Art Journal | Op Ed

 January, 2015

Philip Guston, during an audio interview ( circa 1960s)  described his move away from lyrical abstraction towards politically charged paintings.

” I just could no longer go into the studio and adjust paint pigments from red to blue with all this turmoil happening in front of me.”

–Philip Guston,

 

I want to begin recanting the words of Guston in painting as a metaphor to initiate a candid conversation about religious dogma. While dissecting a basic ideological principle, when discussing free speech, the fight against radical Islam across Europe in relation to our values within the Secular Humanist framework. Within the vacuous political climate behind hacking tactics, and a war against freedom of speech by Islamist terrorist:

Art Journal is proud to exhibit a selection of politically charged drawings.

Celebrating Charley Hebdo.

Charley Hebdo is a publication with no satirical boundaries, exposing a form of parody within the human experience which must be celebrated. We define the drawings on view as works of political and artistic satire, culled from various online sources, web clippings and reference journals. A mockery using humor, exaggeration, coded language, aimed at exposing and criticizing extremist views as stupidity founded in ancient mysticism. Religious extremism within Islam is the root cause behind these tactical and calculated terror tactics, with four fundamental belief systems: (Caliphate, Caliph, Shari’a and Jihad) No different than those radical Christians who  bomb abortion clinics or those who force Palestinians to live in poverty while creating unequal economic platforms in certain regions of our planet. We want to clearly emphasize two important values moving forward. One, is the idea behind vilifying all Islam would be the wrong way to counter the bloody medievalism exhibited by these extremist. Clearly folks, not all those who practice the Qur’an are radicals nor are all Jews creating unequal platforms for Palestine . Where are the other Muslims, the secular and moderate voices behind a “Peaceful Religion”?

Our thesis is to ask one fundamental question in our quest to understand the root causes behind extremist religious ideologies.

Is religious dogma within all religions, but specifically discussing the Qur’an, leads to extremist actions against the West?

“They yelled “Allahu Akbar” as they murdered 12 people and wounded others, in France’s worst terrorist attack for half a century.”

-OpEd-The Economist, Jan10-2015

These radical extremist values are abstractions based on a piece of literature  which is superfluous and superstitious to begin with. Whether its clams are self imposed, indoctrinated, taught or radicalized by these psychopaths. We must stand against all religious dogma and challenge its claims to reason . Art Journal sides with those who are within the secular humanist side of the argument while clearly condemning these acts of terror against France, its people and our values. When a magazine is targeted because it cherished the right to provide a particular opinion, we must ask ourselves what our values rely upon these days. The motivation behind any satirist from Goya’s incendiary views on 1600th Century Spain in Los Caprichos.  To Marquis de Sade infamous letters on sexuality, which where founded in erotic tales of deception has always been to create provocations within the cultural epoch in which it exist. We must ask ourselves to identified secular ideas as a means to combat such extreme tactics as a way to inform the population.

“All can seem part of a long, ongoing conflict between the values of the Enlightenment and obscurantist barbarism.”

–OpEd-The Economist, Jan10-2015

The enlightenment is a clear historical point of reference in discerning a clear hiatus between fact vs fiction, in our argument against religious dogma leading to extremism. Mr. Houellbecq’s latest novel which is yet to be translated into English might provide a clear contemporary perspective. Furthermore, in spite of some heroic recent attempts to revive them, most contemporary philosophers would agree with the traditional arguments for the existence of God are effectively beyond resuscitation. Most religious extremist would however, be untroubled by this conclusion that two crazed men would commit such horrid crimes against reason, in the name of any God.

All governments must protect the rights of its citizens to express freedom of speech, even if they should offend. Other wise, we are no different than Saudi Arabia, who jails and slashes a blogger for daring to criticize or simply satirize with a pen.

Why is this story not on the news every night?

“Mr. Houellbecq’s book which depicts a near future in which Islamist win France’s presidency and compromise its freedoms, as Islamophobic scaremongering.”

–OpEd-The Economist, Jan10-2015

We certainly cannot wait for the English translation of the Novel entitle “Soumission” by Mr.Houellebecq, as a work of pure fiction and dedicated wit to tell a great story. We want to provide our readers, a few excerpts from this month’s Irrepressible column on The Economist, outlining a fantastic review of the novel:

“Soumission, his latest novel, which prompted indignation and dismay in France even before it was published on January 7th. The novel, which has not yet been translated into English, is narrated by Francois, a literature professor at the Sorbonne, who drifts between casual sex and microwave ready-made meals is a state of wry detachment and ennui.

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Then, in an imaginary France of 2022, a political earthquake shakes him out of his torpor. The two mainstream parties, on the left and the right are eliminated in the first round of a presidential election.

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This leaves French voters with the choice between Marine Le Pen’s populist National Front-and the Muslim Fraternity, a new party led by Mohammed Ben Abbes. Thanks to an anti-Le Pen front, Mr.Ben Abbes is elected and thus begins Muslim rule.”

 

–Irrepressible,

The Economist Column for January, 2015

(Page 75)

A conversation begins with two basic principles, in #ArtJournal’s point of view which we have candidly share with all. The ability to clearly try and reach a basic middle ground is a necessary home work assignment. While trying to avoid ego rebuttal founded in ignorance between embracing logic, facts, history and pure reason would be the second requirement behind  a real conversation. Otherwise you will bored me, and I shall have to politely tuned out. Lastly, I want to reaffirm our deepest solidarity  within the Islamic secular voices which do exist, Raef Badawi is one notable example. Sadly, the radical extremist views within the Islamic world are silencing us all.

We must not give in!

 

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Freedom To Draw

Artist Pay Tribute To Charley Hebdo

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Art Journal is a bi-weekly to monthly online publication, celebrating Art, Design, Tech & Culture as fundamental particles of existence. We bring this up now to simply make those of you who can’t understand we have a right to define, write, express or simply state the facts.