It's not all about money, Cde Gugu. In the Soviet Union, after the revolution, there was a tremendous upsurge of artistic expression. Then there was Proletkult, which Lenin opposed. Then there were the posters, and there was El Lissitsky and the Tatlin tower. There were the constructionists and the constructivists. There is a very large history of art and revolution, in France and in other countries like Mexico and Cuba.
Then there was "socialist realism", the worst of Soviet art, which Murray does not attack. He attacks the powerful art, knowing that we have not the critical means to defend it. What undermines us, including our President, is our own lack of critical apparatus that we could use to demolish this actually trivial person, or in fact to ignore him, as one could ignore a dog (but remember Diogenes). Once more, as we have been in politics, we are called upon not only to equal but to surpass the received culture of the world, and I mean all of it, the Europena and the African and all of it. This is what Frantz Fanon called upon us to do, in the Conclusion of "The Pedagogy of the Oppressed", more than 50 years ago. Now we have to do it. VC On 21 May 2012 07:17, <[email protected]> wrote: > ** > I guess its proven difficult to clearly put this issue in an ideological > context and hence most critiques have confined the argument within the > constitutional parameters as this is what currently exists. > > However I don't the argument was just art-but the moral compass it borders > on and its depiction. The office it offends and the manner in which it > undermines the rights of the President. > > Perhaps you can assist about the Art matter and how well to interpret it. > As for the artists I have no words. They have money and media as a power > base and chances are this will make Brett filthy rich > Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! > ------------------------------ > *From: * Dominic Tweedie <[email protected]> > *Sender: * [email protected] > *Date: *Mon, 21 May 2012 07:09:42 +0200 > *To: *<[email protected]> > *ReplyTo: * [email protected] > *Subject: *Re: [YCLSA Discussion] SACP: On Attacks and Insults on > President Zuma > > > Hi Gugu, > > Congratulations on all your publications. We are the writers now. > > Concerning the SASCO statement that you refer to, I have read it but I do > not see in it anything like an understanding of what art is, what the > function of art is within society. > > Especially what I do not see is any criticism of the work of Brett Murray > from an artistic point of view. If such a criticism can be made, and made > successfully, then Brett will go away. But if not, then Brett or another > Brett will follow. Brett after all, is following Zapiro. It is like a pain > button that these immature yobboes are unable to restrain themselves from > applying (a bit like the Taser man, in fact). > > Sometimes the most simple and worst behaviour is the most difficult to > deal with intellectually. > > It is of no use to do what SASCO has done and talk about the Constitution > and limits to rights. But what we have found here is that the Constitution > has nothing to say about art. It is no more capable of dealing with such a > thing than a donkey. The law is an ass when it comes to art. > > So you must find a revolutionary criticism, not a > bourgeois-democratic-constitutional one; and not a feudal one, for that > matter. > > SASCO's writings to date, and yours too, have not yet risen to this > challenge. > > > VC > > > > On 21 May 2012 06:53, <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Thanks Sbu, >> >> I like the SASC0 statement on the matter. It even answered some of VC's >> questions on art >> Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: sibusiso Mchunu <[email protected]> >> Sender: [email protected] >> Date: Mon, 21 May 2012 06:38:45 >> To: <[email protected]> >> Reply-To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [YCLSA Discussion] SACP: On Attacks and Insults on President >> Zuma >> >> one can see the two state theory, with reference to comments about so >> called the ''Spear'', the haves, have gone to an extend of saying no! >> the Courts must decide, to a point that the Courts must think on their >> behalf, even the City Press editor, allows something that goes against >> her religion, just so she can make sales. this is strange from those >> who say are for democracy. >> >> >> Their dislike of the ANC through Zuma, they don't even care even if >> they brake the law, it is okay as long it is them, since the law is on >> their side, with no Transformation within the courts, where are the >> Constitutional expects, are they all gone into hiding? >> >> This is why in Zimbabwe and other countries you will never find such, >> things happening. >> >> Maybe we need another artits to potray Zille in a very situation and >> see what the nation of haves will say, maybe the constitutional >> expects may rise and be seen. >> >> >> Amandla >> >> Sibusiso >> >> >> >> On 5/20/12, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: >> > ANC must soon finalize the information bill,this bourgeoisie are always >> > working very hard to make us Africans to be something that we are >> > not...insulting ur parents in an African culture is satanic and >> > demonic...they are constantly tarnishing our values and >> honour,integrity of >> > being africans. >> > Sent via my BlackBerry from Vodacom - let your email find you! >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: VC <[email protected]> >> > Sender: [email protected] >> > Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 12:54:02 >> > To: <[email protected]> >> > Reply-To: [email protected] >> > Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] SACP: On Attacks and Insults on President >> Zuma >> > >> > >> > SACP >> > >> > *SACP Statement, 20 May 2012* >> > >> > >> > *Attacks and Insults on President Zuma* >> > >> > >> > The SACP is outraged at the insulting, disrespectful, and frankly, >> > disgusting, and sadistic so-called portrait of President Zuma by Brett >> > Murray. This constitutes a grave insult not only to the person and >> > dignity of the President, but an insult to all black South Africans and >> > all other decent South Africans. This portrait is deeply offensive and >> > an extreme act of provocation to the overwhelming majority of our >> > people.To us Brett Murray has simply crossed the line. >> > >> > The SACP equally condemns all those who defend this offensive portrait >> > as part of freedom of expression. Freedom of expression has never meant >> > freedom to insult and harm the dignity of another person. This kind of >> > defense is a further insult to the millions of South Africans who fought >> > for this freedom, with some sacrificing their own lives. >> > >> > This kind of portrait shows the extent to which a section of South >> > Africans do not respect the office of the President, the person of >> > President Zuma, and the millions of black and other South Africans who >> > take offence at this. >> > >> > The SACP wishes to state it categorically that we did not fight for our >> > freedom so that it can be abused by closet racists and all other >> > reactionaries in the name of freedom of expression. Our principled >> > commitment to building a united, non-racial society must never be taken >> > for a sign of weakness. It seems as if the generosity of millions of our >> > people is being taken for granted by elements that do not care a bit >> > about the future of our country. >> > >> > As a country we have come a long way to build social cohesion, peace and >> > stability in our country. Such reckless and careless works of so-called >> > 'art' are simply divisive and run the danger of undoing a lot of what we >> > have done. >> > >> > The SACP is deeply incensed by these developments. We defend the freedom >> > of speech and free artistic expression but this portrait is simply not >> > part of such. Artistic freedom and expression has to safeguard the >> > dignity of individuals and nothing is more sacrosanct than dignity of >> > individuals. The use of the ANC logo in the portrait is even more >> > disgusting. >> > >> > The SACP joins the call by the ANC, COSATU and all other decent South >> > Africans that this portrait be immediately withdrawn and for Brett >> > Murray to apologize for the offense this has caused to millions of South >> > Africans. >> > >> > >> > *Issued by the SACP >> > >> > _Contact_: >> > Malesela Maleka >> > SACP Spokesperson -- 082 226 1802 >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > * >> > >> > -- >> > You are subscribed. This footer can help you. >> > Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply >> to >> > this message. >> > You can visit the group WEB SITE at >> > http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery >> > options, pages, files and membership. >> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email >> [email protected] . >> > You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have >> to >> > put anything in the message part. 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