Comments on: On Religion http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/ Federal, Washington State and Clark County Politics Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:22:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Bob Hougland http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32127 Bob Hougland Fri, 29 Jun 2007 06:50:34 +0000 http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32127 re Uber Rich's comment on Pitt's "Commentary": I agree with Rich and I like the way he captured Pitt's perspective relative to watching the evening news, which as "breaking news" makes you want to break something. There is a consistent thematic action to Pitt's individual comments, in that they unmask the pretentious sanctity behind which the present political-religious system of the U.S. federal power center operates in all three branches of government--a government conjoined with its inseparable evangelical churches due to a mutually shared insecurity. Each of Pitt's caricatures is a nugget of insight into this world of pretentious political-religious sanctity and exploitation operating under the guise of democracy. Regards, Bob Hougland re Uber Rich’s comment on Pitt’s “Commentary”:

I agree with Rich and I like the way he captured Pitt’s perspective relative to watching the evening news, which as “breaking news” makes you want to break something. There is a consistent thematic action to Pitt’s individual comments, in that they unmask the pretentious sanctity behind which the present political-religious system of the U.S. federal power center operates in all three branches of government–a government conjoined with its inseparable evangelical churches due to a mutually shared insecurity. Each of Pitt’s caricatures is a nugget of insight into this world of pretentious political-religious sanctity and exploitation operating under the guise of democracy.

Regards,

Bob Hougland

]]> By: Rich http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32121 Rich Fri, 29 Jun 2007 05:16:02 +0000 http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32121 At the risk of sounding uber pretentious, I find his art really illuminating. As for conveying confusion, I think that's part of the artist's mission - to try to make something meaningful out of the confusion. I see a common 'theme' or narrative (of sorts) to his work, but it's more emotional or spiritual rather than a nuts-and-bolts commentary. Pitts' work reminds me of George Grosz or maybe a more traditional painterly John Heartfield. I also like the immediate nature of his work. One could easily see him flinging paint while watching the evening news (and who among us hasn't wanted to fling SOMETHING while doing so on a nightly basis?). His paintings could be some kind of diary in that regard. Plus, as a charicaturist, he's pretty damn good. At the risk of sounding uber pretentious, I find his art really illuminating. As for conveying confusion, I think that’s part of the artist’s mission - to try to make something meaningful out of the confusion. I see a common ‘theme’ or narrative (of sorts) to his work, but it’s more emotional or spiritual rather than a nuts-and-bolts commentary. Pitts’ work reminds me of George Grosz or maybe a more traditional painterly John Heartfield.
I also like the immediate nature of his work. One could easily see him flinging paint while watching the evening news (and who among us hasn’t wanted to fling SOMETHING while doing so on a nightly basis?). His paintings could be some kind of diary in that regard.
Plus, as a charicaturist, he’s pretty damn good.

]]> By: Bob Hougland http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32120 Bob Hougland Fri, 29 Jun 2007 04:54:12 +0000 http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32120 Re Stephen Pitts "My Art is my commentary." These are individually iconclastic in a very timely (i.e., breaking news) fashion, but as a whole the artist appears to be confused as to what he's trying to express; that is, his "commentary" lacks thematic structure and smacks of tantrum throwing. The whole is short of "amazing" but psychographically interesting, a form of political-religious graphiti; nevertheless, not to be disparaged, for somewhere in this "commentary" there may be an admonition pertinent to the present time of terror. Regards, Bob Hougland Re Stephen Pitts “My Art is my commentary.” These are individually iconclastic in a very timely (i.e., breaking news) fashion, but as a whole the artist appears to be confused as to what he’s trying to express; that is, his “commentary” lacks thematic structure and smacks of tantrum throwing. The whole is short of “amazing” but psychographically interesting, a form of political-religious graphiti; nevertheless, not to be disparaged, for somewhere in this “commentary” there may be an admonition pertinent to the present time of terror.

Regards, Bob Hougland

]]> By: Rich http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32099 Rich Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:16:56 +0000 http://www.democracyforvancouver.org/2007/06/28/on-religion/#comment-32099 WOW! Those are amazing! Tell us more! WOW!
Those are amazing!
Tell us more!

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