Art of Propaganda

In Propaganda 1, the artist Loren Meltzer captures your attention with a picture of what could be your grandmother, only she’s looking at you very sternly. Color and the familiar pink ribbon are used to alert you to the fact that she’s talking about breast cancer, and then the pink color is used again to draw you right to the word “cannabis.” Now, marijuana and grandmothers don’t go together. Do they? You have to read the text — you just have to, because you need to know what brings these two unlikely things together. This piece took on Knight’s challenge beautifully. It’s hard to argue the artists position because there is no negativity to get your dander up. Your grandmother is telling you that cannabis saved her life. Is it biased? Of course. If you felt that pot saved your life, you’d be pretty strongly biased in favor of its use, too. You have every right to state your opinion as such, and if you don’t like the poster you can design your own poster stating the opposing position.

The issue need not be serious or global either. Aja Wells promotes her opinion of Arcata with the poster Poodles. Six poodles represent five major cities and Arcata. The poodles for New York, Paris, Milan, Prague and Los Angeles all have the same chi-chi look — they get their styles from Vogue magazine. The Arcata poodle is a true individual, with a superior smile and a look that shows pride in its uniqueness. There is no other text but the names of the cities; you can take the message as you interpret it.

This is a fun show overall, and important too. Whether you realize it or not, you are surrounded by propaganda every day. It’s not going to go away anytime soon, so you’re best off to be well versed in the language.

And since we’re on the subject of convincing, I want you to take a look at this website before Election Day, Nov. 4. Artsvote 2008, at www.artsactionfund.org/artsvote, has a summary of the 2008 Presidential candidates positions on the arts. The propagandist in me wants to convince you that our next president, and all presidents, need to support the arts and arts education for children. This comparison should help you decide for yourself which candidate will be the strongest proponent of the arts.

Propaganda will be on exhibit at HSU’s First Street Gallery, 422 First St. in Eureka, through Nov. 2. Visit their website, humboldt.edu/~first, or call 826-3424 for more information.

1 2 SHARE