August 26, 2023February 4, 2024 Blondi I was feeling bad for Hitler’s dog, Blondi, as one does. It seemed like a good opportunity to be a dick to Hitler. Why miss a chance like that? In this piece, I’m channeling Margaret Keane, who, let’s face it, gets as much flak from art critics as Hitler does from the rest of humanity. Whatever your take on her, Keane undeniably stamped her mark on an era. She evoked what she wanted to in a way that resonated to a level most people can never hope to achieve. I wanted to play with that contrast – her art’s sympathetic gaze against a character as unsympathetic as they come. So I want to be clear that I’m not mocking her. I’m certain my image would piss off Hitler and any of his, “fans.” And yet, amidst all this, I can’t help but still feel a twinge of sympathy for poor Blondi. Watching old films to research this, Blondi seemed genuinely scared of Hitler, which kind of humanizes her, in an anthropomorphizing way. Maybe she was a jerk dog, but then again, maybe she wasn’t. Either way, she was certainly caught up in a situation way beyond her control. Poor Blondi. I also own some Hitler stamps, not because I’m a fan (obviously), but to remind me how banal evil can be and that he was real enough to have stamps still floating around. Unfortunately, in recent years, I no longer need the stamps as a reminder that evil is both close by and banally woven into the fabric of everyday life. Too present, too real. Continuing the subject of misunderstood women and my use of the term, “banal evil”, Hannah Arendt got a lot of, I think unearned, crap for her title, “Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil.” It’s a good book and is in no way is it an apologist’s book for Nazis. It’s more chilling to think that it didn’t need an army of sociopaths to unleash evil. I don’t believe the critics read past the title. Let’s also ponder a more lighthearted view of dog heaven and hell from The Simpsons: Homer: I want to tell you about the most wonderful place in the world: Doggie Heaven. In Doggie Heaven, there are mountains of bones, and you can’t turn around without sniffing another dog’s butt! And all the best dogs are there, Old Yeller, and about eight Lassies.Bart: Is there a Doggie Hell?Homer: Well of course, there couldn’t be a heaven if there weren’t a hell.Bart: Who’s in there?Homer: Oh, uh Hitler’s dog and that dog Nixon had, what’s his name, um, ChesterLisa: Checkers.Homer: Yeah! One of the Lassies is in there, too. The mean one! The one who mauled Timmy! While we’re on the subject of mass murderers. I did this one of James Holmes, the dick responsible for the 2012 shooting in which he killed 12 people and injured 70 others at a Century 16 movie theater on July 20, 2012, in Aurora, Colorado. Prick. It’s part of a growing series. If this is my outlet for venting my spleen about atrocities, there are worse ways. And this asshole: I am aware that these are controversial. I sincerely hope it’s evident that this work is driven by my profound disrespect and contempt for the perpetrators, coupled with deep sympathy for the people they harmed and killed. My goal is to present this as a cathartic exploration, not as something that triggers or disrespects their victims. Art Commentary
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