I note that there is a big internet backlash about some posters the Presidents press secretary has on his living room walls, supposedly confirming that he is a communist or Marxist or something-ist. I wonder if its occurred to anyone that he might have put them up for their artistic value; lots of people do, as Soviet propaganda art is quite interesting and an important part of 20th century art history. Impossible, you say? Think about this: I sometimes have on display photographs made for and by one of the greatest propaganda campaigns in American history -- the Farm Security Administration (FSA). I like them because of their importance to photographic history and the significant artists who made them, not for their blatant support of the redistributionist policies of the Roosevelt administration for whom they worked. Having them hanging on my wall is not indicative of anything other than they look good hanging on my wall. I dont know if the fellow in question is sympathetic to the Soviet system or not; he may very well be, which is his right. I just think its a little over the top to paint someone as something specific based upon the art hanging in their den.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 03:16:18 +0000