Weaponized Aesthetics: Art as an Agent of Positive Social Change | EPISODE 36
Artists and proto-designers Gran Fury, Piotr Szyhalski, George Grosz, John Heartfield, Otto Dix and the Nuisance Committee are all involved in a form of Weaponized Aesthetic practice. In this Episode we take a look at two strategies for the artist/designer concerned with art as an agent of positive social change. Instrumentalist Weaponized Aesthetics and Cognitivist Aesthetics. This episode draws on the work of philosophers Max Headroom, T-Pain and Berys Gault.
Links & References In Episode 36 of Studio Practice
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More Information on Elliott Earls
Regarding the Berys Gaut and the Ethical Criticism of Art:
http://www.iep.utm.edu/art-eth/
Information on Artist Piotr Szyhalski – Labor Camp:
http://laborcamp.mcad.edu
More on the “Graphic Design Worlds” Exhibition at the Triennial Design Museum in Milan from Wallpaper Magazine:
http://www.wallpaper.com/art/graphic-design-worlds-at-the-triennale-di-milano
A partial list of Designer included in the exhibition:
Anthony Burill, M/M Paris, Fuel, KesselsKramer, Elliott Earls and Geoff McFettridge
More information on Gran Fury from Hyperallergic:
http://hyperallergic.com/42085/aids-art-activism-gran-fury/
Concerning the “Silence = Death” Poster And Act Up from the New York Public Library:
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2013/11/22/silence-equals-death-poster
More Information on George Grosz:
http://www.theartstory.org/artist-grosz-george.htm
More information on John Heartfield:
http://www.johnheartfield.com/John-Heartfield-Exhibition/john-heartfield-art
More information on Otto Dix:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_Dix
More information on the Nuisance Committee (Lindsey Camelio and Amy Schwartz)
The Nuisance Committee is an independent Political Action Committee dedicated to opposing Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and repudiating his backwards, un-American policies of white nationalism and fascism. The Nuisance Committee was founded in 2016 by Cards Against Humanity, a Chicago-based game and humor company. The Super PAC was funded by the sales of Cards Against Humanity’s election-themed promotion “America Votes With Cards Against Humanity,” created by Amy Schwartz and her design team. The packs raised over $500,000, a portion was donated directly to the Clinton campaign and the rest was used to start the Nuisance Committee. In the weeks leading up to the election, The Nuisance Committee released a series of campaigns comprised of billboards, websites and print ads designed by Lindsey Camelio. The campaigns aimed to raise awareness about some of Trump’s most controversial positions by creating clever content that gained media coverage on its own, at little expense to the committee. This tactic relied heavily on the committee coming up with brilliant, creative assets and effective public relations, and resulted in international coverage and more than 700,000 views to related Committee websites.
Bio Note: Lindsey Camelio and Amy Schwartz studied in the 2D Department at Cranbrook academy of Art.
Nuisance Committee Campaigns:
1) Trump Doesn’t Pay Taxes
• Billboard Near O’Hare (attached)
• Website: http://trumpdoesntpaytaxes.com/
• Links:
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/cards-against-humanity-super-pac-buys-anti-trump-billboard-near-ohare/1531304/
2) Trump is Not a Team Player
• Billboard in Orlando (attached)
• Print and web ads in The Stranger
• Website: http://www.trumpisnotateamplayer.com/
3) Trump is Scared
• Billboard in Dearborn, MI (attached)
• Website: http://www.trumpisscared.org/
• Links: the comment section has the good stuff
Concerning Max Headroom:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Headroom_(TV_series)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYdpOjletnc
Relevant Pop Cultural Reference for this Episode: Tech N9ne – Hood Go Crazy ft. B.o.B., 2 Chainz: