Friday, August 16, 2019

Rogers question: could this art be explicitly misleading?

One reason that Gordon v. Drape Creative is so concerning is that it reads "explicit" to be something other than explicit--maybe a version of falsity by necessary implication, but one that wants to pose transformativeness as the thing that avoids explicit falsity. So what do we do with art objects like this one?  Is the traditional porcelain decoration sufficient for there to be something more than the McDonald's M present?  The V&A certainly thinks so ... but who should decide?
Li Lihong, McDonald's #1, 2007 (V&A Museum) porcelain, transfer-printed in underglaze blue: the explanation says that it "comments on the recent floods of global brands into China by rendering the famous 'golden arches' of the fast food chain in traditional blue-and-white. While contemporary in theme, Li's piece also reminds us that Chinese porcelain has been a global product for centuries."

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