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How Far Is Too Far? Think For Yourself

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Loud and Clear - Loud and Clear

Written by patience

Wednesday, 04 June 2008 11:28

Like a puppet tethered to strings, many find their opinions, thoughts, and emotions controlled by images and news reported to them. Are we all brainwashed into believing that without question we should accept what is handed to us, taking it for what is appears to be rather what it may actually be? Shouldn’t we question, shouldn’t we think for ourselves? I got to thinking after watching the disturbing video which chronicles the emaciated dog, Nativity, part of the highly criticized 2007 exhibit, titled “Eres lo que lees” translating as “You Are What You Read” by Guillermo Habacuc Vargas. The exhibit was comprised of a starving stray dog tied with a rope to a wall just out of reach from dog food which spelled out the name of the exhibit. I was infuriated and sick to my stomach after watching the horrifying clip and reading the gruesome account of the fate of the dog. I had a feeling my words could never adequately express my anger and disgust. For this reason I felt the need to do a little more research and thinking on my own never felt so good. You should try it sometime. Perhaps naïve, I had to ask “Did this really happen?” Is this some sick hoax? Even without actual proof this had to be the only conclusion I cold wrap my thoughts around because who would do such a sick act?

And it turns this installation was indeed a “staged” event. The artist’s shocking method of communication was just a prank devilishly created to mock and make fun of the masses that are blindly led astray or in the direction of propaganda. The proof of the charade is found in the creative but beyond sinister title of the installation, "You are what you read". This was an extreme measure carried out to prove a point. And in a twisted but effective manner the artist received the desired effect; the viewing public was made to serve as a blaring example of the masses being led to believe what we are “fed” by the powers that be. Are we that numb that we need such violent extremes to get our attention? And are we that easily convinced of scenario that we no longer ask ourselves the important questions trying to decipher the truth for ourselves? Both questions and their answers frighten and sadden me.

According to the artist, “the purpose of the work was not to cause any type of infliction on the poor, innocent creature, but rather to illustrate a point. In my home city of San Jose, Costa Rica, tens of thousands of stray dogs starve and die of illness each year in the streets and no one pays them a second thought. Now, if you publicly display one of these starving creatures, such as the case with Nativity, it creates a backlash that brings out a bit of hypocrisy in all of us. Nativity was a very sick creature and would have died in the streets anyway.” Vargas has changed his sentiments and statements several times depending on his audience and their reactions. Summing up the work, without directly commenting on the fate of the dog, he stated that no one tried to free the dog, give it food, call the police, or do anything for the dog.And ultimately for the artist the controversy stirring only brings to the surface hypocrisy of the situation; .no one cares about a dog that starves to death in the street but in a museum or gallery the situation changes. In addition to the artist’s personal comments, the factual accounts of the exhibit and the outcome vary from source to source. According to the director of the gallery the animal was fed regularly and was only tied to the wall for three hours before it escaped. Do we know what really transpired because there is a lot of heresy going on?

The strangeness continued as people begin to justify in a bizarre manner the actions of the artist before they knew it was a hoax. They argued and concluded that the dog was in a state of starvation when it was captured. Their logic allowed them to convince themselves that the animal would have died anyway. Perhaps? It is true that animals which have been without food and water for a long period of time need more than just regular food for several days in order to recover. Often in an effort to save a deteriorating animal the measures taken may turn out to be lethal due to the severity of dehydration or unforeseen complications. The warped thought process continued when people say and contend that those passing on the streets would have looked away in disgust or apathy and ultimately ignored the animal. That what Vargas did was to call attention to the irony of the situation: on the street people turn their gaze away from the uncomfortable site but when placed in the public limelight people squirm, become accountable and self-righteous. But there were those like myself who wondered what the fate of this creature would have been if left to its own devices on the streets. Because who gave this man the right to decide the outcome? Before I realized the charade all I could think about was that the right thing to do would be to put the animal out of its misery as opposed to prolonging the excruciating pain and the obvious disrespect the unsightly display created. Many say that this artistic exhibit raised excellent discourse about neglect and cruelty toward animals. Artistic should not even be included in the same sentence. And I think that the rest of the above argument is appalling. Did those who walked through the exhibit know it was a hoax? How could any decent individual witness this atrocity and not do something? Seeing an animal tormented with hunger, taunted by the sight and smell of food which was just out of its reach, what would you have done?

In the end Vargas did not in deed cause harm to this dog, right? Because if he did cause harm or if the story was reported incorrectly then I say we send the lynch mob his way. I say we tie his ass to the wall inches away from food which prophetically spells the word “Empty” as he froths at the mouth in intense and severe pain because after all Mr. Vargas, you are what you read.

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