Cultural Grotesques II

During my visit to the British Museum last year, I noticed that certain sculptures in the Greek/Roman exhibit were grouped together under the heading of 'grotesque figures.' In a post titled Cultural Grotesques, I commented that this arrangement could be seen to illustrate the subjective and contemporary nature of the term 'grotesque' as it relates to certain bodies, specifically the aged, disabled, and racial 'Others.'

So, what should I see during my visit to the Metropolitan Museum in New York, but a remarkably similar grouping of figures... The following statues were brought together in a case titled "Realism in Hellenistic Art" in the Roman section (click to enlarge):






































Note: the 'type' referred to above links to the realistic depiction of age, and the larger associated statue is this one:








I didn't get the whole caption for some reason, but you get the gist of it.

These small figures were in the case right beside the Realism case shown above:




The first two are explicitly related to the 'grotesque dwarf' in the Realism case, by virtue of their status as 'grotesques' in the museum description. The third is understood to be a 'grotesque head.'








While none of the heads in the Realism case were explicitly described as 'grotesque heads,' their close proximity with the head labeled 'grotesque' above arguably draws them into a discursive parallel. Likewise, while not all of the bodies present in the Realism case were called 'grotesques,' the presence of more than one body with that label has a defining effect upon the group as a whole.

By marking these particular figures as grotesque and dividing them from the rest of the collection, both the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum actively engage with and produce the grotesque as a cultural category. They also endorse and perpetuate a Bakhtinian understanding of the grotesque as that which is in direct opposition to the 'classical' style of seamless physical perfection.

I'm not suggesting that the depiction of aged, non-white or alternatively shaped bodies is not remarkable in the context of Greek sculpture. Rather, I'm interested in the effect that sectioning and regrouping these bodies might have in a museum environment today, especially when using the term 'grotesque' as one of their unifying characteristics. By linking the elderly body, the non-white body, the disabled body, and even the anorexic body, the Realism case might be seen to reflect a notion of shared marginality that says less about history and more about contemporary views of the body. It is food for thought.

Jar Head

I visited the Taubman Museum of Art today, which is very close to the conference center where I'm staying. (I should make clear that my previous pics come from the sale gallery at the Center in the Square on Campbell Ave, Roanoke). I found this jar interesting, as it reminds me of the 'Grotesque heads' I have discussed previously on this blog. It was made from ceramic by Sid Luck and Stacy Lambert.







Here we see, once again, the merging of human and nonhuman; men's faces erupting from an otherwise functional object. This sculpture was from the contemporary gallery, where the theme of human/nonhuman was everywhere to be seen. I also really liked these two figures, sitting quietly at different points in the museum:





The one above was modeled from plastic, perhaps Glad-Wrap. The one below was covered in fake fur.





I couldn't find an artist's name anywhere, but perhaps someone else knows who made them? Please let me know if you do.

Then there was this, by Judith Schaechter, which I found quite mesmerizing:





The description was illuminating, so I've included it here as well.




The conference proper begins this evening, with an opening presentation by Alondra Nelson, so I probably won't have anymore time to sightsee. It was definitely a good idea to arrive early.

Medusa and the City

Remember the Medusa from my Ray Harryhausen post? Well I took the day off and went shopping today. Amidst the storm of bags and money that followed, I saw this:




Just goes to show that you cannot escape the grotesque, even when you try. She is Lady Vashj from World of Warcraft. I don't play WOW, but the characters are amazing to look at. I really want this, by the way. I might have to go back and buy it. For research... you know.

It seems like Medusa is back in vogue these days; although I can't say I approve of the disrespect shown her in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief:



How rude. Casting an informal look over the movies that have featured her recently, it seems the Medusa has been interpreted as a comedic figure more than once. Take the synopsis of Medusa: First Date (2004):

"Things aren’t looking too promising when Medusa goes out on a first date with mild mannered physicist Eric. Everyone’s naturally a little nervous (what with the snakes for hair) and it’s only when Medusa is invited up for coffee that things take a turn for the better, that is until she introduces herself to his parrot…"

Or Medusa (2003):

"It's hard for a well-meaning Gorgon to find love in the big city, When Medusa decides to seek a partner using a video dating service, it can only end in stony tragedy. Aided by her close friend Cupid, she embarks on a series of romantic adventures, but none of her suitors had counted on the jealousy of those snakes."

Honestly. I really feel that the Medusa would be far too busy annihilating people to worry about her lack of heterosexual union. It should be taken as a given that all monsters, male and female, are romantically challenged. Even if she did want a mate, surely Medusa would prefer another powerful monster rather than a human. She is not Carrie from Sex and the City. If she was, Big would have been turned to stone in the first episode. Come to think of it, so would Miranda and all of the other characters. So the rest of the season would just be Medusa writing her column about how much she hates puny humans and wants to kill them.

Actually... I've changed my mind. That would be a pretty good show.