Please look and sign this is seriously bad...

[Sancho]

Gonna sound pretentious here, but I think in its original context it was art. By that, I mean it was intended to provoke a reaction in people and demonstrate to them their own hypcorisy in getting upset about something they actually see every day and dismiss.

We don't have the same problem with strays here so it just looks like a tasteless stunt, but it was in a small gallery in Nicaragua, wasn't marketed worldwide and seems to, as Slugsie said, have been blown out of all proportion.

[Predictable Bob]

[QUOTE=Sancho;437673]Gonna sound pretentious here, but I think in its original context it was art. By that, I mean it was intended to provoke a reaction in people and demonstrate to them their own hypcorisy in getting upset about something they actually see every day and dismiss.

QUOTE]



Hmmm - if that's a valid definition of art then would I be right in saying that shooting Gordon Brown would be a masterpiece ?

[Sancho]

Hmmm - if that's a valid definition of art then would I be right in saying that shooting Gordon Brown would be a masterpiece ?

I knew I shouldn't have started that....

Not really, there's nothing being demonstrated by killing Gordon Brown.

I don't think the dog thing is very good, but there is an argument that something can be considered art if it's thought provoking, and it's certainly that.

Personally, I like to use this machine.



http://www.timhunkin.com/76_isitartcollecting_box.htm

[Slugsie]

The definition of 'What is art?' is a very personal thing. Even classic art (i.e. paintings by the 'masters') will be dismissed by some people as of no value. I used to dismiss most modern art straight away. But I persevered for some reason, and I started to gain an appreciation - not necessarily of the piece itself, but of what it meant/said to me. But where do you draw the line? Some of the most powerful photographic art of the 20th century depicts the suffering of our fellow man, often at the direct hands of other (wo)men. Taking pictures of a starving child in Africa isn't that far removed from what (is reported to have) happened in this instance.

[Chillitt]

Is it just me, or are these 'shock' artists, a bit pathetic? Just as the ungrateful offspring of the 4th Duke of Mintingford joined the communist party in the 60s just to upset the comfortable establishment, these talentless losers are casting about for something unpleasant to shove under the noses of the chattering classes, who in turn bay for the next gory demonstration of innate lack of ability being overcome by the artists ambition. If they truly want to shock, how about doing something original? The influence of Saatchi having more money than taste has swept through mordern art, leaving nothing but drug addicts, substandard butchers shop displays and tat. It's all so sordid....

[Diezel Weazel]

Sound like he got the attention/reaction he wanted regardless ....
Art be flucked .... reactionary Yes !!! Certainly not my cup O' tea tho !!
I hate attention Seekers

There's always a Payback .... Ya just never see it comin tho !!!!

[Bibs]

Disgusting - signed but by postin the pic here he is spreading his work, shoot the bstds that are that cruel to any living animal.

[Sancho]

It's not real. It's a hoax. It's not dead, it's just sleeping.

[Apache]

Some of the most powerful photographic art of the 20th century depicts the suffering of our fellow man, often at the direct hands of other (wo)men.

Very good point. One of the most memorable photographs I have ever seen is the one of the kids running towards the camera after a napalm attack in Vietnam. Its a horrifying image, but it is IMO great art by the definition that it moves the viewer to revulsion of the act of causing the suffering.



Another of my favorite photos is Buzz Aldrin stood in front of the US flag on the moon. This is also IMO art as again it evokes emotions opposite to the previous photos and reminds us that people are capable of great acheivements as well as great cruelty.



I nearly bought a signed framed copy of this photo from Canaveral last year. Think it worked out around £250. I didn't cos I thought Vicki would kill me - when I told her, she said I should have bought it! Doh!

[BUSHWHACKER]

[QUOTE=Apache;437933]

Another of my favorite photos is Buzz Aldrin stood in front of the US flag on the moon. This is also IMO art as again it evokes emotions opposite to the previous photos and reminds us that people are capable of great acheivements.................. ........



QUOTE]

Bit windy on the moon ain't it?

[bu5hwack3r]

I agree that this has been blown out of all proportion, and whilst totally not my cup of tea, I also agree that artistically it has had the desired effect. Once you get past the horror, a natural human reaction, and accept that this very thing is in front of you daily, (fortunately not in the UK) you begin to understand the artists intentions.

Art has always been about pushing boundaries, Renaissance art that followed Michelangelo was over exaggerated, as there was nowhere else to go with it, he had basically acheived perfection in his field. I think this applies today also, Damien Hurst and his ilk, are constantly trying to outshock both themselves and us, and again its not an artform I can identify with nor understand or appreciate, but there are plenty who do.

I breed and train gundogs, and have a menagerie of other animals, so obviously will never condone cruelty to any living thing, but it sometimes takes the suffering of one to alleviate the suffering of many. I don't think thats the case here, but as a positive it has at least highlighted the problem.

[JUDWAK]

i know a few dudes and all there work is
to takes pic of curlty to get the piont across
so i see your piont
but some how in a part of the world were dogs are food
i dont think this stunt was intended that way

[Sancho]

They don't eat dogs in Costa Rica!

They eat dogs in Korea, but not just random dogs. They are a particualr breed of dog and they're farmed specifically for eating and have been for thousands of years. They don't just wonder around finding dogs to eat.

[Apache]

Me neither!

I went to a Brazilian restaurant in the Bronx years ago, where the m.o. was to get a plate of salad and then the waiters would bring out various barbecued meats on swords, and serve whatever meat you wanted. cant remember what there was, but it ranged from the usual lamb, beef, chicken etc through to the more unusual / exotic like horse, croc, squirrel etc. Tried everything that was offered to me!

Funny thing was, when we were leaving, there was two guys in chef's gear under a tree in the corner of the carpark. they had a long pole and were whacking the hell out of something up in the tree

Local grown freerange cat perhaps?

I do think its a bit hippocritical for us to criticise others for eating dog, cat whatever to be honest. Just because we keep dogs and cats as pets and go all moist eyed and angry when other cultures eat them doesn't make us right, Hell, about 1/3rd of the world (random, probably incorrect amount) think our eating cow is wrong, and a substantial amount think eating ANY animal is wrong.

If I ever am lucky enough to visit Korea, I will certainly try dog if offered.

[Sancho]

squirrel

That's my guess.