Art Lighthouse

Big Brother - Myth or Threat

2012-04-12T16:17:00.002-07:00

Will security grow if you surrender your freedom? 1984 is about the danger of governments becoming totalitarian, and taking away your freedom, dignity and individuality.

George Orwell had a vision – in 1948, after seeing all sorts of horror in World War II, and the beginning of the Cold War, he described a dystopia in the near future – the worst society that can be imagined. He saw dictatorship that changes history, individuals monitored 24h per day, and massive propaganda.


British first edition cover

Main character is Winston Smith, a thirty-nine-year-old worker in the Ministry of Truth, and a (minor) party member. After listening propaganda for his entire life, he suddenly decides to write a diary, because he is filled with hatred for totalitarian control and repression, and needs to put his thoughts on paper, otherwise they will be forgotten.

„He who controls the past, controls the future“ is the Party's slogan. This slogan provides Winston his job, which is changing history by changing old newspaper records so that they can match the new Party's policy. But this is probably the reason why he realizes the truth and wants to do something about it.

Oceanian society is lead by the Party that has absolute power over people and teritory. Party controls minds of the Oceanian citizens, and they are under constant surveillance. There are three states that control the world: Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia. Oceania is sometimes in war Eurasia and sometimes with Eastasia. If Oceania changes it's foe, it's citizens will have to forget about their previous war and think that they have been in war with the same state from the start. Because „The essential act of war is destruction, not necessarily of human lives, but of the products of human labour. War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent.“

This ability to forget facts or to make up the new ones, is called Doublethink.

In the center of society is Big Brother. He is the ruler of Oceania, and the most important and most trusted person in his country. His image haunts everyone's life – it's on posters that say „Big Brother is watching you“, it's on coins, book covers, telescreens in people's homes. Bur he never appears in novel, like a real character; perhaps he doesn't even exist. But he is a cult and a deified Party leader.

1984 descibes a manipuation of the thoughts. If you don't think the way Party tells you, you will be guilty for thoughtcrimes. You are tortured until you start convincing yourself that they are right; then they will set you free so you can tell everyone that you were guilty and admit many things that you didn't actually commit. Then the Party can erase you from existence, and no one will even remember you. Other citizens are convinced that everything that Party does is for the sake of the greater good.The political system in Oceania is called English Socialism – Ingsoc. This might reffer to Stalinism.

Stalin with Nikolai Yezhov


Yezhov was edited out of the photo by Soviet censors

It controls life: „If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face — forever.“

Newspeak is the new language of Oceania that is still developing. It's purpose is to decrease the number of the words that should be used in speach and writing, which will also narrow the range of the thoughts. The lack of vocabulary makes conciousness a bare skelet with no ways to think more than you are supposed to. Newspeak applies different meanings to things and actions by referring only to the end to be achieved, not the MEANS of achieving it. For example, Ministry of Peace (Minipax) deals with war, and the Ministry of Love (Miniluv) deals with brainwashing and torture. Peace is achieved through war, and love of Big Brother is achieved through mind control.

The social class system of Oceania is threefold (although it is called „socialism“):

Inner Party, the upper class and the ruling minority
the middle-class Outer Party
the lower-class Proles (from „proleteriat“ or working class), which is 85% of the population

In The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism Emmanuel Goldstein explains how these classes work: the goal of the upper class is to stay as the ruling minority. The goal of the middle class is to change their places with those who are the ruling minority. The goal of the Proles is to make everyone equal without class system. Middle class needs to make Proles fight on their side, claiming that they fight for freedom and justice. When they win, they become the upper class, and the previous upper class becomes a new middle class. Proles always stay where they are. If the ruling class could know how to win against enemies from the outsdie, if it could rule carefully and didn't let masses to rebel, if it didn't let middle class to become strong enough to rebel, and if it didn't lose it's confidence and will – this type of ruling class could rule forever.

The society of Airstrip One lives in ruined cities and towns, which are the consequences of many wars. They got used to hunger, disease and filth. The standard of living is very low, except for the ruling class. Masses don't really realize that they are being exploited before they are let to find a criteria to compare themselves with others. If the ruling class doesn't let them develop their intelects, masses can't think and decide. „To not think, means to be ideologicaly correct“. The party uses patriotism as a way to exploit masses, for example, to work longer.

With the Junior Anti-Sex-League, the Party encourages its members to eliminate their libido. Lack of sexuality leads to hysteria which can be transformed into militancy and worshiping their leader.

Like many other books that deal with dystopia and dictatorship, such as We (1924) and Brave New World (1932), 1984 was considered intellectually dangerous to the public, and even banned.

The title of the novel indicates that the story represents a real possibility: if totalitarianism is not opposed, some variation of the world described in the novel could become a reality in the near future.

Do you ask yourselves did Orwell miss by a few years, and are the situations and regime described in the book absent from modern day society, or are they more than ever present, but only subtle than in the George Orwell's novel?

„Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.“

You can also check out an animated movie Metropia (2009), that will pretty much get you closer to understanding the treat to the society you currently live in.

Stanley Kubrick - A Pessimistic Obsessive Genius of Modern Art

2012-04-10T15:50:00.001-07:00

I remember watching Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) (2001). The whole plot is dark, surreal and very fun to watch. Jude Law, who portrayed Gigolo Joe, was brilliant. After watching it, the film’s mood stays with you for a long time. This movie, although it was directed by Steven Spielberg, was borne from the mind of Stanley Kubrick. Unfortunately, after the release of his last film, Eyes Wide Shut, Kubrick passed away, leaving A.I. to Spielberg.

Stanley Kubrick was born on July 26, 1928 in New York to Jewish parents, who weren't actually religious. He was interested in chess, photography, jazz and books. He was considered intelligent despite having poor grades at school.

For his thirteenth birthday, his dad gave him a camera. This decision was very wise; Kubrick became an avid photographer, and would often make trips around New York taking photographs which he would develop in a friend's darkroom. After selling a photograph to Look Magazine, Kubrick began to associate with their staff photographers, and at the age of seventeen was offered a job as an apprentice photographer. Soon he was chosen as an official school photographer.

Between 1951 and 1953, he made a few documentaries (Day of the Fight, Flying Padre and The Seafarers).
His first movie, Fear and Desire (1953) was the story of a team of soldiers caught behind enemy lines in a fictional war. It didn't gain much respect from the critics.
Killer's Kiss (1955) and The Killing (1956) gained him notice. Both movies had great plots and good actors, garnering good reviews. Kubrick experimented with urban loneliness, shadows, lights, abstract, narration and film noir itself.
Paths of Glory (1957), Kubrick's breakthrough film, was based on a novel by Humphrey Cobb and set during World War I. Kirk Douglas played Colonel Dax, who is ordered by his superiors to attack 'The Anthill' even though it is presumed to be suicide mission. This is the first Kubrick's film that deals with negative aspects of war.
Spartacus (1960), again starring Kirk Douglas, was a critical and commercial success, and established Kubrick as a major director. For this film, Kubrick was nominated for six Academy Awards and won four.
Lolita (1962) was an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Vladimir Nabokov. It was a provocative story that Kubrick turned into a comedy.
Peter Sellers, who appeared in Lolita, was cast for three different roles in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964), a satirical black comedy about nuclear war. It stirred up much controversy and many mixed opinions.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) was adapted from the Arthur C. Clarke's short story. Clarke and Kubrick collaboratively wrote the screenplay. The film was a great success, especially because it was different from any movie before, for quite a few obvious reasons.
A Clockwork Orange (1971), one of the most shocking movies ever, was accused of inciting anarchy, crime, and terrorism. Anthony Burgess, the author of the novel, perhaps tried to explain violence, and asked us, whether it is better to be what you are, even if you're evil? Should you have a choice?
Barry Lyndon (1975) was an adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's The Luck of Barry Lyndon. It was directed carefully, with great technical skill and using special lenses, gaining the respect of other directors. But the film’s three hour length was a bit much.
The Shining (1980) was another adaption, and was based on the work of the bestselling horror writer Stephen King. Jack Nicholson portrays a writer who descends into madness, while his son shows paranormal abilities. The Shining is considered to be a classic by horror movie fans.
Full Metal Jacket (1987) is about how the Vietnam War dehumanized soldiers. It is widely considered to be one of the best war movies ever made.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) is a story of jealousy and sexual obsession. It asks many questions about relationships and marriages. Many of us could get hurt watching it. From time to time, the film becomes a bit scary, describing secret societies. It is, in my opinion, Kubrick's darkest movie.

As it seems, Stanley Kubrick found the dark side of human nature more interesting than the bright one. His films ARE his views of human nature. He has a very pessimistic view of the humans as psychopaths. Psychopaths are all over his films. A young man, Alex, loves rape and violence. Kubrick is fascinated with Alex, “I'm interested in the brutal and violent nature of man because it's a true picture of him. And any attempt to create social institutions on a false view of the nature of man is probably doomed to failure . . . The idea that social restraints are all bad is based on a utopian and unrealistic vision of man." Other characters in A Clockwork Orange that might also be psychopathic include Mr. Deltoid, the police interrogator, and the minister as well. Other psychopathic characters in Kubrick’s films include, in The Killing, Val, and the other criminals as well; in Killer's Kiss, the manager; in Spartacus, the Roman senators; in 2001: A Space Odyssey, human incapability to solve their problems while trusting an artificial intelligence. In Paths of Glory, psychopathic characters include Broulard, who doesn't care who will get hurt; and Mireau, who orders murders of his own men. The characters share a peculiar sense of justice. In Dr. Strangelove, there are Turgidson and Strangelove, though Kubrick targeted war and society. All of the soldiers in Full Metal Jacket become psychopathic, animalistic killers, except for, perhaps, the Joker. This long list of psychopathic characters is clear evidence of Kubrick's pessimistic sympathy for war psychopaths and their victims. Both in A Clockwork Orange and Full Metal Jacket society expects law and order, but, if it has to, will use any system of values, or through throw away all values, to achieve its ends. Government, technology, and other social institutions are seen as only worsening the problem of man's barbaric nature rather than helping. Barry Lyndon becomes an increasingly manipulative liar, obsessed with becoming an aristocrat. In Lolita, there are some speculations about Clare Quilty. In The Shining, Jack is an alcoholic, child abuser, and a manipulative bully who eventually meets his own downfall. In Eyes Wide Shut, the whole system of values and relations between people is absurdly skewed.

Kubrick wanted to confront different people and situations, and to share the experience through multiply movie genres. He did the screenplay, soundtrack, editing. Many people claim he visited theaters to confirm that his films were shown with the proper lighting. But he wasn't just interested in those kinds of details. He was also interested in the process of film-making in a way no one else was; he was such a perfectionist at the craft of movie-making that he was one of the most difficult directors to work with. Kubrick demanded countless takes of every single shot. During the making of The Shining, he made Shelley Duvall 127 takes of one scene, making her hair fall out. Kubrick even controlled translations of his films’ scripts. Kubrick was a genius who lived through his work, which is why his films are so brilliant.

The Temptation of St. Anthony by Salvator Rosa and Salvador Dali's vision of it

2012-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

"Keep silent unless what you are going to say is more important than silence" – Salvator Rosa

Salvator Rosa's self-portrait

Salvator Rosa was born in Naples in 1615, and trained in the studio of the Spanish artist Juseppe de Ribera. While Rosa had a facile genius at painting, he pursued a wide variety of arts: music, poetry, writing, etching, and acting.
However, works, satires as well as the paintings of Salvator Rosa, deserve more attention than they have generally received, even today. Salvator Rosa longed to be considered a philosopher-painter, and to win a reputation for his learned representation of novel subjects.

His scenes of witchcraft reveal his interest in the irrational and less conventional intellectual preoccupations of his age. These also formed the background to his etchings, and to the satires which he wrote. Maybe the best presentation of that love for irrational and unnatural can be found on his eerie and beautiful painting, The Temptation of St. Anthony, which is one of the first paintings of that kind, representing a demon tempting or attacking St. Anthony, the demon that is uncommon to Rosa’s age and culture, kinda like he got out of a 20^th century horror movie, while the director was on acid. Or Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998). Take a look at the masterpiece.

The Temptation of St. Anthony - Salvator Rosa (1645)

Then Salvador Dali, in 1946, almost exactly 300 years later, painted his version of what might tempted St. Anthony (He had many temptations throughout art history, unfortunately for him).

The Temptation of St. Anthony - Salvador Dali (1946)

The temptations in Dalí’s painting arrive in the form of a nightmarish parade. In this picture temptation appears to Saint Anthony first as a horse, representing strength. Then lust, represented by a nude woman balancing on a teetering pedestal. The spider-legged elephants are topped with obelisks, some may see it as phallic towers; and some sort of ornate sex palace. But it appears as though St. Anthony’s faith is about to topple them all.

Many say that Dali drew a great deal of inspiration from Hieronymus Bosch’s work, who also painted The Temptation of St. Anthony,

The Temptation of St. Anthony (Center piece) - Hieronymus Bosch (1505)

and he really found inspiration from time to time in Bosch’s work, but as I got the impression searching the internet, nobody connects Dali and Rosa, even in a sentence. In my opinion, here he used Salvator Rosa’s surreal painting as an inspiration, especially if you look at the perspective, and overall impression which both paintings give.

So, which one do you like better?
More on Dali’s life and work coming, as well.

The Stranger and his Trials

2012-04-07T12:54:00.001-07:00

The Myth of Sisyphus by Titian

Albert Camus's essay, The Myth of Sisyphus, contains an addition titled Hope and Absurd in the work of Franz Kafka, dedicated to the Absurd and the killing of hope. Camus claims that Kafka fails as an absurd writer because his novels sparkle with hope here and there. (Camus shouldn't be considered a nihilist).
But he was definitely interested in Kafka's works. No surprise, Kafka was very a influential author, and one of the best writers of the 20th century. Both The Trial (Kafka, published posthumously in 1925) and The Stranger (Camus, 1942) deal with characters who are on trial, but they won't, under any circumstance, accept society's laws concerning morality or religion, because they are forced to find the meaning in the meaningless world. They won't save their lives, by accepting “illusions.”.

Joseph K (The Trial), is trapped in Kafkaesque world, desperately trying to find out what is he accused of. The authority, as in any other Kafka's story, is inaccessible.
Meursault (The Stranger) on the other hand, knows his crime, but he is not punished for what he did, but for his lack of emotions after his mother's death, which have nothing to do with the murder he has committed. Meursault is different, and he needs to be punished because of it. An honest person, he always speaks his mind and does not care how other people see him. He doesn’t feel the need to defer to what society expects him to be or thinks of him. He is the stranger to society.
Many writers and philosophers have their interpretation of what is Absurd. Sartre wrote about the absurdity of individual experience, while Kierkegaard wrote more about religion, and how many religious truths prevent humans from reaching God.
The term “Kafkaesque” is used to describe ideas that are marked by senseless bureaucracy, dangerous and surreal, and often appear in Kafka's works, such as The Trial, The Metamorphosis and The Castle. It often describes humiliation of humans under authority, and authority is yet another human and humans have flaws, beliefs and imperfections. The Trial and The Castle are intertwined. The Trial describes the problem, but it doesn't solve it. The Castle solves the problem by making us accept it and live with it. The Castle's every chapter is a new defeat, but also a new beginning, as well. It teaches us durability. Kafka's works perfectly describe the path between hope and despair, because he IS the master of despair.
Camus describes Meursault as someone who is unaware of the absurdity of human existence, yet this absurdity colours his actions; the only real and true things are his physical experiences. Both Joseph K and Meursault feel the terror of society on their skin, at the end, they are brutally wiped out because they don't think nor act the way society demands. Both books, The Trial and The Stranger, look very simple, but are carefully planned. After you read them, you will discover a whole world of symbolism and meaning.
For those of you who want to experience more, besides these books, we highly recommend to you a film adaptation of The Trial, directed by Orson Welles in 1962.

Preface

2012-04-07T12:36:00.002-07:00

Hello there, chosen ones!

We are a young couple of artistic minds, who are devoted to share and to enlighten as many people as possible with the knowledge we've gained throughout our lives and work. From literature, painting, philosophy, to movies and street art, just to name a few. That's what this blog will be about. If you're sailing these grim waters of today and in desperate need of sanctuary in a form of art, our blog is your lighthouse.

P.S. We would like to thank our friend from the good old United States, who helped us in many ways: reviewing our posts, checking grammar, giving advices and tips, and supporting our work.

Aneta and Milos