"... perhaps because he plainly also wanted very much to connect, to declare himself, to put forth his vision as any storyteller would. It also seemed as though he wanted to make people laugh, or at least smile. Because, as the display evolved over time, it became clear that he wasn’t just putting up political signage; he was directing a subtly changing Kabuki entertainment for the neighborhood. Some days you’d go by and the white-guy doll would be wearing a scowling Trump mask; then he’d be himself again. Some days there’d be a huge Trump figure sitting in the driver’s seat of one of the vehicles out front; some days not. One day in the fall, an outer-space creature with glittering green eyes appeared beside the male doll, wearing a Trump 2020 hat; later, the alien returned from whence it came and was replaced by a benign Yoda type, who also supported Trump. A friend who stayed at our house while we were out of town for about a month told us that at one point she saw the male doll and the green-eyed alien embracing; she later said she wasn’t sure she really had seen this—which reminded me of my husband’s impression of the fist pulling back the flag. Something about the tableau actively engaged your imagination and made you think you saw things that weren’t there (or possibly were there, who knows—maybe the alien and the male doll did embrace). Which was, I guess, why I came to enjoy the tableau and to secretly root for its creator. Although the content expressed a political view that I didn’t share, the form was artistic, with art’s inherently apolitical ambiguity...."
From "A Trump Tableau/Politics and art in a Catskill front yard" by Mary Gaitskill (in The New Yorker).
Posts
41 comments:
Apolitical? In a country ruled by lunatics who would happily burn his home down for appearing supportive of Trump?
Seeing the byline, I wonder: is this a woman thing? Is there some need to hold out hope in the slimmest of chances, knowing that the mean old Capitol protestors represent only 1% of the country? What happens if it's closer to 30%? 50%? What if the election results were obvious horseshit, amplified by massive vote fraud for Biden, and the people supporting Trump PEOPLE are 60%?
When do you start fearing that it's your cushy suburban digs that will bear the scars?
I get this is some lady realizing she can enjoy another's art even if she disagrees with their politics. Still, her own art is an ornate word salad that's difficult to chew.
Another anthropological study of the Trump voter. These mysterilous creatures.
These people are certifiable, so if one doesnt acknowledge captain oveurs fraudulency then were the crazy ones if a burning store front doesnt fill us with glee but dread.
I'd say virtually 95% of the art (music, movies, shows, books) that I enjoy is created by people who are more or less diametrically opposed to my political position. It doesn't really bother me since I'm able to separate art from politics. I'm able to recognize that just because a person may be a brilliant creator in a specific field doesn't necessarily mean that they're particularly brilliant in all other areas.
The New York media people are certainly energetic in finding deep meaning in someone having a bit of silly fun.
>>I was repulsed and even a little afraid (I could easily imagine that the homeowner belonged to a militia group)<<
Ooo...scaaary!
I could easily imagine that the homeowner belonged to a militia group
This part made me laugh out loud.
What sort of article about art... doesn't include a picture of the art? I wanted to see this.
"After Joe Biden was inaugurated and un-assassinated,"
-- ... I wonder if she realizes Trump has come closer to being assassinated than Biden?
"Something about the tableau actively engaged your imagination and made you think you saw things that weren’t there (or possibly were there, who knows—maybe the alien and the male doll did embrace)."
As I've said, the Grinch expressed similar feelings of disorientation as this writer when, after stealing all the accouterments of Christmas, the Whos actually displayed good cheer.
"Which was, I guess, why I came to enjoy the tableau and to secretly root for its creator."
"I could easily imagine that the homeowner belonged to a militia group"
The Dems and their media propaganda arm have apparently convinced the poor, deluded fools who waste their time trying to find rational thought in The New Yorker that there is a militia commando hiding behind every tree. I could disabuse them of that fact because, although I reside in two of the reddest states (FL and AL), I have never seen a single Nazi, Klansman or militiaman, but they wouldn't believe me. It's really sad how delusional our betters in the Northeast have allowed themselves to become.
"I’m not sure when it appeared, but I’m sure that whoever put it up enjoyed tormenting the libs who drove past, feeling sick and helpless, possibly for four solid years."
-- I wonder why authors constantly see the need to assume the worst about people.
Trump idolatry
I haven't heard of Trump idolatry before. Does it involve human sacrifice? Or perhaps orgiastic rites with sacred virgins?
Oh, I do hope it's orgies...
Gaitskill of the Catskills used to be a whore. Now she's a professional writer.
Tomato - Tomahto.
Shades of Margaret Mead...
Now I want one of my neighbors to start setting up elaborate scenes.
Oh, I do hope it's orgies...
The Cult of Trump has the yuuuugist, classiest orgies. Underneath a giant golden statue of a scalp weasel. People say, "Wow, those are the best orgies we've ever seen. No one does orgies better..."
Shorter version of the article: “Let me tell you about myself.”
Hilarious money shot:
"Some weeks later, I went by again to see how the skeleton was doing. I was weirdly glad to see that, while it was still crying out, one of its bony hands was raised in a clenched fist! I was reminded of something I had read decades earlier in Dispatches, Michael Herr’s book about the Vietnam War: it describes a lone N.V.A. sniper harassing a battalion of marines, who, although they could locate his tiny hiding place in the side of a hill, could not manage to kill him. They blasted him with rockets, mortars, and, eventually, napalm. But when the burning stopped and the sniper popped out again and fired at them, the marines cheered. That was something like the gladness I felt."
I wonder how she would have felt if the guy just left a painting of Elvis on black velvet out front, day after day.
Repulsed and a little afraid is how I feel when I read the New Yorker.
Why the deep seated, reactive, emotional diversity?
Militias are led by People of White, People of Black, and People of Brown, and probably People of Yellow, and Orange, too.
How terrifying. I know I have to sleep with one eye open because the couple two doors down has had multiple signs in their yard for the past FIVE YEARS, railing against Republicans in general and Trump in particular. They recently added Mardi Gras beads. There's no more room on the back of their vehicles for any more bumper stickers that are along the same lines.
Of course, one reasonably fears that they are members of one of the numerous leftist terrorist groups.
It is hard to believe that The New Yorker once published Thurber.
that was aeons ago,
https://thefederalist.com/2021/03/29/meet-the-new-pentagon-diversity-chief-who-compared-trump-to-hitler/
"I’d see the skeleton wearing a “Don’t Tread on Me” shirt, but more often it went nude."
Skeletons cannot be nude. #changemymind
Also, no photos? Just a shitty illustration? The author did not paint a very good visual picture to me.
Dear K/U
.....Skeletons ARE nude.
there ya go.
meet-the-new-pentagon-diversity-chief-who-compared-trump-to-hitler
Mao? Mugabe? Khan? #CecileTheCannibal? Diversity (i.e. color judgments), not limited to racism. Jew... White privilege, too. Marxism (i.e. class-based judgments) with a liberal flare.
Trump idolatry
I haven't heard of Trump idolatry before. Does it involve human sacrifice?
Planned Parent/hood Reproductive rites. One of diverse planned population schemes employed by ostensibly "secular" left-wing regimes. Take a knee. Beg. Good girl.
chuck
It is hard to believe that The New Yorker once published Thurber.
James Thurber falls into the category of great writers whose political stances have made them damned fools. As such he is in great company at The New Yorker. James Thurber was one of the signers of the Open Letter of the 400, published in Soviet Russia today (September 5,1939), that claimed there was a great difference between the Soviet Union and the "totalitarian states," and called for a "united strength" for the "defeat of fascism."
Ironically, its publication date of September 5 came after the signing of the Non-Aggression Pact (~ Aug 23) between the Soviet Union and Germany,which meant that the party line had flip-flopped to supporting peace between the Soviet Union and Germany, and seeing those wanted the "defeat of fascism" as now being running dogs of imperialism. I'd guess it was already sent to press before the signing of the Non-Aggression Pact.
To All Active Supporters of Democracy and Peace: The text of an Open Letter calling for greater unity of the anti-fascist forces and strengthening of the front against aggression through closer cooperation with the Soviet Union, released on August 14 by 400 leading Americans,
As published in Soviet Russia Today, v. 8, no. 5 (Sept. 1939), pp. 24-25, 28.
With the aim of turning anti-fascist feeling against the Soviet Union they have encouraged the fantastic falsehood that the USSR and the totalitarian states are basically alike. By this strategy they hope to create dissension among the progressive forces whose united strength is a first necessity for the defeat of fascism. 7. From the viewpoint of cultural freedom, the difference between the Soviet Union and the Fascist countries is most striking. ...Those writers and thinkers whose books have been burned by the Nazis are published in the Soviet Union. The best literature from Homer to Thomas Mann, the best thought from Aristotle to Lenin, is available to the masses of the Soviet people, who themselves actively participate in the creation of culture.
9. The Soviet Union considers political dictatorship a transitional form and has shown a steadily expanding democracy in every sphere. Its epoch-making new Constitution guarantees Soviet citizens universal suffrage, civil liberties, the right to employment, to leisure, to free education, to free medical care, to material security in sickness and old age, to equality of the sexes in all fields of activity, and to equality of all races and nationalities.
Pete Seeger kept following the party line after the signing of the Non-Aggression Pact (Almanac Singers: Songs for John Doe), but his father left the party in disgust over the Non-Aggression Pact. (In the Won't Get Fooled Again category.) Where did James Thurber align himself after the signing of the Non-Aggression Pact? I don't know.
"I haven't heard of Trump idolatry before. Does it involve human sacrifice?"
There definitely a Cult of Trump. No one did their houses up this way for Romney.
I support whatever/whomever frightens this Karen...
There definitely a Cult of Trump. No one did their houses up this way for Romney.
Trump appealed to working class whites and a lot of voters who felt like they were ignored by the rising globalist class. He figured how to harness that energy and turn it into a political movement by creating a brand, which has become an identity for these folks. The more that he was attacked, the more loyal his supporters became because they view those attacks as attacks on themselves. It helps that many of his supporters were Tea Partiers, or sympathetic to that movement. They saw first-hand the reaction from the establishment and it played into their feelings of disenfranchisement and their willingness to take a chance on Trump in 2016. The main difference is that while the Tea Party was patriotic, it was largely focused on government spending.
The main difference is that while the Tea Party was patriotic, it was largely focused on government spending.
Superficially yes but it was also focused on lying politicians, which also motivated Trump voters. John McCain ran for re-election in 2018 on "Build the Damn Wall" and "Repeal Obamacare."
Ewww, Trump signs! Eww ick who farted?
On NPR today I heard Chuck Hegel pretty much affirm Trump's views on our neocon wars and admit that we'll end up leaving Afghanistan with our tail between our legs.
Wasn't he an Obama guy?
She seems amazed that people who disagree with her might also have a sense of humor.
Neighbor enjoys Trump and enjoys making funny scenes in his front yard. New Yorker has many questions. We really do love in two Americas.
How do these east coast liberals even tie their own fucking shoes?
Useless waste of space.
The HORROR!!!! The horror... I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO not bummed.
Post a Comment