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01/22/2009: "DEMI-GODS"
Who were they? Did they fly or have x-ray vision? Could they lift trains or push jets down runways? Were they soothsayers or just truth seekers?
I've been thinking about those DEMI-GODS.
We know them well ... instant, one name recognition first name or last. Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Monet, Picasso. We also have the founding fathers ... Franklin, Jefferson, Washington and Adams. Let's not forget our athletes ... Jordan, Favre, Tiger, Armstrong and Phelps. They leave us spellbound, asking immediately unanswerable questions.
So many DEMI-GODS, so little time.
Why am I writing this you ask? Well, just a few minutes ago I was watching C-SPAN. They were running a taped lecture from 2005 by author and historian H.W. Brands. He was talking about his book, "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times." It was a fascinating talk.
REWIND 72 hours.
I was chatting with a colleague at work about this fantastic book that I recently bought. She was hardly interested, but I had to tell someone. The book is "Caravaggio" by Felix Witting and M.L. Patrizi (2007 Parkstone Press International, New York). It's such a fantastic representation of the artist and his work. Spectacular book. I'm flipping through it right now.
I must say that whenever I've seen Caravaggio's work in art museums, it just floors me. He's one of my favorite artists. No one and I mean no one captured humanity like he did. He captured the agony, the ecstasy, the pain and best of all, the begging transcendence of man. I always ask myself, "Who was this guy?" "How did he do that?" “Where did he get his powers?” He was a genius and dare I say, DEMI-GOD. Or was he? Despite his grand vision, he was plagued with earthly troubles.
FAST FORWARD 72 hours.
Author H.W. Brands raised the question about whether or not the founding fathers were DEMI-GODS. Brands says no because during the writing of the Constitution they knew their masterpiece contained two major flaws or issues that remained unresolved ... states rights versus national rights and the whole slavery issue.
LIGHTBULB MOMENT!
Isn't this how life always works? People are praising you, admiring you and congratulating your accomplishment when deep down inside, you know it wasn't perfect. Something in the mix didn't go your way. From the outside looking in, you look flawless, but you and only you know that you're not a DEMI-GOD. Hell, you barely made it to the church on time, but here you are being lauded for some deed that God himself decided to orchestrate using you as his human vessel. You're no DEMI-GOD. You're just a man. You better thank HIM before he strikes you down.
It's how art grows and flows, it's how slam dunks happen, it's how men swim like fish and it's how masterpieces are written or painted. GOD delegates. HE orders HIS cherubim and seraphim to stock his pleasure into that golden cup and they pour HIS favor down on well spirited men who are listening and willing to bust their asses to make miracles happen. The miracle isn't in the work, but rather in the listening. In this day and age, who has time to really listen? We're too busy watching television. Speaking of television, that's exactly what I mentioned to my work colleague about the Caravaggio book. I remember saying that few people achieve greatness like him because we're all too busy watching seven hours of television every day. I'm no different, but I'm trying to cut down. There you have it.
As of this writing, a new DEMI-GOD has arrived on the world scene. His name is Barack. Oh, by the way, we’re the ones who create DEMI-GODS. They don't create themselves. Case in point … have you seen those television (of course) commercials for the Obama coins and commemorative plates? How about those tee-shirts? Yes, it's all about the money. If you've got money to buy an artsy, tacky, Barack Obama commemorative plate, you're doing okay in this troubling economy. I love the part in the commercial where the guy implores us to order these plates because they’ll soon “break the mold” and no more plates (or whatever) will be made. Sounds good to me.
I recall chuckling as I entered the Scope Art Fair recently in Miami. Outside the main entrance, they put up a GIANT poster of Obama is a Superman costume. I don’t know who created it, but the artist hit the nail right on the head. It was quite appropriate and dare I say … fitting given the political mood as of this writing. Even Mr. Obama himself once joked, "Contrary to the rumors you’ve heard, I was not born in a manger. I was born on Krypton!" That’s proof positive that he’s not a DEMI-GOD. DEMI-GODS take themselves far too seriously to mock themselves. Would Achilles crack a joke about his heel? I think not.
Whether you like Obama or not, he has a MONUMENTAL task ahead of him. It's literally on the scale of a grand opera, symphony or masterpiece ... the arena of DEMI-GODS. All you can do is sit there with your mouth hanging open and ask, "Who is he?" "Can he do it?" "What will happen next?" Then the word "Godspeed" falls from your lips. Godspeed for everyone involved and that’s literally everyone. In short, we should all invest in Superman and Wonder Woman costumes and get busy.
During his C-SPAN talk, H. W. Brands said something interesting about the founding fathers. He said they were very modern and at the forefront of their time. He said that you could take Benjamin Franklin, change his clothes (or his Superman costume) and put him in the middle of Philadelphia today and he would still fit right in with no problem. I totally agree. DEMI-GODS past and present aren't supermen, they're just intelligent, hardworking, super-modern men with some of God's favor poured on their heads ... whether they necessarily believe in HIM or not.
FAST FORWARD SEVERAL WEEKS
Well, it’s here. Inauguration Day in Washington D.C. January 20, 2009. Barack and Michelle have arrived. He’s not wearing a Superman costume and she doesn’t look like Wonder Woman. They look like regular people to me … even on TV! Still, all eyes are glued onto them. It’s like gazing at the Lincoln Memorial, watching Michael Phelps win another gold medal or beholding a Caravaggio masterpiece in the flesh. Obama just took the oath of office. These are tailor made moments that remind you that this is why even in the darkest of despair you should tie a knot and hang on for dear life.
He’s not a DEMI-GOD, but like the old masters, the super-athletes and the founding fathers, Obama has painted a picture of hope. There’s plenty of hope, but an overwhelming amount of work that will require super-human effort. The entire world is watching, but we’re also gonna have to turn off the TV and pitch in. Stand up, take a deep breath, puff out your chest, hands on hips …
Okay everybody. Let’s fly.
MICHAEL CORBIN IS AN AVID ART COLLECTOR AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW, AWARD-WINNING BOOK, “THE ART OF EVERYDAY JOE: A COLLECTOR’S JOURNAL.” CHECK IT OUT AT WWW.ARTMAESTROGALLERY.COM
