Auto-erotic Journalism
2000
acrylic on paper
9" X 5"
This piece comments of the power and abuse of the media.
The media has always had a propagandistic nature. It has been a tool of governments to control and distract the viewpoints of the populous.
In America we have freedom of speech. Therefore, the media has become its own entity. The issue of who controls the media is for another painting. This one has more to do with the media distracting us with useless crap that has no benefit beyond gossip.
For example, during the OJ Simpson trial, we were bombarded night after night with what all of the "experts" thought and what juicy little tidbits were revealed that day. It was a soap opera about a celebrity who could afford the most clever lawyers and the strategies of the righteous prosecutors. It was pure entertainment. It had no real significant value for anyone, but OJ and the Brown family.
Example two: The entire 8 year presidency of William Jefferson Clinton was distracted by the 3 million dollar (public money) efforts of Kenneth Starr trying to prove that the President was acting in an immoral manner. What they came up with was that the American President was an adulterer. Sounded like a marital issue to me, none of my business.
Last example: 9/11. Within hours of the planes crashing into the World Trade Centre Towers, every TV news program had graphics, theme music, and a catchy title for the tragic incident. They turned it into an intriguing show. They were all in competition for ratings.
In this image there are two old time photographers who have shot the image that will be on the front page of every paper in the country. let us just say they are enjoying the moment.