Art Threat - Political Art JournalArt Threat - Political Art JournalArt Threat is a journal of political art. We embrace art that confronts, interrogates, or even shrugs off the status quo, and explore pressing issues affecting art and culture, stimulating debate on the world around us and how it is interpreted. Articles
Call for submissions: International Environmental Film & Video Festival in
2008-01-14 20:20:00 Planet in Focus: International Environmental Film & Video Festival, Toronto, Canada , October 22-26, 2008 Attention Filmmakers: Call for Submissions now open! Planet in Focus, Canada???s most acclaimed international environmental film and video festival, showcases outstanding and compelling films and videos covering a broad range of environmental themes by Canadian and international filmmakers. Our mission is to screen and promote the use of film and video across Canada and internationally as a catalyst for public awareness, discussion, and appropriate action on the environmental, ecological and social health of the planet. Recognizing that the 'environment' is contested terrain, both as a biophysical entity and as a philosophical frame, Planet in Focus invites submissions in all genres that critically examine the concept of 'environment' and challenge current human/nature relations. Festival Highlights: Green Market & Industry Centre: Filmmakers, producers, sales agents...
Call for submissions: International Environmental Film & Video Festival in
2008-01-14 20:20:00 Planet in Focus International Environmental Film & Video Festival is seeking submissions. Canada ?s most acclaimed international environmental film and video festival, Planet in Focus showcases outstanding and compelling films and videos covering a broad range of environmental themes by Canadian and international filmmakers. The festival's mission is to screen and promote the use of film and video across Canada and internationally as a catalyst for public awareness, discussion, and appropriate action on the environmental, ecological and social health of the planet. Recognizing that the 'environment' is contested terrain, both as a biophysical entity and as a philosophical frame, Planet in Focus invites submissions in all genres that critically examine the concept of 'environment' and challenge current human/nature relations. Festival Highlights: Green Market & Industry Centre: Filmmakers, producers, sales agents, buyers and programmers enjoy exclusive access to our busi...
Milch on Milch: Deadwood creator talks about the Iraq war, George Bush and
2008-01-14 13:41:00 Meet the real David Milch, creator and writer for the popular HBO television series Deadwood: former addict, on-again off-again bouts of insanity, former criminal, outspoken critic of American media and mainstream television drama—and one of the most successful television writers of his generation. His credits also include Hillstreet Blues, NYPD Blue and John from Cinncinati. In this rather remarkable talk given at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Milch describes the historical research underpinning the Deadwood series (?90% historical accuracy?), his critique of the avaricious capitalism that emerged in the formative years of the American Republic, his relationship with truth in the construction of fiction, why he refuses to produce or write contemporary drama (because of what he calls the ?Iraq war mini-series?), his dire concern with how television is changing how Americans think and perceive reality, why his series tend to undervalorize women and whether or ... More About: Bush , Iraq War , George Bush , George W
Milch on Milch: Deadwood creator talks about the Iraq war, George Bush and
2008-01-14 13:41:00 Meet the real David Milch, creator and writer for the popular HBO television series Deadwood: former addict, on-again off-again bouts of insanity, former criminal, outspoken critic of American media and mainstream television drama—and one of the most successful television writers of his generation. His credits also include Hillstreet Blues, NYPD Blue and John from Cinncinati. In this rather remarkable talk given at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Milch describes the historical research underpinning the Deadwood series (???90% historical accuracy???), his critique of the avaricious capitalism that emerged in the formative years of the American Republic, his relationship with truth in the construction of fiction, why he refuses to produce or write contemporary drama (because of what he calls the ???Iraq war mini-series???), his dire concern with how television is changing how Americans think and perceive reality, why his series tend to undervalorize women and whe... More About: Bush , Iraq War , George Bush , George W
Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim takes Palestinian citizenship
2008-01-14 05:40:00 The world-renowned Israel i conductor Daniel Barenboim is now a Palestinian citizen. He accepted honourary citizenship in what he hopes will serve as a public gesture of peace. If only more classical celebrities had such chutzpah. From the CBC: "I hope that my new status will be an example of Israeli -Palestinian co-existence," said Barenboim, who received a passport at the end of a Saturday night concert he played in Ramallah in the West Bank. Ramallah is a town that Barenboim has visited often, promoting contact between young Arab and Israeli musicians. "I believe that the destinies of ??? the Israeli people and the Palestinian people are inextricably linked," said Barenboim, who is also music director at the La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy. Previously on Art Threat: Zionists censor Rachel Corrie play in Toronto. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)
Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim takes Palestinian citizenship
2008-01-14 05:40:00 The world-renowned Israel i conductor Daniel Barenboim is now a Palestinian citizen. He accepted honourary citizenship in what he hopes will serve as a public gesture of peace. If only more classical celebrities had such chutzpah. From the CBC: "I hope that my new status will be an example of Israeli -Palestinian co-existence," said Barenboim, who received a passport at the end of a Saturday night concert he played in Ramallah in the West Bank. Ramallah is a town that Barenboim has visited often, promoting contact between young Arab and Israeli musicians. "I believe that the destinies of ? the Israeli people and the Palestinian people are inextricably linked," said Barenboim, who is also music director at the La Scala opera house in Milan, Italy. Previously on Art Threat: Zionists censor Rachel Corrie play in Toronto. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons.)
Willie and Joe anthology illustrates soldiers' view of WWII
2008-01-12 18:48:00 Fantagraphics is releasing Willie & Joe: the WWII years, an anthology of Bill Mauldin's cartoon infantrymen who became synonymous with the American GI. This collection of 600+ cartoons is both a record of this Pulitzer prize-winning artist and a first hand chronicle of the war from the soldiers' perspective. From the Fantagraphics site: Bill Mauldin knew war because he was in it. He had created his characters, Willie and Joe, at age 18, before Pearl Harbor, while training with the 45th Infantry Division and cartooning part-time for the camp newspaper. His brilliant send-ups of officers were pure infantry, and the men loved it... With their heavy brush lines, detailed battlescapes, and pidgin of army slang and slum dialect, Mauldin's cartoons and captions recreated on paper the fully realized world of the American combat soldier. Their dark, often insubordinate humor sparked controversy among army brass and incensed General George S. Patton, Jr. Also recently released from... More About: View , Soldiers , Anthology , Holo
Willie and Joe anthology illustrates soldiers' view of WWII
2008-01-12 18:48:00 Fantagraphics is releasing Willie & Joe: the WWII years, an anthology of Bill Mauldin's cartoon infantrymen who became synonymous with the American GI. This collection of 600+ cartoons is both a record of this Pulitzer prize-winning artist and a first hand chronicle of the war from the soldiers' perspective. From the Fantagraphics site: Bill Mauldin knew war because he was in it. He had created his characters, Willie and Joe, at age 18, before Pearl Harbor, while training with the 45th Infantry Division and cartooning part-time for the camp newspaper. His brilliant send-ups of officers were pure infantry, and the men loved it... With their heavy brush lines, detailed battlescapes, and pidgin of army slang and slum dialect, Mauldin's cartoons and captions recreated on paper the fully realized world of the American combat soldier. Their dark, often insubordinate humor sparked controversy among army brass and incensed General George S. Patton, Jr. Also recently released from... More About: View , Soldiers , Anthology , Holo
Call for submissions: Video Stories to Change the World
2008-01-12 17:32:00 Video Party in Montreal wants your video art. This spring, Video Party, in association with Art Matters 2008, will be presenting a selection of short videos about creating a world that we want to live in. Stories can be dreams about a better world, about someone making a difference in your community, about an organization affecting positive change. Anything at all. Selected films will screen before a sizable audience at an official Art Matters party. Submissions are open to all. If you've got a video that fits this theme, check out their submissions page. Submissions deadline February 7th. More About: Video , World , Canada , Change
Call for submissions: video stories to change the world
2008-01-12 17:32:00 Video Party in Montreal wants your video art. This spring, Video Party, in association with Art Matters 2008, will be presenting a selection of short videos about creating a world that we want to live in. Stories can be dreams about a better world, about someone making a difference in your community, about an organization affecting positive change. Anything at all. Selected films will screen before a sizable audience at an official Art Matters party. Submissions are open to all. If you've got a video that fits this theme, check out their submissions page. Submissions deadline February 7th. More About: Video , World , Canada , Change
Breakfast links: Beirut art bust and burnt out cars in Britain
2008-01-10 14:47:00 Breakfast links—of the meatless variety—for Thursday. Despite the online experiment, the CD version of Radiohead's In Rainbows tops US & UK charts. Beirut's contemporary art scene struggled through 2007. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert return to the tube sans writers—and censors. Burnt out car from Iraq competes for space on Trafalgar Square. Previously on Art Threat: Radiohead offers up new album as pay-what-you-can to fans Radiohead on how music is killing the planet Photo by Heretakis. More About: Cars , Lebanon , Britain , Breakfast , Links
Breakfast links: Beirut art bust and burnt out cars in Britain
2008-01-10 14:47:00 Breakfast links—of the meatless variety—for Thursday. Despite the online experiment, the CD version of Radiohead's In Rainbows tops US & UK charts. Beirut's contemporary art scene struggled through 2007. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert return to the tube sans writers—and censors. Burnt out car from Iraq competes for space on Trafalgar Square. Previously on Art Threat: Radiohead offers up new album as pay-what-you-can to fans Radiohead on how music is killing the planet Image by Heretakis. More About: Cars , Lebanon , Britain , Breakfast , Links
Adbusters' Day(s) In Court
2008-01-10 04:53:00 On Tuesday, the Canadian-based international culture-jamming magazine Adbusters appeared in the British Columbia Supreme Court to preserve their claim against major broadcasters in Canada. For more than 10 years, Adbusters has been denied the right to purchase advertising time from Canada's major broadcasters. The ads offer clever and artistically produced messages challenging status quo thinking on consumption, economics, and culture. CanWest Global Television has applied to have the claim thrown out. What is at stake is whether or not the airwaves are public property. Should broadcasters be allowed to pick and choose who can buy airtime from them based on political preferences? Or is there a public good that media serves within the Canadian democracy that should outweigh a broadcaster's right to program whatever it wants? Despite the posturing of major broadcasters, the Canadian broadcasting system is not a free-for-all. All participants in the Canadian broadcast syst...
Adbusters' Day(s) In Court
2008-01-10 04:53:00 On Tuesday, the Canadian-based international culture-jamming magazine Adbusters appeared in the British Columbia Supreme Court to preserve their claim against major broadcasters in Canada. For more than 10 years, Adbusters has been denied the right to purchase advertising time from Canada's major broadcasters. The ads offer clever and artistically produced messages challenging status quo thinking on consumption, economics, and culture. CanWest Global Television has applied to have the claim thrown out. What is at stake is whether or not the airwaves are public property. Should broadcasters be allowed to pick and choose who can buy airtime from them based on political preferences? Or is there a public good that media serves within the Canadian democracy that should outweigh a broadcaster's right to program whatever it wants? Despite the posturing of major broadcasters, the Canadian broadcasting system is not a free-for-all. All participants in the Canadian broadcast syst...
Ludicrous British copyright law to allow ripping CDs
2008-01-10 03:05:00 Ludicrous: causing laughter because of absurdity; provoking or deserving derision. As a wee lad, I was a Spaceballs fanatic. And much like Spaceball One's top speed, the film was ludicrous. That one word, which is ludicrous in itself, has forever meant one and only one thing to me: Spaceballs. That was, of course, until I learned that ripping a CD onto your computer in the UK was illegal. British lawmakers had officially surpassed Rick Moranis and friends on the ludicrous scale. If all goes as planned, however, British law will soon be downgraded to ridiculous as parliament is poised to give consumers several new rights, including a right to parody and to format-shift copyrighted material. Not surprisingly, the proposed changes are as clear as mud, raising a number of questions—such as those asked yesterday by Ars Technica. Perhaps the murkiest issue would be whether the law would be retroactive. It's possible that music published before 2008 might only be listened to le... More About: Britain , Copyright , Allo
Ludicrous British copyright law to allow ripping CDs
2008-01-10 03:05:00 Ludicrous: causing laughter because of absurdity; provoking or deserving derision. As a wee lad, I was a Spaceballs fanatic. And much like Spaceball One's top speed, the film was ludicrous. That one word, which is ludicrous in itself, has forever meant one and only one thing to me: Spaceballs. That was, of course, until I learned that ripping a CD onto your computer in the UK was illegal. British lawmakers had officially surpassed Rick Moranis and friends on the ludicrous scale. If all goes as planned, however, British law will soon be downgraded to ridiculous as parliament is poised to give consumers several new rights, including a right to parody and to format-shift copyrighted material. Not surprisingly, the proposed changes are as clear as mud, raising a number of questions—such as those asked yesterday by Ars Technica. Perhaps the murkiest issue would be whether the law would be retroactive. It's possible that music published before 2008 might only be listened to le... More About: Britain , Copyright , Allo
The Rape of Europa: retelling the story of Hitler's art plunders
2008-01-08 15:27:00 A recently released documentary has been getting some positive reviews from shocked and impressed film critics despite the redundancy of its content. The Rape of Europa is not only a peculiarly-named two hour documentary, it is a film that has already been made, over fifteen years prior. Europa tells the story of the Nazi holocaust from the perspective of art instead of the millions of human victims. The story is of course fascinating ??? learning of Hitler and his party members??? obsession with works of art across the continent and the lengths people went to to protect said art is a story worth telling. The main problem I have with the film—other than it being too long and formulaic—is that the story was told, and with much more rigorous treatment, in an earlier documentary entitled The Architecture of Doom: The Nazi Philosophy of Beauty Through Violence. Peter Cohen???s 1991 pi??ce de r??sistance interrogates territory only surfacely considered by Europa. The newer... More About: Europe , Story , The Story
The Rape of Europa: retelling the story of Hitler's art plunders
2008-01-08 15:27:00 A recently released documentary has been getting some positive renews from shocked and impressed film critics despite the redundancy of its content. The Rape of Europa is not only a peculiarly-named two hour documentary, it is a film that has already been made, over fifteen years prior. Europa tells the story of the Nazi holocaust from the perspective of art instead of the millions of human victims. The story is of course fascinating ? learning of Hitler and his party members? obsession with works of art across the continent and the lengths people went to to protect said art is a story worth telling. The main problem I have with the film—other than it being too long and formulaic—is that the story was told, and with much more rigorous treatment, in an earlier documentary entitled The Architecture of Doom: The Nazi Philosophy of Beauty Through Violence. Peter Cohen?s 1991 pièce de résistance interrogates territory only surfacely considered by Europa. The newer document... More About: Europe , Story , The Story
Artists Against the War
2008-01-07 16:48:00 The Society of Illustrators presents this Artists Against the war slideshow. (Shown above: John Cuneo's, "Tip of the Hat"). Also of interest: John Cuneo via Jillian Tamaki
Artists Against the War
2008-01-07 16:48:00 The Society of Illustrators presents this Artists Against the war slideshow. (Shown above: John Cuneo's, "Tip of the Hat"). Also of interest: John Cuneo via Jillian Tamaki
Greener Gadgets design competition
2008-01-06 16:59:00 I'm sure many of you have been lusting over the gadgets you got—or didn't get—over the holidays. But did you know that the latest object of your technolust will likely leech toxic chemicals once you've parted ways? Or that fresh water streams may have been poisoned during the production of its parts? The Greener Gadgets Conference will convene in New York City on February 1 to discuss the greening of technology. They have launched a design competition challenging established designers and students alike to "come up with new and innovative solutions to address the issues of energy, carbon footprint, health and toxicity, new materials, product lifecycle, and social development." The entry deadline is January 27, and finalists will be showcased at the conference. Submission guidelines can be found at the website of their partner Core77. More About: United States , Design , Competition
Greener Gadgets design competition
2008-01-06 16:59:00 I'm sure many of you have been lusting over the gadgets you got—or didn't get—over the holidays. But did you know that the latest object of your technolust will likely leech toxic chemicals once you've parted ways? Or that fresh water streams may have been poisoned during the production of its parts? The Greener Gadgets Conference will convene in New York City on February 1 to discuss the greening of technology. They have launched a design competition challenging established designers and students alike to "come up with new and innovative solutions to address the issues of energy, carbon footprint, health and toxicity, new materials, product lifecycle, and social development." The entry deadline is January 27, and finalists will be showcased at the conference. Submission guidelines can be found at the website of their partner Core77. More About: United States , Design , Competition
Taryn Simon unearths the hidden meanings of American culture
2008-01-04 23:43:00 Although the race for presidency has officially begun, many are still left wondering what makes America tick. Photographer Taryn Simon may just have the answer. Her current body of work is a collection spanning four years of photographs. An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar documents the cultural dogma that forms American identity. The work came for Simon at ?a critical time in American history when I think America was seeking secret sites outside of its borders whether it be weapons of mass destruction or to understand different cultures,? she says in a March 2007 interview with Charlie Rose. ?I wanted to look inward during this important time in my history as an American, and find these secret sites within our own borders.? Simon?s images are of sites that would generally be hidden from the view of average Americans. They are sites that feature ?various subjects from the fields of science, politics,medicine, nature, and religion that remain inaccessible to us for natura... More About: United States , Culture , American Culture
Taryn Simon unearths the hidden meanings of American culture
2008-01-04 23:43:00 Although the race for presidency has officially begun, many are still left wondering what makes America tick. Photographer Taryn Simon may just have the answer. Her current body of work is a collection spanning four years of photographs. An American Index of the Hidden and Unfamiliar documents the cultural dogma that forms American identity. The work came for Simon at ???a critical time in American history when I think America was seeking secret sites outside of its borders whether it be weapons of mass destruction or to understand different cultures,??? she says in a March 2007 interview with Charlie Rose. ???I wanted to look inward during this important time in my history as an American, and find these secret sites within our own borders.??? Simon???s images are of sites that would generally be hidden from the view of average Americans. They are sites that feature ???various subjects from the fields of science, politics,medicine, nature, and religion that remain inaccessible to u... More About: Culture , American Culture
Czech artists may face jail over hoax nuclear blast on TV
2008-01-04 06:11:00 Had you been watching Czech Television on June 17, 2007, you might have seen what appeared to be a nuclear explosion on your television screen. A mountain resort in the Krkonose region of the Czech Republic appeared to go up in a mushroom cloud of smoke. The video was a hoax, cleverly perpetrated by Ztohoven, a local art group. They later released a statement on their MySpace page claiming responsibility for the event: ???We are neither a terrorist organization nor a political group, our aim is not to intimidate the society or manipulate it, which is something we witness on daily basis both in the real world and in the world created by the media???We hope our action will become an appeal for the future and remind the media of their duty to bring out the truth.??? The performance, entitled ???Media Reality??? sparked controversy throughout the country. The Czech National Gallery awarded the group with the newly created NG 333 prize for their work. ???This piece---alongside all o... More About: Nuclear , Artists , Face , Blast
Czech artists face jail over hoax nuclear blast on TV
2008-01-04 06:11:00 Had you been watching Czech Television on June 17, 2007, you might have seen what appeared to be a nuclear explosion on your television screen. A mountain resort in the Krkonose region of the Czech Republic appeared to go up in a mushroom cloud of smoke. The video was a hoax, cleverly perpetrated by Ztohoven, a local art group. They later released a statement on their MySpace page claiming responsibility for the event: ?We are neither a terrorist organization nor a political group, our aim is not to intimidate the society or manipulate it, which is something we witness on daily basis both in the real world and in the world created by the media?We hope our action will become an appeal for the future and remind the media of their duty to bring out the truth.? The performance, entitled ?Media Reality? sparked controversy throughout the country. The Czech National Gallery awarded the group with the newly created NG 333 prize for their work. ?This piece---alongside all of the art th... More About: Nuclear , Artists , Face , Blast
Radiohead on how music is killing the planet
2008-01-03 22:47:00 The highlight of this month's Wired is a conversation between David Byrne and Radiohead 's Thom Yorke on "The Real Value of Music ". As expected, they discuss In Rainbows, the album that achieved music industry infamy through its web only, pay-what-you-want release. (The downloads are over, however, as the recording was released on CD earlier this month.) What I find most striking about this interview is not the tired discussion about why music labels are evil. (Although there is no doubt in my mind that they are). At one point the discussion turns to the environmental impact of touring, with Yorke musing on how this might be minimized or avoided altogether: "At the moment we make money principally from touring. Which is hard for me to reconcile because I don't like all the energy consumption, the travel. It's an ecological disaster, traveling and touring... We did one of those carbon footprint things recently where they assessed the last period of touring we did and tried t... More About: United States , Planet , Global
Radiohead on how music is killing the planet
2008-01-03 22:47:00 The highlight of this month's Wired is a conversation between David Byrne and Radiohead 's Thom Yorke on "The Real Value of Music ". As expected, they discuss In Rainbows, the album that achieved music industry infamy through its web only, pay-what-you-want release. (The downloads are over, however, as the recording was released on CD earlier this month.) What I find most striking about this interview is not the tired discussion about why music labels are evil. (Although there is no doubt in my mind that they are). At one point the discussion turns to the environmental impact of touring, with Yorke musing on how this might be minimized or avoided altogether: "At the moment we make money principally from touring. Which is hard for me to reconcile because I don't like all the energy consumption, the travel. It's an ecological disaster, traveling and touring... We did one of those carbon footprint things recently where they assessed the last period of touring we did and tried t... More About: United States , Planet , Global
The Pinky Show: Clever Cats Cultivating Curiosity and Compassion
2008-01-02 14:33:00 The Pinky Show has given me continuous food for thought since I first stumbled upon the episode The Iraq War: Legal or Illegal? a few months ago. These online video, radio and interview programs focus on a wide range of topics, most of which are marginalized, distorted or excluded from mainstream media and dialogue. During these lo-tech, hand-drawn shows, a cat named Pinky asks obvious questions that are rarely raised or answered by popular news outlets. She and her inquisitive cat friends then scour the earth in search of documents and experts to clarify misrepresented or ignored issues In the new episode Kicking the Apartheid Habit, Pinky ponders segregation and inequalities. This keen cat concludes that refusing to benefit from unjust institutions is a powerful way to get equal rights for all. She then poses a simple question that would be unthinkable to most: Hey, what about marriage? Because that's also something that doesn't allow everyone to participate equally, right? Li... More About: United States , Cats , Compassion , Clever
The Pinky Show: Clever Cats Cultivating Curiosity and Compassion
More articles from this author:2008-01-02 14:33:00 The Pinky Show has given me continuous food for thought since I first stumbled upon the episode The Iraq War: Legal or Illegal? a few months ago. These online video, radio and interview programs focus on a wide range of topics, most of which are marginalized, distorted or excluded from mainstream media and dialogue. During these lo-tech, hand-drawn shows, a cat named Pinky asks obvious questions that are rarely raised or answered by popular news outlets. She and her inquisitive cat friends then scour the earth in search of documents and experts to clarify misrepresented or ignored issues In the new episode Kicking the Apartheid Habit, Pinky ponders segregation and inequalities. This keen cat concludes that refusing to benefit from unjust institutions is a powerful way to get equal rights for all. She then poses a simple question that would be unthinkable to most: Hey, what about marriage? Because that's also something that doesn't allow everyone to participate equally, right? Li... More About: United States , Cats , Compassion , Clever 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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