Since When Starving a Dog to Death is Called Art

[CuckingFunt]

So valuing the life of another living thing is strictly American?

No. No one is saying that.

[MannyIsGod]

No. No one is saying that.

Well I'm not saying that, but I am saying that Americans do place different values on the lifes of certain living things than other parts of the world.

[monosylab1k]

First of all, a dog is not all encompassing. Because Hondrans don't care about dogs (apparently) doesn't mean they don't care about living things. But the love affair with the dog is not something shared across the world. I would definetly say that Americans value the life of a dog much higher than most other parts of the world.

That's definitely but I don't know if it's that with most of the people upset over this. I know this applies to me personally, but I think it also applies to alot of other posters here in that they're not against dogs being killed for food, or dogs being put down at the pound to prevent an excess of strays.

I'm against tying a dog up, starving it to death, and hiding behind the facade of art to justify your actions. And I'd be against it if it was a rat or a squirrel or whatever else.

[CuckingFunt]

Well I'm not saying that, but I am saying that Americans do place different values on the lifes of certain living things than other parts of the world.

And I completely agree.

[johngateswhiteley]

One thing that is apparent here is that people are definitely applying AMERICAN values to someone who obviously lives in a different culture. I'm fairly certain that if people from another culture - say an Islamic one? - viewed some things that happen here they'd be as disgusted as we are about what has happened in this situation.

There's a very fine line one needs to walk when viewing the actions of another culture through the eyes of their own.

no doubt, and thats something i've hit on.

[MoSpur]

Obviously yes. Do you think people in Africa would care as much? People in Asia?


Let me give you another example. Do you believe a person from the middle east would be appauled to see all the women in the United States walking around dressed the way that they are? They would, and they would consider it common sense.

Yet why don't we feel the same way?

I see that. However, that is a way of life here and a way of life in the Middle East. I seriously doubt tying up a dog in Honduras and letting it starve is a way of life.

[peewee's lovechild]

If you give what validity to what this person did as art, then you are complicit with his actions.

[MannyIsGod]

If you give what validity to what this person did as art, then you are complicit with his actions.

Mmmk

[CuckingFunt]

If you give what validity to what this person did as art, then you are complicit with his actions.

So, then, does that mean I get to take half credit for Kandinsky's paintings?

[MannyIsGod]

I see that. However, that is a way of life here and a way of life in the Middle East. I seriously doubt tying up a dog in Honduras and letting it starve is a way of life.

You gotta wonder why they didn't intervene though. I honestly have no idea what Honduran views on dogs/strays are but I know that even the most pretenious of art snobs here woudln't have let this fly.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

First of all, a dog is not all encompassing. Because Hondrans don't care about dogs (apparently) doesn't mean they don't care about living things. But the love affair with the dog is not something shared across the world. I would definetly say that Americans value the life of a dog much higher than most other parts of the world.

Why are you assuming Hondurans don't care about dogs?? because of the actions of the few in that art gallery? I'd be willing to bet Honduran culture values dogs in a similar manner that American culture does. Never lived there, but I know quite a few Honduran people, and their culture is very similar, borderline identical, in values as ours. Just because apparently its not against the law, does not mean that its acceptable behavior.

[MoSpur]

You gotta wonder why they didn't intervene though. I honestly have no idea what Honduran views on dogs/strays are but I know that even the most pretenious of art snobs here woudln't have let this fly.

True. I can accept that maybe people in Honduras don't value dogs as high as we do here or in different parts of the world. I can accept that. However, I can't accept the fact that this guy honestly thought he was creating art by chaining up a stray dog and starving it to death. To me, that is not art. That's torture in my eyes.

[MannyIsGod]

Why are you assuming Hondurans don't care about dogs?? because of the actions of the few in that art gallery? I'd be willing to bet Honduran culture values dogs in a similar manner that American culture does. Never lived there, but I know quite a few Honduran people, and their culture is very similar, borderline identical, in values as ours. Just because apparently its not against the law, does not mean that its acceptable behavior.

I don't know, but I simply have a hard time envsioning something like this happening in the United States. The fact that it even occured there has to make you wonder. I admited to really not knowing about the Honduran culture though; I'm just extrapolating from this situation.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

You gotta wonder why they didn't intervene though. I honestly have no idea what Honduran views on dogs/strays are but I know that even the most pretenious of art snobs here woudln't have let this fly.

Believe me, I'm wondering that myself. However, I'm quite convinced this is not an issue of difference in cultures, just the actions of a few ed up individuals.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

I don't know, but I simply have a hard time envsioning something like this happening in the United States. The fact that it even occured there has to make you wonder. I admited to really not knowing about the Honduran culture though; I'm just extrapolating from this situation.

Point taken. Its often quite difficult to comprehend the actions of a different culture when all one has for reference is the values of ones own. Very much the case with Islam and western culture.

[peewee's lovechild]

So, then, does that mean I get to take half credit for Kandinsky's paintings?

Sure, knock yourself out.

I bow to your art superiority.

[CuckingFunt]

Believe me, I'm wondering that myself. However, I'm quite convinced this is not an issue of difference in cultures, just the actions of a few ed up individuals.

It's definitely a difference in cultures, but that's not to say that all Hondurans hate dogs.

I have to assume that this kind of cruelty isn't against the law there, however, which in and of itself means it's not given the same attention as it would be here. Also, considering how freaked out our culture has gotten about other art exhibits (the piss Jesus and elephant dung Madonna immediately come to mind), I'm 100% certain that this particular "installation" would not have been allowed to open here. It would be protested months in advance, and not a single gallery would be willing to touch it.

[monosylab1k]

Its often quite difficult to comprehend the actions of a different culture when all one has for reference is the values of ones own.

But it also doesn't mean you have to blindly accept what they do as art just because they claim it is.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

Sure, knock yourself art.

I bow to your art superiority.

Logic doesn't come natural to you, does it?

[CuckingFunt]

Logic doesn't come natural to you, does it?

Not when he's more interested in dragging me into a pointless argument than he is in actually discussing the issue at hand.

[MannyIsGod]

The dog never died?!?!?!?!?


http://edwardwinkleman.blogspot.com/...l/the%20limits

[MannyIsGod]

BTW it appears this is pretty old stuff.

[MaNuMaNiAc]

It's definitely a difference in cultures, but that's not to say that all Hondurans hate dogs.

I have to assume that this kind of cruelty isn't against the law there, however, which in and of itself means it's not given the same attention as it would be here.

Say this is true. There was a time in the US, when doing this to an animal was not considered a crime, and yet I'm pretty sure starving a dog to death has always been unacceptable behavior in America. Just because there aren't any laws against it, doesn't mean there won't be, and it doesn't mean the Honduran people wouldn't be appalled to hear about this. In fact, seeing as though it was a Honduran that did this, in Honduras, looking to provoke the same emotions we're seeing here, but over there... I'd say its pretty safe to assume this is NOT common ocurrence over there.

Also, considering how freaked out our culture has gotten about other art exhibits (the piss Jesus and elephant dung Madonna immediately come to mind), I'm 100% certain that this particular "installation" would not have been allowed to open here. It would be protested months in advance, and not a single gallery would be willing to touch it.

You're right. It is a different culture, but not by as much as you seem to think

[MannyIsGod]

http://luckybunnynyc.blogspot.com/20...rt-update.html

So the dog was fed and it never died and it was never going to die.

[Tenacious D]

Believe me, I'm wondering that myself. However, I'm quite convinced this is not an issue of difference in cultures, just the actions of a few ed up individuals.

Is the man is jail? Then the culture accepts his actions thus making that the culture over there.