Reaction

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

I am interested in people reaction to this photo of a painting owned by one of our member. I have shown it to a few people and reaction is interesting. Indulge me but what do you lot think of it.

title

BAD DOG - BAD CAT

[_D_S_J_R_]

You gave me a quick glimpse and my first reaction was, 'That's good.' Meaning cool that someone composed and painted such a picture. Looking again more deeply shows other depths which I don't find as comfortable.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

It is a very uncomfortable picture, tell me where that discomfort occurs. I gather the artist (who is Welsh) is not a surrealist as such, but the picture definitely is surreal.

[Fretless]

I find something disturbing/depressing in this. Unsettling. Certainly wouldn't want it hanging on my wall.

There is a sexual tension. The woman/cat is teasing the dog/man - he is made to be stupid with a jester's hat and exhibits primal, wolf-like aggression.

The illusion of impending violence/rape is there and the question is, who is responsible? The woman for seductive behaviour, or the man for not controlling his urges?

[brit-pop]

I don't find it offensive or anything, more that it's ugly and amateurish.

I do like those amusing ones of dogs playing poker and billiards though. They're great and very tasteful.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

On that level you are right. But if modern(ish) or most representative art was judged purely on the skill of the draftsman it wouldn't exist. Do you like Cubism for example.

For me modern pictorial art is someone trying to express or show something beyond words, this picture certainly serves that function.

[joe]

I don't find it offensive or anything, more that it's ugly and amateurish.

Same here. With a suitable caption, it would make a reasonable 'funny' greetings card. It's about on that level.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]

I find something disturbing/depressing in this. Unsettling. Certainly wouldn't want it hanging on my wall.

There is a sexual tension. The woman/cat is teasing the dog/man - he is made to be stupid with a jester's hat and exhibits primal, wolf-like aggression.

The illusion of impending violence/rape is there and the question is, who is responsible? The woman for seductive behaviour, or the man for not controlling his urges?

Fretless, you are a thinker and obviously perceptive. Do you see anything beyond that, I really don't want to prompt but I see this as an exercise in perception, how many levels it has, and is it important, or are we better off just saying it is a badly painted peculiarity obviously done by a loony.

[Fretless]

the next level down, and obvious allegory, is that sexual behaviour (male and female) is essentially animalistic - overriding the studied logical reponses of Homo Sapiens.

As Gurdjieff pointed out in his 'War against sleep' almost everyone is in a constant sleepwalking state, barely aware of their own drives and actions.

You don't have to dig very deeply below the surface to find manipulative & aggressive elements in many people.

[Dr Bunsen Honeydew]