The Art World's Totalitarian Behavior: A Cautionary Tale of Obedience and Revulsion

The omnipresent Hope poster that catapulted Barack Obama to the White House has become a symbol of the art world's collective obeisance to the new president. Street artist Shepard Fairey, creator of the iconic image, is now embroiled in a copyright infringement lawsuit with the Associated Press, which claims he stole photographer Manny Garcia's work. The incident raises disturbing questions about the art world's willingness to turn a blind eye to intellectual property theft and even totalitarianism, as artists like Fairey pledge their allegiance to Obama, despite his administration's questionable ethics.

Key Takeaways:

• Shepard Fairey, creator of the Hope poster, is being sued by the Associated Press for copyright infringement, allegedly stealing photographer Manny Garcia's work.
• The art world's collective obedience to Obama has led to a lack of critical thinking and intellectual property protection, as seen in Fairey's actions.
• Fairey's previous street art sensation, Obey posters, were part of an attempt to position someone to cleanse the body politic of corruption and cynicism, but the artist is now part of an "endless artistic vanguard pledging obedience to their new leader".
• Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher's celebrity-laden Presidential Pledge video is an example of the reverence demanded by leaders of totalitarian regimes.
• The Obama administration's choices, such as selecting Eric Holder and Timothy Geithner for key positions, despite their own ethical issues, have raised concerns about the president's vetting process.
• The art world's behavior towards Obama is a "cautionary tale of obedience and revulsion", as seen in the praise of comedians and writers who are now pledging their fealty to the president.
• The Fairness Doctrine, which may soon be reinstated, could lead to censorship and a silencing of dissenting voices, as seen in the art world's reaction to Fairey's lawsuit.

Statistics:

• 14: the number of times Shepard Fairey has been arrested, mainly for tagging (graffiti and defacing private property).
• $1000-$5000: the price range of signed Hope poster editions on eBay.
• 300 million: the population of the United States.
• 2: the number of Obama Cabinet members, Eric Holder and Timothy Geithner, with documented ethical issues.

Sources:

• Wired magazine
• The New York Times
• The Daily Show
• The Associated Press
• breitbart.com