The Slow Death Of Shock Art

 

When was the last time a piece of imagery truly shocked you?

 

I hate to say this but I feel no matter what extreme films I see, books I read, news I hear or pieces of shock art I view it seems the only thing that truly generated a shocked emotion within me and elements of the sublime were stirred within my soul was the collapse of the Twin Towers (9/11)

"Shock art is contemporary art that incorporates disturbing imagery, sound or scents to create a shocking experience. It is a way to disturb "smug, complacent and hypocritical" people".

With all the current exposure to mass media and being surrounded by a large range of technologies which is being shoved down our throats on a daily bases no matter where we turn too, its not surprising that certain disturbing or shocking imagery is starting to lack any powerful reactions.

Its more so this year that I have to started to realise that I feel rather numb. So numb that I really seem to lack any emotions towards a potential shocking piece of art especially and sometimes think back to 9/11 and wish that I was there amongst the event. (you sick bastard you might say. Why yes, yes I am)

When it comes to viewing some Art, no matter how shocking or graphic the image may be towards others, it just makes me laugh or smile if I were to have any form of reaction to it. Shock art has become comedy to me almost. I don't think I'm alone in these thoughts when I say this. It feels to me that as time passes with technology advancing the sublime in contemporary art is dying. That sublime feeling of being really shocked to the core. I will now present you with a piece of art, a printed image on a canvas I believe. Its an example of what I mean when I say I find certain shock art more comedy than shocking.

Was this canvas which had been displayed in a pub window meant to be communicating a shock element, or does the artist think it's funny. It does not matter I guess. I don't know what to think other than I know it made me laugh a little to be honest. I sick, I'M SORRY . 
Actually I am not sorry, I shall blame the amount of mass media thrown at me.

I don't need to go into details about who stars in this canvas piece, but everyone knows the current events of the unfolding stories surrounding the recent death of Jimmy Savile. I admit I was rather drunk and it was kicking out time when myself and a friend noticed the canvas sitting there in the pub window. I knew straight away where the inspiration or imagery was mainly taken from. Cassius Marcellus Coolidge (November 12, 1844 –January 24, 1934) was an American artist, mainly known for his paintings of dogs playing poker. Yet he also painted Dogs Playing Pool/Snooker.

So with the painting we witnessed outside the pub. Is it shock art? I don't think it is truly shocking. Yet to some others it may well be the case. The collection of child abusers imagery on the canvas is trying to spark a reaction of course, but to me its hardly generated anything other than looking and naming the faces. Even though I was able to witness the canvas first hand and have no other account of it before hand, this fact should have increased the element of surprise more, but it failed in that sense. 

So is shock art dead? Is my soul dead? certainly could be and should be after finding the canvas a little funny. I could present many examples here of shock art and end up with a full on essay being written up. I'm too lazy for that. But overall Shock Art, (by me presenting these pictures via the internet) is near death as myself and others continue contributing to the slow death of Shock Art through reproduction via the mass media.
 

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