Transit Art vs. Ads Ad Nauseum

Photo: Sara Fusco

Photo: Richard Sandler

I remember stopping dead in my tracks back in the early eighties in NYC upon first coming face to face with what talented graffiti artists could actually do when they went all out on a subway train- and that was in no small part because most graffiti just flat out sucked and had a pretty negative effect on one's everyday psyche. The great majority of it was to the painterly arts what the vast majority of Flickr is to its photographic counterpart. People bitched till they went numb- it helped defeat one mayor, and elect another.

Photo: Todd Hull

But I've yet to hear of any public furor anywhere decrying the commercial abominations now festooned over much of our public transportation systems the world over all in the name of the almighty, corporate dollar. Not satisfied with the billboards, posters and regularly placed cardboard inserts of yore- they now plaster over the little view we pay for, blotting out the occasional glimpses of sunlight with their massive, coma inducing logos and food by products galore.

I'll take graffiti any day...

Leica Sucks The Blood Of The Photographic Undead...

Well, it's a better title than... Alma.

Quote Of The...

Will Leica return to primarily making gear for “normal” photographers or will you cater even more to the tastes of “oligarchs, gas barons, nabobs and nouveau-riche chinese”?

My Foe Flickr!

At least that seems to be the general impression from 99.99% of the comments on their site alone. I can't get all that excited about it either way, and not knocking those that are- guess I just don't have as much vested in it as do others. That said, can't say I much like the changes myself; don't see the absolute necessity to make it look like every other place (and I am partial to the more white walled gallery like presentation)- guess it's something to do with making it more mobile friendly. Dunno...

The very least they could do, very much need to do, is change the format for the Sets page so that it doesn't display random crops of your lead photos- and that needs to happen now...

Anyway, as of 00:30 Pacific Time (5/24/13), Flickr (for the first time I can recall) is very much dead in the water and has apparently either collapsed from the colossal weight of its own new fangled undertaking, or has become the victim of one of its more virulent, tech savvy hater/hackers.

Interesting to see what the morning brings...  Update: Rise and Shine, and back up!

Hate To Say It...

But this commercial really does enter and get into the joys and possibilities that photography has always had to offer (regardless of technology) more than any other photography related ad I've ever seen...

History Negates Itself

Recently there's been a rash of ludicrous and embarrassing racial faux pas that were originated by people of color- ridiculing people of color. There's really no excusing this, but alas, there is a reason- the proverbial dumbing down of America, a sad but all too true reality that ranges from the highest  pantheons of power (remember a recent president?) to the most impoverished of inner cities. Too many people in this country (black, white and brown) are woefully ignorant of even the most recent history- forget basic science, general geography, and good ol' common sense... In fact, one of the excuses most often heard is that it was never "intentional." As if no harm, no foul strictly because- it wasn't purposely "intentional." I was aiming for the apple- you gonna blame me!? Serious?

First, there was the Accidental Racist fiasco by LL Cool J, "If you forget the gold chains, I'll forget the iron chains." Really, LL? A few hundred years of beatings, killings and slavery all made good because a few folk had the bad taste to wear too much bling? That's an even trade off? Then there was the Lil Wayne debacle- talk about going well the hell outta your way to demean your own! And finally (if only), there's Tyler The Creator. For all the above- your blatant ignorance does not translate into our misinterpretation; if you do not know the baggage, weight and history of the tools you use, and the work you create- do not dare blame those that do!

Hopefully, the time will come when you gather the resolve to enlighten yourselves and act with some measure of responsibility, respect and dignity- and still challenge and break the boundaries of the powers that be (not work in their favor). Mandela, Malcolm, MLK- they weren't about the bling, they weren't about how much money they could make in their lifetime. They were about sacrifice, dedication, doing for those that couldn't- even Ali voluntarily gave it all up at the very height of his power... because it was the right thing to do. The concept of such self sacrifice would never dare enter your mind.

I know you are the product of a racist, third rate education system that had no real interest in your success. I realize the incredible odds you've overcome to get where you are. Obviously, you are people of certain talent, no one is denying that- but that doesn't give you license to spread ignorance and misogyny, all the while demeaning your own for the sake of profit, excuse me- "art."

If you can't hear what Dr. Boyce is saying, if your child sized ego can't differentiate constructive criticism from just plain "hatin'," it really shows just how long a road you have yet to travel...

Now I Ain't No Scientist...

but I sure as hell saw this one coming years back when they first started totin' their poisonous goddamn Miracle product...

Instagreed

I was pretty much steering clear of this whole fiasco simply because I don't use Instagram- or have a smartphone, a tattoo, use Twitter or even a digital camera for that matter, but I digress. Got sucked into it via this APE book review. And it took all of two seconds to realize that it's simply a matter of Facebook's (that altruistic non-profit that's single handedly saving the world) latest ploy to make themselves ever richer by bleeding and robbing their very own customers of their personal work without their knowledge or consent. And in return, said providers of creative content would receive zero compensation- a Win/Win for Facebook and Instagram, which are now one in the same.

Meanwhile, a class action lawsuit has ensued and Instagram has backtracked- sorta, somewhat... not really:

However, Instagram kept language that gave it the ability to place ads in conjunction with user content, and saying "that we may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such." It also kept the mandatory arbitration clause (forcing users to waive their rights to participate in a class action lawsuit except under very limited circumstances).

Amazingly, not so amazingly, you have your usual assortment of fools who say there's really nothing wrong with any of that- probably many of the same who think there's nothing wrong with Ron Haviv personally selling photographs to the very weapons manufacturers who maim and kill the victims and survivors he photographs. Just part(s) of the great circle of life, I suppose.

And We Aint The Only Ones...

Right O?

Hate Speech Pure And Simple!

Scheduled to go up in NYC subways this Monday!?!?!?!!

And shouldn't the federal judge who ruled on it have recognized it as such, declared it as such, and banned it as such? Isn't this the worst kind of pornography? Haven't we had enough hate speech, disguised or otherwise, in this country against Blacks, Gays, Hispanics, women, Asians, Jews and Indians to last us a goddamn lifetime? Will Pamela Geller be held responsible for anyone who gets hurt or killed because she chooses to purposely incite hatred- has she apologized to or helped the victims of the anti-Muslim propaganda film which she helped fund?

"The point is any war on civilians is savagery..." - Pamela Gellar

The hypocrisy of that statement from that person is beyond any and all measure- although perhaps not beyond the measure of the thousands of Palestinian civilians (many women and children) that have been maimed and killed by very civilized Israeli tanks, planes, missiles, bombs and small arms fire both inside and outside their homes- the survivors herded into walled in camps and ghettos with no means of support... learned behavior from another "civilized" people in history.

I hope there is, in fact, a special corner of hell reserved for those who delight in the suffering of others, those who dedicate their lives to maintaining, fomenting and increasing hatred, strife and blood lust-  as if their cause was in any way noble.

Shackled Shoes/Shackled Minds

Hank Willis Thomas

Hank Willis Thomas

So often I'm left scratching my head about what worthwhile subject to post next- and then you get the rarity like today that seems to fall from the sky! The scathingly satirical work of Hank Willis Thomas was recently featured on Lens blog. Work that often highlights the 'peculiar' relationship between  the commercial and advertising industries, and that of the (Black) athletes they endorse and feature. Nothing could better elaborate the historical irony and definitive unease of that relationship more clearly than that of Adidas' up and coming new product pictured below. Contrast that to the work of Mr. Thomas- I'm sure there were many people who thought he just went too far to suggest and compare the (obvious) relationships and juxtapositions between slavery and modern day sports found within his art.

Of course, the brand spankin' new Adidas seen in all their arrogant, flamboyant folly below render that argument disquietingly moot. Not, that there won't be those who will still argue no such connection, real or implied, exists (besides, slavery is so... 19th century- 'lighten' up). And I'm betting designer Jeremy Scott (creator of the Roundhouse Mid "Handcuff" shoe) one of them. His slavery inspired, athletic haute couture shackle shoes at $350 a pop are the epitome of arrogance writ large. 

Ignorance and arrogance often walk hand in hand (particularly when it comes to racism), but if I'm gonna grant Mr. Scott anything- it's that even he is not that ignorant, though the latter always follow...

Jeremy Scott

A New Low?

Well I would hope, think and pray that there is a most logical explanation somewhere down the line for this blatant transgression (cause I don't see one anywhere about, and the malodorous silence is stupefying at the least). But there it sits on Ron Haviv's site like some secret, unbeknownst, and very malignant tumor. Trouble is, Duckrabbit has very much revealed it's existence- and an explanation should be immediate, forthright and forthcoming from both Haviv, and VII (if only for the sake of their own organization)...

"There's no way I can survive in this world if I don't understand white people, whereas white people can basically survive without ever having a meaningful interaction with a black person."

Today's Post @ Bag News Notes...

Part Of Me- Part Of You?

Admittedly, I used to be absolutely fascinated looking at historical images and photos depicting racism in ways so twisted, varied and perverted that just made my head spin. Human "creativity" is truly timeless. These days, the depressing aspects of such voyeurism largely outweigh the remaining fascination. So it's with equal parts hesitancy and reluctance that I delve into a bit of historal research for the upcoming symposium. Fortunately, the internets make that research so ridiculously easy these days- instant historical depression at the touch of a keyboard!

So it was with a certain amount of surprise, and shame, that I ran into the image above, an image I recognized from my own far gone youth. It brought an instant smile of friendly recognition, and guilt by childhood association.