(I will offer some brief personal commentary about protest art in Trumpian times and some commentary on it from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Benjamin writes that once art loses is authenticity, it is related to a practice different from art in many ways: politics. He develops this point in both sections four and five of his essay, "The Work of Art...". Authenticity is derived from the work's aura — what Benjamin describes as the "strange tissue between time and space" or, more simply, the object's vibe. Authenticity is also rooted in ritual and tradition. When art strays from this and is distributed to the masses through technological means, it is politicized in Benjamin's eyes. The first work of art I have on this post is a photo of a sculpture by Trump that has been reproduced (or, rather, distributed) through technological means, including social media, online news media and other outlets. Its sole purpose is to act as a means of political protest; the work itself has a high amount of exhibition value via the internet and its placement in a gallery. Kant also says that true art is absent of purpose, and a work like this certainly serves one. However, I feel that Benjamin might appreciate the work because, though it is politicized, its exhibition is not for the sake of consumerism or mass distribution. This work also ties in with Benjamin's perceptions of photography that do not allow for "free-floating contemplation" and "demand a certain perception"; essentially, this photo is propaganda and it has a clear message that it projects onto the viewer. However, as I stated in a previous montage, Benjamin does honor the emancipative properties of photography and believes it can be used to bring light to pressing issues or free certain peoples. I definitely think that the photograph of this sculpture is emancipatory in a way because it sheds light on Trump's character and leads people toward the path of taking action against a prejudiced politician. Here's an explanation of the sculpture directly from the CBC. I found it interesting and telling The artist's message is clear: Trump is a pig, a megalomaniac and almost sociopathic: 'UK artist James Ostrer (whose unsettling portraiture recently appeared at Regina's Dunlop Art Gallery) brought his latest exhibition, "The Ego System," to Hong Kong in late March. He calls the pictures "honesty portraits," and how does he see Trump? He's a pile of meat wearing a wig. That's the literal interpretation, in any case. Emotional Download, Ostrer's Trump portrait, is a sculpture of raw fish, chewed pastry and some mangled animal parts for Trump's eyes and snout, all squished into a blue suit. It's a picture of Trump's megalomania, says the artist, and as he explained to Reuters, it's "got to the point where his need for attention is overriding any kind of relationship or care for anyone else in the world."' I have also placed other examples of political protest art in light of the Trump administration on this post for viewing pleasure, too. One, which I find particularly funny, is an actor dressed as Trump walking with female protesters holding their own "patriotic" art, which seems satirical to me in light of post-election feminist protests.
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