Paul McCarthy is one of Los Angeles' most intriguing artists. Although McCarthy originally started art through painting, he soon strayed away to pick up the mediums of performance as well as sculpture. His art showcases some of the most perverse and difficult pieces to really view and appreciate. Early in the 1970's when McCarthy first seriously started creating art, he was obsessed with the idea of our entertainment orientation and hunger for media and pop culture. He capitalized on this insatiable thirst for media by creating works that made his audience uncomfortable. McCarthy distorted images we today see as innocent and harmless, and made them twisted and hard for many to view. Through this technique, Paul McCarthy has been able to fully separate the viewer from the object and destroy any feelings he/she once had for the said object. This is clearly displayed in his piece entitled "Santa with a Butt Plug," which makes it very difficult for many viewers to appreciate. We all consider Santa to be the hero of our childhood, who brought toys once every single year. Because of this, it is hard to imagine Santa with, much less playing with, such an explicit sex toy. Through his art, Paul McCarthy has succeeded immensely in creating a world in which we no longer sensationalize the media. Read Less