The Mona Lisa's new home in the Louvre has been unveiled, and anti-globalization activists are reacting with dismay.
"What we're seeing is the McDonaldization of the world of fine art," said Justin H.W. Holcombe IV of Connecticut, speaking from his office in London. The spokesperson for International Disdain at Intense Overconsumption = Terrorism (IDIOT) went on, "When they charge admission at the Louvre they may as well be asking, 'You want fries with that?'"
It's globalization gone amok. A Tuscan artist paints a portrait of a Florentine woman. The painting now sits in a French museum frequented by American, Korean, and Chinese tourists. The exhibit itself is designed by a Peruvian architect, and it was paid for by a Japanese TV network. It's insane.And don't forget: TV is an American invention.
Holcombe sniffs at the argument that these efforts result in greater access to great art for more people. "Yes, that's true, but at what cost? We're seeing the insanity of corporate globalization taking over fine culture. The Louvre is in effect a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wal-Mart."
We need to pay more attention to "Think Globally, Act Locally," you know? I mean, what chance does a local artist have against McDonald's? What chance does a locally-owned museum stand against the Louvres or the Wal-Marts of the world? It's tragic. It's insane.Posted by Craig Ceely at April 6, 2005 11:07 AM
So you got me thinking....
Da Vinci would have been very proud to know his painting is a part of this globalization thing. He certainly has played a major part in the development of western civilization. He helped create this interesting world we live in. His ideas are to a large extent ours. Someone once said that about Ayn Rand too. Ideas are important, for sure.
I figure Da Vinci and the Medicis were the first to really make a go of globalization, in a modern, free trade kind of sense (banking, culture, production, free thinking). And now the Mona Lisa is a central figure in a symbol of that wonderful thing called globalization. What a legacy.
Cheers
$
Thinking again?! When did this start? ;-)
Posted by: Craig at April 8, 2005 12:47 PMYou're a bad influence.
Posted by: Marnee at April 8, 2005 04:56 PM