A man, crestfallen, is sitting on a bench in front of the White House, contemplating his country’s future. At his feet lie the causes of his distress: tattered dollars, representing a weak currency, and scraps of paper, symbolizing an abused Constitution. Behind and around him stand the 43 presidents of the United States, most of whom are outraged. One of them, James Madison, reaches pitifully for the ground, trying to collect the shards of American greatness. Unfortunately, he can’t retrieve our founding document from the dust, for it’s beneath the foot of Barack Obama.
The title of this portrait is “The Forgotten Man,” and its creator is Jon McNaughton, a 42-year-old artist from Spanish Fork, Utah. McNaughton unveiled the piece last Tuesday with a video describing its origin and a website explaining its meaning. “For a long time, I didn’t know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried that it might be too controversial,” McNaughton intones in the video. Now, however, he’s courting controversy.
I'm wondering why the guy on the bench isn't crawling around picking up all the money left on the ground.
You really are hopeless if you can't even reach down and get money off the ground.
Or maybe he's not picking it up because he knows he didn't earn it.
What are your thoughts on this painting?
attempt to portray real issues in an emotional manner.
Its a dishonest
What are your thoughts on this painting?
You've pretty much defined "art."
You're saying he doesn't believe his message or knows it to be untrue?
I am saying its dishonest because of the oversimplification of real issues, whether or not I agree with the perspective has nothing to do with it. It presents a picture of absolutes.
One example is Lincoln. Given some of his actions during the civil war, I he should be right over there with the guys stepping on the constitution, hell Reagan too. Actually, there was that whole lousianna purchase which was considered unconstitutional at the time, so theres someone else on the wrong side ...
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