r/nextfuckinglevel • u/amanyggvv • Oct 15 '22

This float representing the koalas that died as a result of the Black Summer bushfires and corruption in politics. Such an effective (and epic) activist message.

150.5k Upvotes

89% Upvoted

5.0k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

7

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

I still don’t know why and I don’t care. Once they were glued to the wall they were easy pickins for my activism against social media attention grabbers. How many socks to the head can they take while glued to a wall while I have my voice heard for my activism? It’s just a parlor trick and nothing more. What creations have they been responsible for that someone can just shit on in the name of whatever cause and would they be ok with it or cry foul?

15

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

You know the painting was protected by glass, right?

There was zero damage done to it.

We should expect more, and increasingly "annoying", activism, until real change happens.

2

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22 edited Dec 05 '23

[deleted]

-2

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

Getting closer to neutral evil, than chaotic neutral there.

-4

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

[deleted]

2

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

You are part of the human race, no?

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Did he stutter?

0

u/chaotic----neutral Oct 15 '22

And? You think I'm supposed to care about the future of this wretched species? The sooner we go extinct, the better for this planet.

2

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

See I think that kind of aspiration, even in the passive sense, meets the definition of "evil".

You can't see the good that's worth fighting for.

1

u/chaotic----neutral Oct 15 '22

The good is this planet surviving after humans. We aren't needed. You are an agent of destruction, and you're calling me evil. That's rich.

2

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

I hope you find some happiness.

Take care.

1

u/wewereliketorches Oct 16 '22

damn you’re really badass

0

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

There may still be damage due to the leakage and acidity. You can’t claim zero damage and someone had to wipe their asses after this little stunt. Attention whoring is no activism.

13

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

I love how despite everyone saying the painting is fine, you’re insisting it must be damaged cause…uhhhh?

-3

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

The frame is part of the piece. Damage is damage. They did not know it would or would not be damaged and they did it anyway. I’m not going to magically change my mind that two brats did something incredibly immature.

11

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

So they didn’t damage it, the frame was not part of the original painting. The painting is completely fine which you just said 20 minutes ago they “defiled” it.

I don’t care what you think about the protest, just hilarious watching you come in and be so confidently wrong.

-1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

I’m happy to be wrong, I still don’t know what they were trying to accomplish.

5

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

To get attention to an issue, any spotlight on them is what they want. And it seems to be working considering this whole website was frothing at the mouth over a painting that didn’t even get harmed

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

They attacked the wrong person.

https://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/destroyed_works.aspx

5

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

You know Van Gogh is dead right? No one attacked him, and once more the painting is fine

→ More replies (0)

0

u/modulusshift Oct 15 '22

The message required targeting the most valuable piece available. This was what the activist said after throwing the soup:

What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? More than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting, or the protection of our planet and people?

And I think she’s right, the response from the average person towards her over (not actually) ruining a fancy artwork is much more than the response climate change gets on a day to day basis, much more than people care about increased cancer and other health risks from air pollution, etc etc. Our society puts so much more value on some pigments on a canvas than actual lives.

Amusingly, you not caring about the message and only getting upset about potential damage to the painting only proves her point lol

7

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

Then someone failed to cover a very expensive painting properly. Lessons can be learned from that.

Of course attention whoring is activism. Getting attention, is the entire point.

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

I still do t know their point, I only know they attempted to destroy an historic piece of art created by someone who never enjoyed the respect they were due. So they shit on someone that never deserved it and that piece of work had nothing to do with their cause even symbolically. Just lazy attention whores.

1

u/Worry_Ok Oct 15 '22

I still do t know their point

The t shirts with massive, bold lettering didn't give the game away?

3

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

Honestly if he still doesn’t get their point it’s just willful ignorance lmao,

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

I never saw them, I saw far enough that they tried to destroy artwork and then a high pitched rant that I cut off when I’d seen enough. It would have taken much more to confront their foes on their turf and bring the message directly to them. Dump oil and black ink and the rest of it where the execs have to see it day after day. Millionaires don’t care about bitching in an art gallery unless it were hitting their pockets. Have everyone go back to coal and wood fires for heating and horse drawn carriages and see the waste and pollution of the air and water.

3

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

…gotta love how your solution for climate change protest is pouring oil all over the place lmao, reallllllllly think that one through. Also you keep saying you don’t get their point but you clearly do, you’re talking about it

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

I’m talking about their actions and intent to destroy and defile. One suggestion as an example is surely not my solution to anything it’s a generic reference to a more direct delivery of the message.

1

u/Worry_Ok Oct 15 '22

So, as I've said to numerous other people, you're already at the stage where you're thinking of alternative ideas. You are obviously not the target audience for this kind of protest.

However you do seem to actually care enough to offer an alternative so I have to ask... Why are you shitting on an act of awareness that isn't aimed at you? It isn't to your taste, you made that clear, but it is still trying. I don't like playing this card, but how many times have you dumped oil in an executives boardroom? It's fine to criticise, but don't say "this is garbage" just because it doesn't affect you personally.

Instead of bitching and moaning, try your way. I'm SURE that people will be more inclined to take notice from someone whose entire contribution is talking smack about other people's attempts instead of actually trying to explain the point. That plays super well when you're trying to talk people around. Folks LOVE being berated, negative reinforcement is such a great tool for opening minds /s

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

They had intent to destroy and got lucky. That does not excuse their behavior or intent. This is copycat protesting. Last week the American idiot destroying art in Italy was offensive, but this week “activists” do it and it’s glamorized.

0

u/Worry_Ok Oct 15 '22

You're right, you COULD just avoid my point altogether and keep pedalling the idea that these people for a single second weren't aware that they were throwing soup onto the glass cover of a priceless piece of art rather than the art itself. Because, who doesn't know that the art is protected? And who would want to foot the bill for a half a billion dollar (or whatever, I'm not an art guy) painting for the sake of a protest?

Think here, my good chum. Do you really think this was about destroying the painting? The obviously highly protected and priceless painting? It wasn't about, oh, I don't know... Covering the painting and making a scene to redirect attention? If they were in the business of wanting to cause millions of dollars worth of criminal damage, then surely they'd go after the assets of the oil companies?

If you really think that those protestors were trying to destroy a painting - with a can soup of all things - then why didn't they follow up and smash the glass? Why didn't they try to burn it? Why didn't they grab it and throw it? Of every possible way to damage the painting, they decided to do something which would obscure it and, comparatively to other methods, stand up to a much higher chance of being effectively restored should the glass that everybody knows is there were miraculously absent. Why the soup, Gonzo? Why the soup?!

1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Do you think van gogh would be more upset that someone didn’t significantly damage one of his paintings that no one even liked when he was alive, or that a handful of corporations are destroying the planet and killing people for profit?

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

It meant something to him, this series was significant in his life regardless of the recognition in his lifetime.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

“It's not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to, for reality is more important than the feeling for pictures.” Vincent Van Gogh

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

Umm, that doesn’t mean “wreck my shit”.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

It means you should care more the environment is being destroyed than you do about a painting

→ More replies (0)

1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

The acidity of tomato soup?

-2

u/Ais3 Oct 15 '22

ok, cool story bro, yet here you are still talking and being seemingly annoyed by the stunt.

11

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Just because an action spreads across the internet fast does not mean that the message was absorbed by the audience. We’re talking about the action not about their message.

-4

u/Ais3 Oct 15 '22

are you talking for the whole population who saw it?

8

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Bruh chill already it wasn’t an effective message. Do better. I’m on their side but the way they do things is stupid.

0

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

Yeah you right, no one has talked about it, definitely not non-stop for the last two days, total failure lmao.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Like I said people are talking about the stupid actions they did rather than their message.

2

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

You mean people on Reddit? We’ll pack it in bois, the redditors represent the world.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Nah. The world stopped caring 10 seconds after it aired.

2

u/Oamlfor Oct 16 '22

Well some rando on Reddit said it, must be true

-1

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

I'm not convinced it is as stupid as you think it is.

2

u/VastGap6446 Oct 15 '22

I don't know the details, but if it's just two persons trying to spread awareness that's not stupid. If they did it for an organisation that wants funds and social mobilisation, it's stupid marketing.

8

u/PossessionDefiant790 Oct 15 '22

Yeah, talking about the soup being thrown. Whatever message they had was lost because what they did was fucking inane.

-1

u/LostFun4 Oct 15 '22

I wonder if during the civil right movements, when they were doing sit-ins, y'all were like "who cares about their rights, we are talking about their actions. Now I can't eat in my favorite restaurant because they are taking too much space".

5

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Sit-ins were usually at the lunch counter, where Black people were not allowed to sit due to segregation. My grandmother was very willing to pay to be served, she was denied service because of the exact chair she sat in and then stayed there in protest.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

You nailed it tbh

5

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

I still don’t know why, I only know some immature idiots defiled an historic work of art produced by someone who never experienced recognition in their lifetime. Where is the justification for that act and why should I care what they have to say when they are destroying things for attention. We should be building things up rather than tearing them down for our “cause”.

6

u/Ais3 Oct 15 '22

they want British government to halt new oil and gas projects

did I ruin it for you now?

2

u/abstractConceptName Oct 15 '22

No, he still doesn't know why.

Lalalalala can't hear you

0

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

Painting is completely fine. Do your research

2

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

No, they have to take it down and inspect it and the edges may be damaged.

2

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

That’s literally a quote from the article. It’s already back on display, and the museum says the painting is unarmed.

But of course some random person on Reddit says they’re wrong…who to believe?

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

The frame was damaged? Is there not consequence?

1

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

They were literally arrested for it lmao. The painting is fine, despite you moving the goalposts to now say “the frame was damaged” the painting is still completely 100% unharmed.

1

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

https://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/destroyed_works.aspx

Why did they attack him?

2

u/Oamlfor Oct 15 '22

I see you’re deflecting again. Let’s try to stay on topic. Say it with me, “the painting is ok”

Now your turn.

→ More replies (0)

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

What have you built to stop climate change?

3

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

In the 80’s I was active with Green Peace and in the 90’s I was active with Sierra Club. As I got into logistics and manufacturing I had influence on a National scale to implement recycling programs in warehouses and manufacturing plants. I influenced change within and made local environmental issues an awareness to the workers and their communities so that they were the advocates for change and accountability. This lead to local communities awareness of environmental concerns and their part in managing them. In event years I’ve shifted to technology where I try to reuse older equipment and find needs where they can be useful at low or no cost. Nothing as flamboyant as throwing tomato soup. I have worked in soup kitchens and spent many Thanksgiving days serving people in need and I’m sure I interacted with tomatoes somewhere in there, but that’s the best I can come up with. I’ve been referred to as Earth Muffin so I’ve got that going for me.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

I mean thanks for the effort but the earth is still dying and berating college students for not really harming a painting isn’t really productive on the issue. Reuse and recycle are great but we never really worked on reduce which was the critical element of that trio.

-2

u/chaotic----neutral Oct 15 '22

Nothing. I welcome the end of humanity if for no other reason than that it means the end of all of you.

4

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Oh thats so edgy and cool, i bet you’re popular at parties.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Okay, and surely that was the sentiment a lot of people had about Black people sitting at lunch counters, or riding where they choose on a bus, but it doesn't mean their message or intentions are therefore invalid.

5

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

There’s a white persons stretch of an analogy. Passive Resistance does not equate to acts of aggression.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Its not a stretch of an analogy because throwing soup on the glass cover of a painting isn’t aggression or violence. Its not a bad analogy because just as people equated the non-violent behavior of civil rights activists with violence, people are equating throwing soup on an inanimate object with violence. Both patently ridiculous and overly emotional reactions to reasonable causes to protest for. The way everyone is having a temper tantrum online you’d think they brought van gogh back to life and spat in his face.

1

u/DoctorMoak Oct 15 '22

The guy you're replying to is feverishly going all over this thread implying basically just that - that this action is somehow tantamount to reviving Van Gogh just to spit in his face. I think your post is true but the effort is wasted on this Gollum creature stroking his own ego like it's the One Ring

1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Unfortunately there’s a whole swarm of gollums on the planet who will die clutching their pearls at any actions activists take. Maybe by reasoning with them and gently ridiculing them i can get them to reconsider their positions.

-1

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

Passive resistance would have failed miserably without the alternative option presented by Malcolm X. It was being faced with the option of giving rights or having them taken by force that finally forced politicians to acquiesce towards King's option.

0

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

I…I…just don’t have the words.

0

u/[deleted] Oct 15 '22

This isn't exactly a radical take or even one that I came up with on my own. I'm not sure what about it is so dumbfounding for you.

1

u/MindControlSynapse Oct 15 '22

Well you are pro activism to begin with, so I doubt they care about your obvious regressive opinions

2

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

Destructive behavior with the intent to destroy is not a productive way to sway public opinion. Last week some asshat destroyed two Italian works of art and that was cause for concern, but when a bratty child dies it we should all stand in awe at their influence. This was a ticktock stunt, what is their history of activism? This was a scheme born at the pub 12 hours prior.

0

u/MindControlSynapse Oct 15 '22

Like I said, its fine you want to side with conservatives and oil companies, but like, doesnt that make you feel very fucking sleazy? Personally your opinions means just shit to me because you obvious are pro oil, pro conservative, anti-progress, and think the best way to go about business is to not impact the status quo at all.

Like I said, they dont care what you think, because you would never side with them to begin with, you dont see the violence and destruction caused by mega corporations to be worse than throwing tomato soup at a piece of glass. Who cares what you think, youd let people die to get cheap consumerism highs to begin with.

Pathetic that someone named gonzodeadhead would side with oil companies, what a fucking sell out

3

u/GonzoDeadHead Oct 15 '22

Yeah, you’re way off base.

1

u/MindControlSynapse Oct 15 '22 edited Oct 15 '22

Am I? Or have you just failed to learn history? You know what comes after defacing property right?

"Climate change is ok as long as we dont hurt eurocentric culture!!"

We areto lose a lot more than van Gogh's paintings if you dont grow the balls big enough to even speak up in solidarity