

I don't know why, I just wanted that picture. It reminds me so much of the crucifixion. It's horrifying to look at and when you know the story behind it it's even worse.

[SayitAintSo]

15. Same for me ... reminds me of the crucifixion ... n/t

[Career Prole]

6. Garfunkel? Carney? Linkletter? n/t

[homelandpunk]

13. Sorry? Here's your reference: ------ Here's my head: ______

whoosh! right over!!

[dsc]

14. famous men named Art

[homelandpunk]

17. Now see, if you had just added "Bell" I would have gotten it. : )

[dsc]

19. actually I don't know that one

I did know the three the poster chose tho. I love Simon and Garfunkle. Not to mention liking Linkletter.

[kentuck]

8. In the eyes of the beholder, I suppose....

Like blood on the tracks...

[dsc]

11. In a disturbing sense you are right

which makes this all the worse. The picture does have alot of artistic merit which implies an awful lot of thought went into it. Maybe it is just an accident but on a very disturbing level it is artistic.

[MiniMoog]

18. Joel Peter-Witkin

Was the first artist that came to mind when I saw this image. He has a very similar aesthetic, quite extraordinary photographer/portratist in a gruesome acknowledgment and identification with his Id. A piece entitled "Torture of the Pope In Exile" is a variance on the electrode theme here.

*Warning* If you're not familiar with his work you google...you may be disturbed.

MiniMoog

[mike1963]

20. I'm not sure what 'art' really is, but I think I agree with you.

And the definition is ...well, by definition, subjective - my own take on it is something like "anything that gyrates your intellectual hormones..."

It certainly accomplishes that, as we see from all the commentary.

Eye of the beholder, obviously.

[LibertyorDeath]

21. You are one sick bastard.

[homelandpunk]

24. So if Warhol had hired a model, set up the exact same scene and shot it

intentionally as art, I would be OK for liking it? And not a sick bastard? Or I'd still be a sick bastard for appreciating it even then?
How curious.

[ShaneGR]

22. You need help

Lots of it.

[homelandpunk]

23. Why?

The picture is symbolic, it conjures archetypes, iconic representations, mixes metaphors, it's got it all, brother!
You need help.
I said I am taking it for what it is VISUALLY. Its other baggage is irrelevant to my point. The fact you cannot compartmentalize something that simple in your head means you may need lots of help.

[T Bone]

25. True art precipitates a reaction or response

Good, bad, ugly. The reaction or 'response', if you will, to an image or a representation is what defines art. IMHO.

Seems to be plenty of response here.

[meow mix]

26. under that hood is a person in misery.. not some happy smiling art student

sick thread. *gag*