Waterboard thrill ride
I don't typically like just putting up a link, but this one is so compelling that I need to share it. Artist Steve Powers has installed “Waterboard Thrill Ride” at Coney Island.
The ongoing use of torture by the US seems to stick in my consciousness. I think Powers' piece is just fascinating because I love art that pushes my buttons in some way, and this one does. It's graphic, it exposes an air of sordidness, it's real yet unreal at the same time, it calls to the forefront the veneer we put on reality much of the time, especially around things that are inherently highly disturbing. It's just a piece of genius, I think.
What's even more interesting to me in this article are other people's comments and reactions to the piece. One Navy veteran says, “I feel (waterboarding is) a good idea,” he said. “I feel more strongly about that, yes, having seen this.”
Wow.
we are de-progressing, really. i have to laugh to deal with the insanity. a coney island tablaux of horror. thanks to the artist to remind us how far we have gone backwards. it is interesting that someone would think that the ride okays torture. it looks okay. lets do it. there is a new book out about the inquisitions and it mentions the use of waterboarding. weve come a long way baby!some how people twisted religion to justify inhumanity. now we have whip smart lawyers for that. that logic and rhetoric class certainly helped. the sample sighted is always the guy knows where an atomic bomb is planted in a big city, millions are about to die along with your wife and kids so what would you do? hmm. in the dark knight torture worked so, that must be right. yeah thats it. lets get the evil doers. it just isnt simple. but we have got to be better to each other or it will literally come back to bite us.
Posted by gregory paul austin on September 12, 2008 at 06:55 PM MDT #
Thanks for your comments :) It's good to hear from you. I'll send a letter soon, or let me know your email address - I think you can click on my name here to email me.
Posted by Scott Brown on September 12, 2008 at 08:36 PM MDT #
Actually maybe you can't. scott_r_brown(at)comcast.net. The letter will come.
Posted by Scott Brown on September 12, 2008 at 08:37 PM MDT #