This is ridiculous.

[ParaRevolutionary]

This guy actually calls himself an "artist".

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/17/lena-adelsohn-liljeroth-cake_n_1431544.html

[Left Leanings]

Absolutely disgusting. Both shameful and grotesque.

And this in a climate, where racist scum like the Sweden Democrats are ascendent. Some trolling clown was on here only last week, posting some fascist shit promoting them.

[Dr. Rosenpenis]

i thought it was supposed to be like effigy of sarah baartman the south african xviiith century women who was taken to britain to be exhibited in freak shows and whose body was later exhibited in the national museum of natural history in paris

[Vyacheslav Brolotov]

Not only is it racist, it is also mocking and making a spectacle of African women who have had their lives destroyed by genitalia mutilation. The video is just so sick.

[Manic Impressive]

Firstly you know that the artist is black right and from what I can see prefers to be called female? If that makes a difference to whether it's racist or not just thought you should know. I think it's actually a really good piece and I usually hate art like that. But for me it was sending a very clear message and trying to highlight the issue of female circumcision but not only highlight but to bring a little bit of reality to these bourgie mutha fuckers slicing into her vaginal region. What I found disturbing was how much they were laughing at it, making light of a seriously disturbing issue that the artist was raising. This could possibly mean it was redundant as a piece of art as they obviously didn't seem to get it. On the other hand a bunch of bourgie white people laughing as they cut into a racist caricature of black woman's vagina while she screams in pain could be seen as a metaphor for so much more.

[Krano]

What The Fuck? :cursing:

[gorillafuck]

This guy actually calls himself an "artist".you can make racist art. it is still art. the cake was really well made.

as for the cake, I don't quite get it? was there a joke, was there symbolism, what? I'm confused.

[ParaRevolutionary]

you can make racist art. it is still art. the cake was really well made.

as for the cake, I don't quite get it? was there a joke, was there symbolism, what? I'm confused.

If youre the kind of person who considers a signed urinal to be art. Sure the cake was well made but it was tasteless and tacky. As somewhat of an artist myself i consider the calling of this as "art" to be offensive.

[Bostana]

Fucking Idiotic

[hatzel]

Ah...

Pretty much every minority in Sweden is aware that - despite ceaseless claims to the contrary - Sweden's is a pretty racist society at the moment. And that those who walk the corridors of power certainly aren't exempt from this current. And that Sweden's foreign policy is hardly exemplary. And so on. I mean just look at this quote from The Local:


According to [spokesperson for the National Afro-Swedish Association, Kitimbwa] Sabuni, the incident is "strange" but "not unexpected" in the Swedish context.

"Sweden thinks of itself as a place where racism is not a problem," he said.

"That just provides cover for not discussing the issue which leads to incidents like this."So a situation has been brought about whereby a representative of the pseudo-tolerant establishment has participated in a performance, 'mutilating' the cake and consuming the 'flesh.' That is to say, she has made herself the 'face' of extreme violence against the 'image' of the African woman. Another quote from Sabuni:


"Her participation, as she laughs, drinks, and eats cake, merely adds to the insult against people who suffer from racist taunts and against women affected by circumcision," he said.

"We have no confidence in her any longer."If you're looking at the artist in this, and making all these indignant comments in that direction, you're clearly overlooking the actual significance of the performance, in exposing the contradictions in Swedish society and the discriminatory nature of its government, one which claims to be progressive and tolerant whilst simultaneously inflicting untold hardship on its various 'outsiders'...

[brigadista]

words escape me...

[Agent Ducky]

you can make racist art. it is still art. the cake was really well made.

as for the cake, I don't quite get it? was there a joke, was there symbolism, what? I'm confused.

I'm also confused :blink:. I feel like I'm missing something big about wtf this whole thing is supposed to mean and why any of it happened in the first place? :confused:

[hatzel]

I'm also confused :blink:. I feel like I'm missing something big about wtf this whole thing is supposed to mean and why any of it happened in the first place? :confused:

It happened because Makode Linde's art deals with black issues and African history by juxtaposing crude caricatures and 'romanticised' images with the experience of oppression, slavery and abject poverty. In this suspension of reality, moments of extreme brutality become possible. Or, at least, in this particular suspension of reality, a moment of extreme brutality became possible. A moment of brutality like, say, laughing and smiling whilst slicing-and-dicing Europe's colonialist image of the African, an image which 'straddled' fantasy and reality by combining the anthropomorphic cake and the ludicrously exaggerated make-up (though of course this make-up comes straight out of racist caricatures) with a very real face and voice, ensuring that 'humanity' remained very much present.

The 'focus' of the performance wasn't Linde at all, nor the cake; he merely created a situation in which those present could unwittingly perform, and perform they did...they didn't seem to stop to think about the image placed before them, they didn't question whether or not to proceed. They were in a 'party' situation with a cake, and convention suggests that you slice and eat said cake, that's 'inherited wisdom' almost, it's not made subject to ethical consideration - even with the human element. In much the same way that the colonialist abusing the 'negro,' the contemporary African cutting the girl, doesn't consider their behaviour, as they do simply 'what one does' in that particular situation, with the brutality somehow overlooked...

[Jimmie Higgins]

If you're looking at the artist in this, and making all these indignant comments in that direction, you're clearly overlooking the actual significance of the performance, in exposing the contradictions in Swedish society and the discriminatory nature of its government, one which claims to be progressive and tolerant whilst simultaneously inflicting untold hardship on its various 'outsiders'...

I don't think this quite fits unless part of Sweden's imperialist legacy is female circumcision (if it is, then please correct me because I am not aware of this connection):


The installation "was reportedly meant to highlight the issue of female circumcision,"

So in this context, I think you are correct that the artist's intent was to humanize this issue while mocking indifference to it among these elite liberals and Sweedish society in general. I think this is the most obvious reading of the piece and if it really was the intent, it's shallow and liberal political art at best.

I think this is a liberal-oriented critique of western "indifference" to the plight of women in Africa; creating a real-life racist character who screams, I think, is meant to say, "we make this an abstract problem and see people in Africa in this stereotypical way, and in ignoring their humanity, we are complicit in this violence".

But from a Marxist perspective, I don't think the main problem in relations between various European and African states is LACK of involvement. So like the Koney campaign it's an example of "drawing attention to suffering" in a moralistic way on the side of the artists/activists mind, but is supported more broadly by the media and other institutions as a way to potentially help bolster arguments for supporting modernizing leaders and regimes (neo-liberal) and making the case for why European and North American powers should be involved in Africa.

[black magick hustla]

just cuz' it offends you it doesn't stop being "art". leftists are so dishonest with their handwinging sometimes

[bricolage]

If youre the kind of person who considers a signed urinal to be art.
one of the greatest pieces of art of the 20th century.

[Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant']

I can see why offense would be taken, and has been taken, but I think the intention wasn't to mock or trivialise so it's hard to know how to react...don't think it's a very good peice of art, but that's just a personal asthetic thing.

I did post something about this myself, but I admittedly I offered no opinion, just the story on BBC

http://www.revleft.com/vb/showthread.php?t=170452

[Jimmie Higgins]

From the Guardian about racism in Sweeden:


But more than that, why is it that Stockholm's Museum of Modern Art, a major state institution, organised a spectacle like this? This can only be understood by looking at the country as a whole. Racism and racist depictions against black people are common in Sweden.


In March last year a popular celebrity, Alexander Bard, declared on national television station SVT that there is nothing wrong with calling black people "niggers" – "If I can refer to myself as a faggot then I should be able to call black people niggers" – and when confronted on social media by an Afro-Swede, he insisted on using the word repeatedly to make his point.
Last April, at a student dinner gathering at the prestigious Lund University, students arrived with their faces blacked up, with nooses and shackles around their necks and arms, and led by a white "slave trader". During the course of the evening, a slave auction was enacted.


http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2012/4/18/1334741237566/A-poster-depicting-Jallow-001.jpg A poster depicting Jallow Momodou as a slave

When I filed a complaint, I was subjected to a racist reprisal (http://www.thelocal.se/33338/20110421/). Apart from threats against me and my family, a manipulated picture of me as a slave in shackles was made into posters bearing the words, in Swedish: "This is our runaway nigger slave and he answers to the name Jallow Momodou. If you should find him please call this number." These were put up in several different spots around my workplace, Malmö university. Rev Jesse Jackson himself condemned the harassment (http://www.thelocal.se/36718/20111013/).


In October 2010, a white Swedish man went on a rampage in Malmö (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/09/malmo-shootings-man-charged), shooting more than 20 people of colour and killing one. The killer was officially considered to be a lone wolf with psychological problems rather than a terrorist with racist motives, and he has still not been prosecuted.
At the start of last year, a sex education film caused outrage because it showed a black guy having sex with a white girl. More than half a million comments were posted on the internet, mainly commenting on how disgusted they were at this "betrayal" of the white race and corruption of the purity of the Swedish gene pool. The entire incident, though, was not even commented on by a single politician.


Despite all these incidents, however, Sweden has created an image for itself of paradise and harmony, which has been bought into by the rest of the world. It is a challenge for all of us to revise the Swedish self-image, starting in our schools, to understand how racism has taken hold in this country.


Sweden abolished the slave trade in 1847 well after nations like Britain; but few people know this part of its history.


The Swedish exceptionalism – the idea that Sweden is different from the rest of Europe, disconnected from slavery and colonialism – has made it very difficult to discuss the racist structures that black people face today.
Racism is about power, in which those who operate the levers believe it is OK to discriminate, dehumanise and denigrate without consequence. This is what the culture minister is relying on: a racist structure that ignores racial incidents and ultimately makes them part of the norm. This is what the true image of Swedish society looks like.



just cuz' it offends you it doesn't stop being "art". leftists are so dishonest with their handwinging sometimesYeah, like I said, shallow political art. If "hand-wringing" was the issue I wouldn't watch half the movies I've seen or enjoy a lot of music I listen to so this is not the point. As the article above shows, this is not an isolated case of an artist disconnected from issues in the rest of society making some provocative statement.

[gorillafuck]

As somewhat of an artist myself i consider the calling of this as "art" to be offensive.that's pretentious.

[NewLeft]

I just don't understand Makode Aj Linde's art.

[ParaRevolutionary]

just cuz' it offends you it doesn't stop being "art". leftists are so dishonest with their handwinging sometimes

It doesnt offend me, i just dont believe that just because you call something are makes it so.

[ParaRevolutionary]

that's pretentious.

Not at all.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Art is dead.

This is very bizarre and almost surreal. One would have expected to see this during the early 20th century not the beginning of the 21st but nothing new under the sun I guess. As for it being "well made," it's really not that difficult to put a layer of colored fondant over a mold. :rolleyes:

[black magick hustla]

It doesnt offend me, i just dont believe that just because you call something are makes it so.

why not? does art needs to be good and progressive or something?

[ed miliband]

fuck art tho seriously as someone who has come from an "artistic" background and has studied art at a limited degree (not that that means anything - it's worthless, maybe less than that in fact)

what if - just what if - this piece of art makes a much wider point about the acceptability of racism in western society - y'all are so quick to register disgust that you miss it all

[ParaRevolutionary]

why not? does art needs to be good and progressive or something?

Because it allows anything to become art, from a piss filled water bottle to a used tampon.

[black magick hustla]

Because it allows anything to become art, from a piss filled water bottle to a used tampon.
honestly, actually this is p. traditional art i mean there is some craftmanship and skill involved even if it might be bad taste. certainly someone unskilled like me couldn't make this shit

my point is not really to defend the piece of art but the idea that art needs to be positive or something.

[zoot_allures]

Because it allows anything to become art, from a piss filled water bottle to a used tampon.
Anything can be art. It depends on how you're mentally framing it. You can't be right or wrong when judging whether or not something is art.

[Os Cangaceiros]

why the fuck does the word "art" need to signify some standard of quality? There's good art and terrible art, from my own individual perspective. Saying "that's not art!" is ridiculous, because there's no inherent statement of quality involved in the word, unless you're douchebag (aka an art critic, an art snob, a believer in socialist realism, etc.)

[ParaRevolutionary]

Anything can be art. It depends on how you're mentally framing it. You can't be right or wrong when judging whether or not something is art.

And thats my problem with the ability to call anything art. Once anything can be called art then art ceases to exist.

[ed miliband]

my mum fuckin loves tracy emin - that's bad art imo - but not something that gets me wetting myself in disgust

[ed miliband]

And thats my problem with the ability to call anything art. Once anything can be called art then art ceases to exist.

you never heard of dadaism bro?

DESTROY ART

[ed miliband]

honestly i love the fact people who can paint or draw well are no longer consider art

draw portraits for tourists or some shit idk

[ParaRevolutionary]

Cry about it.

Very mature.

[gorillafuck]

I and a lot of other people am very interested in morbid, negative, and non-progressive art.

(not related to this specific piece, I think it's fucked up for this to be at a political event for a major politician, as well as very uninteresting imo)

[ParaRevolutionary]

Hey, you are the one up in this thread crying about ART

No ones crying about anything, its called a mature discussion, apparently something you know very little about judging by your immature hostility.

[zoot_allures]

And thats my problem with the ability to call anything art. Once anything can be called art then art ceases to exist.
Well, it doesn't exist objectively; it doesn't exist "out there" in the external world. It still exists, though. Subjective things exist.

Something is art to you if you interpret it in a particular aesthetic way. Other people might not interpret it that way, so it's not art to them. That's all. Nobody's right or wrong, just different.

[black magick hustla]

And thats my problem with the ability to call anything art. Once anything can be called art then art ceases to exist.

so what? better have it reabsorbed in the sphere of everyday life as opposed to a specialized activity

[gorillafuck]

what do you think the requirements are for something to be art? is it a certain skill level? because someone who isn't at least fairly skilled couldn't have made this. or is it based on how progressive it is...?

[ParaRevolutionary]

what do you think the requirements are for something to be art? is it a certain skill level? because someone who isn't at least fairly skilled couldn't have made this. or is it based on how progressive it is...?

A certain amount of creativity and emotion. If i place dog shit on a paper plate and call it art does that make it so?

[zoot_allures]

A certain amount of creativity and emotion. If i place dog shit on a paper plate and call it art does that make it so?
It would to me (in any case, I'm pretty sure there's no example you could think of that would be more ridiculous than some of the real-world modern/postmodern art).

How are you defining creativity?

Why would we assume that placing dog shit on a paper plate couldn't be performed with emotion?

[black magick hustla]

A certain amount of creativity and emotion. If i place dog shit on a paper plate and call it art does that make it so?

depends really

[gorillafuck]

A certain amount of creativity and emotion. If i place dog shit on a paper plate and call it art does that make it so?racist stereotype cakes are a more creative idea than landscapes, I'd say. and I'm not one to believe you can really quantify emotion, but how is this piece lacking in the necessary amount of emotion?

[ParaRevolutionary]

racist stereotype cakes are a more creative idea than landscapes, I'd say. and I'm not one to believe you can really quantify emotion, but how is this piece lacking in the necessary amount of emotion.

Im not referring specifically to this piece.

[gorillafuck]

then how is this piece not art? you said that art requires a certain amount of creativity and emotion. and you said this isn't art. wouldn't that mean that this piece is lacking in at least one of these qualities?

[ParaRevolutionary]

then how is this piece not art?

I never said the cake wasnt, its obviously a well made cake. Im referring to the "performance" aspect.

[gorillafuck]

I never said the cake wasnt, its obviously a well made cake. Im referring to the "performance" aspect.

from you...

This guy actually calls himself an "artist".
If youre the kind of person who considers a signed urinal to be art. Sure the cake was well made but it was tasteless and tacky. As somewhat of an artist myself i consider the calling of this as "art" to be offensive.

[ParaRevolutionary]

In regards to my comments about the cake being tasteless and tacky i was referring to the stereotypical caricature of the implied African woman combined with the screaming man in black face.

[hatzel]

In regards to my comments about the cake being tasteless and tacky i was referring to the stereotypical caricature of the implied African woman combined with the screaming man in black face.

Why such a superficial engagement with the piece, though?

[Crux]

Fingers crossed this will see another government minister forced to resign, although at this point I don't think it will happen. Sorry for not engaging in your fancy "what is art" discussion. All art is pornography. And should be banned. Edgy enough for you?

[hatzel]

Edgy enough for you?

No, not really. "All pornography is art. And should be shown in galleries." Now that's edgy...

[Crux]

No, not really. "All pornography is art. And should be shown in galleries." Now that's edgy...
...for a petit-bourgeoisie philistine. I would taunt you further, but it is as plain as daylight already to anyone.

[Luís Henrique]

I just don't understand Makode Aj Linde's art.

He made a fool of the Swedish Minister of Culture. Which is more than most of us supposed revolutionaries here have ever achieved.

Luís Henrique

[Luís Henrique]

All art is pornography. And should be banned. Edgy enough for you?


No, not really. "All pornography is art. And should be shown in galleries." Now that's edgy...

You both quite obviously miss the point.

Evidently, all art is pornography, and for that reason should be shown in galleries. And all pornography is art, and should therefore be banned.

Luís Henrique

[gorillafuck]

He made a fool of the Swedish Minister of Culture. Which is more than most of us supposed revolutionaries here have ever achieved.

Luís Henriqueoh, the point of this was to mock the minister?

I honestly was so confused by this piece. thanks for clearing that up.

[Crux]

oh, the point of this was to mock the minister?

I honestly was so confused by this piece. thanks for clearing that up.
I heard on the radio that the artist came out in defence of the culture minister and the others who ate from the cake. Hm.

[Luís Henrique]

oh, the point of this was to mock the minister?

I honestly was so confused by this piece. thanks for clearing that up.

Well, if it was not the intent, it was at least the result...

Luís Henrique