ART100 Week11Documentary Reflection PDF

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Clinton Krysa 4.5.20 Art 100 Week 11 Documentary Reflection “Obey Giant”

“Obey Giant” was a very interesting documentary. I was unfamiliar with the artist Shepard Fairey, but I was familiar with some of his work prior to watching the documentary. His comment about having to wear a tie to school, where he would wear the ugliest tie that he had because he was being forced against his will, was very relatable. I am not a fan of being obligated to do things, and when I am, I try to find small things like that to “rebel” in a way. The Buddy Cianci political billboard that he put the Andre the Giant head on, I found to be very interesting. He got lucky with this circumstance, his actions did not get someone elected that he disagreed with, but it helped him to realize the potential impact that his art could have on people and society. More people in the world I think need to learn this lesson. I was very confused by the fact that Fairey put his name to his street art. When the documentary showed that he put his name on his manifesto I knew trouble was going to come his way. I did not know the extent to which I would be right though. It was funny to hear Shepard talk about when people would ask him what the meaning of his art was, and he would ask them what they thought it meant. The random explanations they would make up was simply hilarious and the fact that they would state such things with absolute conviction is absurd. Though, it is interesting to me how art can have different meanings for different people. His true meaning is admirable in my opinion. People, especially in America, need to open their eyes to things that are actually going on. This was highlighted in how he was treated in jail, and how people would not believe his stories. I was very disturbed by the way he was treated in the lawsuit with the AP. It is appalling how our criminal justice and political systems favor corporations over people. I understand that he should have asked permission to use the photograph of Obama, but there was absolutely no reason to go after him for millions of dollars. It is evidence for the truth of one of my favorite works in the documentary of a dollar bill that had the words, “This is your god” written on it. The greed of the AP to go after Fairey for millions of dollars over something that did not make him rich is just heartbreaking. This documentary was very enjoyable, and eye opening to the world of street art. I liked pretty much all of Shepard’s works that were shown in the film. My favorite though has to be the poster that read, “Demagogue” and had the lower half of Trump’s face. I would be out plastering that all over if I didn’t know that Shepard or I could get in trouble if I did so....