What subtle and arcane symbolism! Let's see, we have the Blessed Virgin with a cigarette that obviously represents the Hell we all want to avoid. The cigarette is not yet lit as Hell is not yet upon us and indeed in the special time of this classic image Hell may never be ignited. Then a lot of sausages clearly representing Congress in its divinely inspired law giving mode (making sausage, y'all). There are curious stigmata on the Virgin's right shoulder which connect her to Christ who is as we all know the "man behind the curtain" in this image. On the right the Agriculture Department seal which assures us of both the existence and the validity of The Word that has been "passed down" to us to provide assurance of the blessed nature of the sausage (Congress' Divine Law). We have steaks that assure us that the Deity will "give us this day our daily" (steak). Just below the Virgin we see a red representation of the mighty rocky mountains so that we may know that the Deity watches over the USA with special concern. And while it is not so obvious, close examination will reveal the the meats are all Kosher as the Deity is inclusive and a Democrat to boot.
Well close but no cheroot Jon. I was thinking more along the lines of how flesh is peddled like raw meat in this country, the carnal objectification peddled by the pound much like at the corner butcher shop. Of curse the object can not escape the butcher's cleaver shop exactly unscathed either, n this case the hard model is the famous stripper Carol Doda, who seems to have built a steel curtain of skin around what may remain of her corrosively infected heart .
This disease is nonpartisan by the way- whigs and mugwumps both engage in the same ugly enterprise and the subjects, it also must be said, often willingly surrender their soul in exchange for a bit of attention and a few pieces of gold.
IT IS MY BENIGHTED OPINION THAT ALL SYMBOLISM IS VAGUE AND IDIOSYNCRATIC WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WALKING UP AND DOWN STAIRS, FLOATING IN WATER, AND EATING A SAUSAGE WHOSE LENGTH IS LARGER THAN ITS WIDTH.
Except when "a cigar is a cigar". I was having fun with the vanity and folly that comprises so much of art criticism. While art workers often have trouble explaining their own work verbally that doesn't stop art critics from spinning "artspeak".
I hadn't considered the inherent symbolism and psychological implications myself but I guess I could pardon the impression, "give it a few whacks." The sausage skin operates like a turtles shell in protecting the contents of the kielbasa, much like the epidermis of the sex worker. However with the latter, the protection of living in a shell can become problematic, leading to a deadened emotional state and worse. Note the heavy, cartoonish eye shadow on Carol Doda that screams do not come in. This exercise in self caricature must mean something, what the fuck do I know, I'm not a psychologist, merely a two bit art swapper...
Assemblage is particularly vulnerable to symbolic interpretation but if I was to do it seriously I would give deference to the makers ideas which were nicely articulated in your response to me. The only other aside I would offer is that I noticed that most of the "ho's" I met in jails were addicts--testimony to the sad emotional states associated with the line of work.
Whatever happened to the pictures of sunsets and cute puppies? Not that I'm complaining!
ReplyDeleteWhat subtle and arcane symbolism! Let's see, we have the Blessed Virgin with a cigarette that obviously represents the Hell we all want to avoid. The cigarette is not yet lit as Hell is not yet upon us and indeed in the special time of this classic image Hell may never be ignited. Then a lot of sausages clearly representing Congress in its divinely inspired law giving mode (making sausage, y'all). There are curious stigmata on the Virgin's right shoulder which connect her to Christ who is as we all know the "man behind the curtain" in this image. On the right the Agriculture Department seal which assures us of both the existence and the validity of The Word that has been "passed down" to us to provide assurance of the blessed nature of the sausage (Congress' Divine Law). We have steaks that assure us that the Deity will "give us this day our daily" (steak). Just below the Virgin we see a red representation of the mighty rocky mountains so that we may know that the Deity watches over the USA with special concern. And while it is not so obvious, close examination will reveal the the meats are all Kosher as the Deity is inclusive and a Democrat to boot.
ReplyDeleteWell close but no cheroot Jon. I was thinking more along the lines of how flesh is peddled like raw meat in this country, the carnal objectification peddled by the pound much like at the corner butcher shop. Of curse the object can not escape the butcher's cleaver shop exactly unscathed either, n this case the hard model is the famous stripper Carol Doda, who seems to have built a steel curtain of skin around what may remain of her corrosively infected heart .
ReplyDeleteThis disease is nonpartisan by the way- whigs and mugwumps both engage in the same ugly enterprise and the subjects, it also must be said, often willingly surrender their soul in exchange for a bit of attention and a few pieces of gold.
IT IS MY BENIGHTED OPINION THAT ALL SYMBOLISM IS VAGUE AND IDIOSYNCRATIC WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WALKING UP AND DOWN STAIRS, FLOATING IN WATER, AND EATING A SAUSAGE WHOSE LENGTH IS LARGER THAN ITS WIDTH.
ReplyDeleteExcept when "a cigar is a cigar". I was having fun with the vanity and folly that comprises so much of art criticism. While art workers often have trouble explaining their own work verbally that doesn't stop art critics from spinning "artspeak".
ReplyDeleteALTHOUGH ART CRITICS SEEM TO BE INCREDIBLY SERIOUS FOLKS, IT IS FUN TO MESS WITH THEIR STYLES. CIGARS KILL.
ReplyDeleteASK MONICA LEWINSKY.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't considered the inherent symbolism and psychological implications myself but I guess I could pardon the impression, "give it a few whacks." The sausage skin operates like a turtles shell in protecting the contents of the kielbasa, much like the epidermis of the sex worker. However with the latter, the protection of living in a shell can become problematic, leading to a deadened emotional state and worse. Note the heavy, cartoonish eye shadow on Carol Doda that screams do not come in. This exercise in self caricature must mean something, what the fuck do I know, I'm not a psychologist, merely a two bit art swapper...
ReplyDeleteAssemblage is particularly vulnerable to symbolic interpretation but if I was to do it seriously I would give deference to the makers ideas which were nicely articulated in your response to me. The only other aside I would offer is that I noticed that most of the "ho's" I met in jails were addicts--testimony to the sad emotional states associated with the line of work.
ReplyDeleteJON YOU ARE NOT ON THE LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE BLOG. I HOPE YOU ARE STILL WITH US? L.N.
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