Friday, June 6, 2014

Video: Shepard Fairey – “Obey This Film”

Shot and directed by Brett Novak and commissioned by The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art  in South Carolina on the ocassion of "The Insistent Image: Recurrent Motifs in the Art of Shepard Fairey and Jasper Johns."

In the twelve minute video Shepard discusses his influences and inspirations which are pretty much spot on with anyone involved in this type of graphic art. Skateboarding, punk rock, pop culture, re-appropriation, graffiti etc…

Shepard most certainly bears his influences for all to see but sometimes I get kinda bummed out that it’s all so deeply rooted in the 80’s and 90’s. There are plenty of groundbreaking things going on nowadays, maybe we should all let the proven but very, very, very tired and overused imagery of  Black Flag, The Clash, Public Enemy, Johnny  Cash and more be set to rest already and begin championing the next generation of audio visual inspirations.  I love the work, I have since the 90’s and will continue to,  but there is nothing more depressing to me than the “guy” who still listens to and loves all the same things he did as when he was in highschool making claims that art and music aren't as good now as they were back in the day.

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