Parody-Post Class

The images we viewed in class on tuesday were quite thought provoking.  We viewed some great works of art, such as the sculpture of the female form, as well as the painting of a worker's worn boots.  As Sydney suggested, they provoked a sense of wanting to know more.  We can admire the female, as well as ponder who's shoes those were.  Most, upon seeing the image, would want to know the hard working man and his story, behind the panting of the boots.

However, as we tend to recreate past, we have essentially created parodies to these finer ideas and pieces.  We see the beauty in the sculpture of the female form, and want to recreate it in a "modern sense,' or in a sense that perhaps we can relate to better.  Similar recreations were found in the Victoria Secret Angels and Britney Spears advertisement.  As both of these ads were difficult to place the product attempting to sell (VS doesn't sell most of those garments in the show, and Britney's ad was simply vague), they were meant to provoke a feeling the "original" or more historical pieces were able to draw from viewers.  I would argue that the feeling is not the same however.  Viewers might be attracted to the sex appeal of these "parodies," but very few will be able to see the artwork behind them.  Very few want to look further into the stories behind them.  They seem far more material.   Dare I say, they lost their aura.

The same applies to the  painting of the worker's old boots, and its comparative parody piece, Andy Warhols pop art painting of a few womens shoes.  We do not get the same feeling as the previous.  We are not provoked to deeper thought.  We essentially take it for what it is.

This is not to say that these news pieces are not to be enjoyed, as Andy Warhol is one of the most famous artists, as well as Victorias Secret is a highly successful brand, but they simply cannot expect to provoke the depth of thought as they seem to be targeting.