Reading Response #1

As we learned on the second day of class, all art is just lying, cheating, and stealing. Our ideas are influenced by some thing or object that already exists. Michael Green’s “Balloon Dog Deflated” gave life to a 20 year old sculpture by Jeff Koons. The article did not mention how Koons responded to the gif, but I do not think he should harbor negative feelings about another artist using his art. I believe art is meant to be recycled and repurposed. Personally, I would be elated to see someone else use my work because it means I have influenced them in some way; I forced an emotion out of them.

I think it is really funny and could even be a critique about accessibility in art that Green is trying to sell his gif for $5,800 on eBay. All I have to do to see this piece is search “Balloon Dog Deflated” in google and the gif immediately pops up. I don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to see this piece, and I think Green knows that. His whole mindset surrounding this gif is about the power of the internet and changing with the times, evolving with something to give it new meaning. Since he seemed to be in touch with the accessibility of the internet, I assume he knew people would be able to find his gif for free via the internet. So, putting a couple thousand dollar price point on it reveals there is no need for art to be so inaccessible. It should be enjoyed and loved by all.