HOME | DD
matthughes β
Prometheus and the Child of Tomorrow
Published: 2012-03-04 05:55:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 29615; Favourites: 986; Downloads: 300
Redirect to original
Description
Oil on Canvas 30" x 40". Original for sale at www.MattHughesArt.comRelated content
Comments: 208
Their bias is to seemingly random stuff.
If you have a problem with how many women are shown, then take it up with heterosexual men, because they like looking at women, so the site is going to favour featuring pictures of women because many of the mods are men, or pander to their male audience.
What you don't like about this site, and probably the world in general, is a direct consequence of patriarchy.
Patriarchy hurts men too.
π: 0 β©: 1
"Patriarchy".
Get a grip man.
π: 0 β©: 1
Sir, you live in a country where the right of succession automatically goes to the male heir regardless of how many older sisters he has or how old they are.
You have a surname passed down through the male line, just as I do.
Do not bullshit me, sir. You have passed through the realm of honestly mistaking privilege for naturalism and right into straight up wilful ignorance and misogyny.
Get a grip yourself and look in a bloody sociology or history book. You might learn something.
π: 0 β©: 1
No I do not.
Do your homework darling.
If I did, then so what? What modern relevance is the right of succession?
As for the surname, you're damned right; marriage was practically the act of a man taking ownership of a dog. In pity we gave women shelter. Of course you will have our last names when you belong to us.
Privilege comes from, guess what? That's right, hard work.
Men have earned their place historically while women have contented themselves as passengers until men had built a world where work and life was so easy that women felt they finally wanted to play a part.
How convenient?
LOL @ sociology. No wonder you're so deluded.
I certainly wouldn't recommend turning to a sociology book to 'learn something'.
It is common knowledge that modern sociology and psychology classes and literature are ridiculous propaganda playgrounds for feminists to brainwash impressionable young girls like you.
Everything you see around you is invented, designed and built by men. You will find exceptions, and they will be merely that: exceptions.
Women have no claim to equality with men.
At all.
I fully support the right of everyone to work their way to the top.
But no free rides, not ever.
Our way or the highway sweetheart.
Man built this world, woman simply happened to have a baby spawning appliance built into her. That doesn't buy her anything.
I suggest YOU learn a few things about the reality of the myth of 'equality',
..or stay in your woman cave, the kitchen.
π: 0 β©: 1
You said:
"Privilege comes from, guess what? That's right, hard work.
Men have earned their place historically while women have contented themselves as passengers until men had built a world where work and life was so easy that women felt they finally wanted to play a part."
Bold statement, and I have to give you props for stating something like this. That takes guts. But have to disagree.
Historically speaking, this story is a great deal more complicated than that. Your statement is a vast oversimplification at best, and an inexcusable insult to woman-kind indicating a sense of entitlement and betrayal at worst.
As I don't know you, I will assume the best, and simply remind you that women have been working hard throughout history just as men have. And in more recent recorded Western history, even when women were nothing more than home makers, you need to understand that they did their part. There is a great deal of work and effort that goes into being a home maker and a child raiser. I have seen lots of people(often guys) crumble under the pressure of it. You also have to understand that during this more recent Western history women were not even given the choice in the matter. And that is also only looking at Western cultures. Things mix up even more once you broaden the scope to look at other cultures, where in some cases the women were for a very long time forced into such abject subjugation that they did all the hard manual labor as well as the more tedious tasks while the men would basically take it easy, and in other scenarios, it was the exact opposite, where women were the bosses and they went out and did the "man's work," while wen had to do the menial tasks to make he women happy.
Goodness, this makes me sound like a bit of a feminist. I'm not. I'm just pointing out the yin to your yang. I hope you don't take offense. And I hope it doesn't become too heated of a debate. I would rather not pull out the history books I have and blow the dust off. (I'm terribly allergic to dust after all.)
Now, I do feel I have to acknowledge a bit of the heart of what you say, if not the generalized sweeping statement itself. Men have worked hard throughout history. Men have been ambitious and willing to risk their lives, and do the hard manual labor... to put themselves in the line of fire so to speak, and many of these traits are now being vilified by people, especially a good deal of feminists, and there seems to be in society a kind of over compensation for some of the wrongs of the past which I have seen backfire and create unfair advantages to women which in turn hurt innocent men today. In that sense, I can understand your frustration. But still, I simply cannot abide a statement like that. It is a bit of a pet peeve of mine to hear people make generalized broad sweeping statements about entire groups of people in such a negative tone. In my experience, they are pretty much always wrong, and they tend to cause problems, as their quality is such that it encourages people to have to take sides.
π: 0 β©: 1
Indeed my comment was sweeping.
It was a generalisation, and true to form as intended: reflective of the general truth.
I felt no need to include the contributions of women, which I do not detract from.
I believe they are invaluable in the home.
You are reading detractions that I have not made, in fact I have stated that I support the 'best man/woman for the job'.
As for men crumbling under the pressure in the home, this is as much due to societal, and instinctual pressures - feelings of failure.
Also evidence in modern science is that women are not as good at focusing on projects, or single tasks as men, but do very well at many simple ones; which makes them ideal for raising children and taking care of the house.
The report I read this in amused me (because I hold women to no sexist stereotypical ideals), though it was completely serious.
I am in no way intimidated by your dusty books.
I don't need dusty books full of opinions to look around at the world, and how very much women owe us; and how very little we owe them.
Women have no claim to equality (in the form of preferential treatment, or quota manipulation (which appears to be modern feminists interpretation of equality)) in the workplace.
π: 0 β©: 0
I'm not so sure that this piece represents misandry. To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what it represents. I can see that it has made you angry.
I know you were particularly upset by a recent macabre DD, but Misandry and mysogyny are both out there on the front page. Take this DD from yesterday: [link]
Admittedly it's not as graphic as the one you took issue with, but it dismisses women as prisoners, as crazy, as useful for sex and servitude, and when we are not useful for those things anymore, we are expendable.
Both women and men are hurt and oppressed by sexism today. Instead of fighting eachother, why not unite and fight for gender equality?
Just sayin'.
π: 0 β©: 1
You are wrong, that piece isn't misogynistic at all, it has misogynist characters, but the piece itself is designed to shame them. Misogynistic works show no such conscience. That is misandry because it shows men as 'guards who want to abuse female prisoners'.
You see you didn't even question that at all, it didn't even cross your mind because you are already a misandrist. Feminists believe all men are rapists, given a chance.
Daily deviations are filled with beautiful women, strong women and emasculated 'soft men'. The theme across the board across each day is strongly feminine despite the fact that if you actually browse deviant arts submissions you will find a much broader range of tastes.
There is a bias amongst DDs, you can accept this or argue it, but it is so.
π: 0 β©: 1
You may be right about my misinterpretation of that particular DD, but you are wrong if you believe that strong and empowering representations of women are more ubiquitous than disempowering ones, which are, these days, often veiled as empowering.
I'd prefer if you didn't make assumptions about whether I am a feminits or a misandrist, or for that matter, what any feminist believes. Feminists, like people in general, are a diverse group of people with extremely varied beliefs. Not all of them are man-hating lesbians or crunchy granola hippies or any other stereotype, though of course, there are some in the population of self-identified feminists who may aptly be described that way.
For myself, I am person who fights for gender equality and queer rights. I believe freedom of choice for men and women and those in between or outside of that false binary. I would like to see campaigns for men to be involved in the humanities as much as I want to see campaigns for women to be involved in sciences as much as I want to see the abolition of gendered bathrooms. I do not believe all men are rapists, but as someone who has experienced sexual violence, I know that if a man (let's assume we're talking about an average cisgender dude, who is likely to be bigger and stronger than I am) chooses to assualt me, he will likely succeed. And I know that if I choose to report that assault, I will be asked what I was wearing, if I was drinking, and other questions that imply I am to blame. The sexual scripts that exist between men and women set us up for sexual assault, because men are not taught to ask for enthusiastic consent and women are shamed if they give it. Sexual assault is not clear cut and impacts both genders. Those messages may not seem to be as apparent on Deviantart in particular, but they still flood the minds of young men and women. If you want to see more art that empowers men, create it. Collect it. Cultivate it. Show us what being a man means- I know it's more than a 6-pack and your dick, but your gallery would have me believe that masculinity is being a young ripped white dude. How about some images of fatherhood, diversity, strength, leadership?
As I said, sexism hurts both men and women. I can see that you're very angry about the way men are treated and represented, and I understand that because I experience a similar anger about the way women are treated and represented, every time I see a badly photographed skinny bitch posing vapidly for the camera. I am also angry about the illusion of equality that people try to pull over my eyes, and I get angry when people imply that society now favors women. It does not. Just because you experience oppression as a man does not mean that women are no longer oppressed. Sexism oppresses everyone, men, women, people who transition between genders, and those who do not identify with gender. And hurt people hurt people. Women hurt men, men hurt women, and all kinds of other oppressions that are too many to name go on each day.
I applaud your fight for men, but your fight is not with women. Our fight is with the system. It's with the media, it's with the government, it's with the people who tells us what a woman or a man "should" be like and what "rights" are appropriate for who. We all have the right to be free from oppression, we all have the right to be heard, to have reproductive freedom, to dress how we choose and fuck who we want to fuck when consent is gotten and given.
Question assumptions. It seems like you've figured out how to question the assumptions of others, but I think you could benefit from questioning your own.
Be humble, be open, understand your priviliges (like being a white male in UK), respect diversity. Don't just complain about what's wrong, inspire change.
π: 0 β©: 1
Fuck your interpretation of privilege.
[link]
π: 0 β©: 0
Interesting enough. I can see many people complaining about the use of well-known imagery, especially the child's face, and also about the impression that the elements are just put together and do not form a whole as a composition.
I can't really interpret it for myself yet, neither, but hold on for a second, couse all these disturbing things are possible to meant to have an impact.
I can see iconic elements, all of them carrying complex meanings, so I think it is worth considering them.
Prometheus is often considered to be the father of civilisation according to ancient Greek mythology: he brought fire to humans against the will of gods and also introduced sacrifice. The thorn crown is a well-known image connected to Jesus Christ: a symbol for suffering, indignity and sacrifice. The flag of the USA is a really complex one I think: it is connected to Americanism, and for me, more precisely the frontier spirit, the American dream, power. The eagle may connect the Prometheus line with the Americanism one. The child's image was most probably based on one of Jill Greenberg's photos from the controversial End Times series: inspired by frustration over political, religious, that is, social issues. An interesting detail is that she is wearing a Greek-style dress.
Just one possible interpretation is that somebody who cares about people and wants to empower them is tied and suffers from the punishment of the authories. In the meanwhile, the guiltless victim is suffering and crying over the indignated Americanism.
Phew...Maybe the issues the painting is about are as complex and difficult to see through as the image.
π: 0 β©: 1
Nothing against you juditithil, just an observation of Greenberg...
From Widipedia...
In August 2008, Greenberg was hired by The Atlantic to photograph John McCain for the magazine's October 2008 cover. Once the magazine hit the newsstands, Greenberg admitted to a photo industry magazine to shooting additional images, to depict McCain in a sinister light, so that she could create her own political art. Greenberg also posted to her website altered versions of photographs. She told Maclean's magazine that "it was the one questionable thing that I did in my career." "She has, in fact, disgraced herself, and we are appalled by the manipulated images of John McCain she has created for her Web site," the Atlantic wrote in an editor's note. "Obviously, we will not work with her again."
I amazes me what some people call art. And what some people will endure for 'arts' sake. Jill Greenberg makes her fame by taking candy from babies. What a jerk. I wonder when she will start pulling wings off of flies? The info above from Atlantic Monthly should be proof enough that Greenberg is a pandering left winger who abuses her job and power to present an image to the public that is not only manipulated and biased but completely untrue. It takes all kinds of people to make a world. We could do with fewer of her kind.
π: 0 β©: 1
Hey, thank you for your reply. To be honest, I didn't know much of Greenberg before this DD, so what I wrote about her photo was also the result of some quick research. And I mean, a very quick one, so thank you for the additional information that you provided. By the way, by people complaining about that reference, I rather meant comments criticising unoriginality. I just thought there might be an intention behind the use of that particular, controversial photo.
I read about the way that Greenberg provoked the emotions in these children, too, and it really is disgusting. Not to mention her other ways you wrote about. Thinking it over again, this painting allows for a lot of different interpretations. It's not the same whether you consider this element of the crying little girl as an icon of a victim (the real child) or abuse (what Greenberg is argued to have done) if it's clear what I mean.
π: 0 β©: 0
What's going on in the picture?
π: 0 β©: 0
the eagle represents obamacare
π: 0 β©: 0
The symbolism seems a little trite and cheesy while somehow not obviously meaning anything in particular. The concept is there (Prometheus and the American eagle) but it's just not clear what's so terrible. I'm guessing maybe that Prometheus is progress of some kind and the girl is clinging to traditional religion and government instead? The crown of thorns and the flag are just so heavy-handed, maybe something more subtle would have been more powerful.
The rendering's not bad, but the least you could do is cite your sources if you're trying to get away with using some pretty famous ones.
π: 0 β©: 0
it probably would have been wise to change the face of the child from the Jill Greenberg photograph SOMEhow....that photograph is just too well known to be used as a photorealistic reference and to get away with it...well done painting, but i wouldnt have used such an iconic reference photo...
π: 0 β©: 0
I think u are great artist and ur art is so impressive, so much!
π: 0 β©: 0
seems to me like powerful imagery slapped together, the juxtaposition doesn't speak for itself at all
π: 0 β©: 0
I recognise the childs face, it's almost as if you used Jill Greenberg's photographs of her crying kids... specifically this one -> [link]
π: 0 β©: 2
this really bothered me as well. i cant look at anything but the kids face because its such a blatant copy of a VERY well known photograph....
π: 0 β©: 2
i dont mind the fact it has been used as a reference, but it should at least have been mentioned i think... right?
π: 0 β©: 0
i agree. could very easily be demeaned for copyright issues.
π: 0 β©: 0
WOW I thought i'd seen that face before!
π: 0 β©: 1
wooooow, really goog man!!!
π: 0 β©: 0
This is incredible work. I absolutely love how the piece combines ancient Greek mythology (the story of Prometheus' punishment) and the modern world with the American flag and the girl. Absolutely stunning, amazing detail. The expressions and intensity on both faces is incredible, as it shows exactly the pain and sadness that they are experiencing, especially with the direction Prometheus is facing and what he is blatantly staring at. It makes it even better that such an amazing piece is done by oil paint and not digital art or something that may be easier to get realism out of! DD is well deserved
π: 0 β©: 0
I love the lighting and texture of the guy's hand. Well painted
π: 0 β©: 0
Why is the kid wearing make-up? And such a hideous shade of orange rouge too?
WTF?
π: 0 β©: 1
I don't think it's make-up, I think it's supposed to be the child's face turning red, because it's crying.
π: 0 β©: 1
You cold be right about that, but then, kid's got some orangey-streaky stuff on the chin too (blood????) and the shading between the orange areas and the much whiter face is too stark.
With kids, if they cry so hard they turn red, it's either more evenly distributed or splotchier than the sharp lines in the pic.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yeah, you could be right lol
π: 0 β©: 0
This is a very powerful image
π: 0 β©: 0
what does it all symbolize? can you please explain it to me?
π: 0 β©: 2
While I'm not the artist, I did check out the artist's site to see what he had to say, to see if I could gleam any sort of philosophical leanings. I was unable to find any, but he did state: "The symbolic nature of the elements helps to weave a deeper understanding of cultural influences that are not only self-relevant but also viewer-relevant." so I believe it supposed to mean different things to whoever the viewer is.
Which I guess is true, because the other guy who replied to you said it was supposed to mean that "social conservatives in the government holding us back.", and I'll admit that I'm a "social conservative" so I didn't see it as that, but unlike the other guy, I'm not going to say that "I believe it is a artistic statement attacking those I have philosophical differences with without and knowledge stating one way or another."
Hope that helps^^!
π: 0 β©: 1
I never said I agreed with what I thought the image was about nor that it was the first thing that jumped into my head or even that I was undoubtedly right. As I said I looked at the symbols and looked up Prometheus and that is what I think it's about. Although more importantly thanks, thank you really for speaking for me and telling others what I believe because, clearly, that is not something I can do for myself.
π: 0 β©: 2
You appear to take things very literally as well as personally. If you're going to post on the internet, expect people to have something to say about it. Getting upset really only ever breeds ulcers and headaches.
π: 0 β©: 1
I'm not upset and I understand most people won't change their opinions but I have a rule sort of like "one and done" when it comes to inflammatory comments. When someone has a problem with what I post it will drive me crazy if I DON'T get to have some say in a conversation that involves me. I try not to invest emotionally in the idea of changing someone's mind on the internet but I like to think there is something to be gained by having discussions that aren't totally controlled by someone putting words in my mouth because there are more people reading the comments than just the people posting. That's all really, just some amount of a fair say is what I want.
π: 0 β©: 1
I completely get it.. and I basically feel the same.. I'm mostly trying to help keep things in perspective out of genuine concern 
Either way, take care and all that
π: 0 β©: 1
Wow, Jnthnbrwnly. You handle criticism really well. Most people would raise hell if someone made attacked their beliefs but you really kept your cool. And btw, I liked your interpretation. You made some good, intelligent observations.
π: 0 β©: 0
I wish I could "like" all your comments, LOL.
π: 0 β©: 0
I'm going to guess that the crown of thorns symbolizes religion and the flag symbolizes nationalism both are burdening the subject that I assume is the child of tomorrow while a bald eagle probably symbolizes the U.S. government and it is ripping apart who I assume is Prometheus and a quick google search tells me Prometheus is a mythical figure credited with creating man from clay and associated with intellect, civilization, and progress. So I'm guessing this is about social conservatives in the government holding us back.
π: 0 β©: 2
Prometheus (Greek: Ξ ΟΞΏΞΌΞ·ΞΈΞ΅ΟΟ) is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind.[1]
The punishment of Prometheus as a consequence of the theft is a major theme of his mythology, and is a popular subject of both ancient and modern art. Zeus, king of the Olympian gods, sentenced the Titan to eternal torment for his transgression. The immortal Prometheus was bound to a rock, where each day an eagle, the emblem of Zeus, was sent to feed on his liver, only to have it grow back to be eaten again the next day. In some stories, Prometheus is freed at last by the hero Heracles (Hercules).
...the theft of fire for human use That's what got Prometheus chained to a rock. How you deduce that social conservatives and government are holding us back is a mystery to me. As far as what is happening currently in the US there is no doubt that the amateuristic attempts at leadership from the left wing/Socialist wanna be Obama has definitely damaged America economically. Plus the efforts of the 110th Session of the US Congress that had a majority of Democrats who basically forced the housing and banking crisis on America to make GW Bush look bad. Our allies, particularly Israel have no idea what they can expect from America anymore. Hopefully after Nov 7 when there is a change in leadership in the White House we can finally have someone guiding this country that knows how to run a business and pay bills. Along with being intelligent enough to know that when the big boys are meeting at the UN you go there to meet and speak with them. Not appear on the ultra-left wing TV show 'The View'. I wonder if America will ever have an honorable man in the White House again that isn't ate up with being a media star more than just doing his job protecting America, it's people and it's allies?
π: 0 β©: 1
First off I want to say I'm not trying to insult anyone or seeming like some snide political commentator and it confuses me how I seemed to have with what I thought was a harmless amateur interpretation. Perhaps it is because it's difficult to detect the tone of the speaker through text particularly when you don't know that person at all. Before I begin I feel the need to point out that I would consider myself conservative or at least fiscally conservative and socially moderate. I dislike Nancy Pelosi, was never gaga over any president let alone the current one, support the death penalty, and oppose amnesty. Though of course there are many republicans and conservative ideas I dislike as well.
My interpretation was based off of observations not deeply held beliefs. You're ignoring the American flag in the image, the symbol of Christianity in the image, and the bird that is native to North America in the image which all have nothing to do with Greek mythology (I do not know of any colonies of Bald Eagles in Greece or Asia Minor). Those symbols clearly indicate something to do with the United States so it makes no sense to view one particular subject in a vacuum removed from the others.
The main reason I assume it has something to do with social conservatives is because it's typical of many artists to lean heavily left. I would not hold all of them to this but it will pop into my head when I see art that reflects politics or society that the artist might very well be trying to make a liberal point. In other words when I saw the image I didn't think, "Ugh, typical American bluh bluh bluh," I asked myself what does this probably mean in conjunction to the painting as a whole and tried to isolate each major symbolic image and weigh them together.
I would suggest you try to take an Occam's razor approach to commenting from now on since only a portion of what you wrote had anything to do with the image or my interpretation before turning into a rant about Obama and democrats in congress. And again I must point out that is not me supporting Obama it is me observing objectively that apart from the copy paste about Prometheus you only spend about two sentences discussing what I wrote before dissolving into a phantom argument.
π: 0 β©: 2
<= Prev | | Next =>