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.
« I never look forward, because I have no idea about how any of it happened to getting here. I've no idea
how the next five years are going to be. »
Paul McCarthy
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 &
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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.
« I never look forward, because I have no idea about how any of it happened to getting here. I've no idea
how the next five years are going to be. »
Paul McCarthy
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.
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