Art Lies, Volume 52, Fall 2006 Page: 19
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is where the idea of authorship becomes even more relevant. Behind
any successful public icon is usually an army wielding an airbrush
with scalpellike precision, an artfully composed script, a devastating
wardrobe seemingly put together without effort or underlying intent, a
mercenary orthodontist who sells the million-dollar smile to the high-
est bidder and much, much more. But for all of these elements to come
together, there must be an architect-an author to conceive of this
perfectly contrived vision constructed for all to admire, emulate or
follow adoringly to the ends of the earth.
In art, the author takes a bow, receives a cloyingly fragrant and
intoxicating array of flowers, praise and royalties. But in politics-as
in crime-the best authors must remain the unsung hero, the public
oblivious of their genius. Politics is not the place for the speechwriter
who covets praise and public acknowledgement of their creations. For
the illusion to take hold, the author must be erased and the vessel for
ideas-the simulacrum, the representation and dizzying array of spe-
cial effects-must take center stage and absorb all the pretty bright
lights. There is no room for the socially inept, bucktoothed puppet
master. He must remain in the darkened wings. "Vanity," as Al Pacinostated in one substandard film, "is my favorite sin,"' and this is the very
reason the artist comes forth to claim praise for his or her creation. It is also
the ultimate reason why art is recognized as art-as artifice and represen-
tation. The existence of the author, of someone who steps forth to claim a
creation, is what separates a secular representation from the political or
religious icon. The mere acknowledgement that someone is responsible for
a set of ideas directs our gaze and perception towards what is known to be
artifice.
Notes
1 Loosely translated: Made death, not love, Gutted the others, Avoided caress-
ing myself.
2 SIN SIN SIN (2005).
3 http://www.churchofeuthanasia.org/coefaq.html.
4 ibid.
5 During a microphone check, unaware that the signal was being broadcast
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/RonaldReagan.
6 http://www.boston.com/news/specials/pope/articles/remembrance/.
7 The Devils Advocate (1997).ARTL!ES Fall 2006 19
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Bryant, John & Gupta, Anjali. Art Lies, Volume 52, Fall 2006, periodical, 2006; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth228017/m1/21/: accessed March 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .