The international and interdisciplinary summer course “Transcultural Spaces / Hybrid Selves” at the University of Oldenburg from 3rd until 6th July 2012 dealt, among other things, with questions of race and diversity in South Africa. The picture The Spear by Brett Murray, which caused a scandal in South Africa in May 2012, was discussed in detail. In the course of the discussion among the course participants the question arose whether a similar scandal would be possible in Germany. To be more precise, the students and the lecturers wondered what would happen if German politicians were portrayed with their genitals exposed as is the case with Murray’s painting of South African president Jacob Zuma. This seemingly simple question leads to some more in-depth issues of race and gender. As the scandal created by The Spear involved aspects of racial and gender-related discrimination, it would be interesting to find out whether similar debates would erupt in Germany in relation to a provocative portrayal of politicians.
In fact, several portrayals of naked German politicians have been published in recent years. One of them is Peter Lenk’s relief “Global Players,” which is on display in Bodman-Ludwigshafen. This image shows five high-profile German politicians completely naked and touching each others’ genitals. In order to find out whether this piece of art has created a scandal similar to the one caused by The Spear in South Africa, the public discourse on these controversial pieces of art will be compared. In the following, I will analyze opinions and arguments which appear in online blogs and magazines. By making out the main points of criticism regarding The Spear and “Global Players,” I will try to come to conclusions concerning underlying social problems in South Africa and Germany. This means that I will try to find out why these pieces of art cause debates or even outrage in certain groups of society and if these bones of contention are the same in South Africa and Germany. I will pursue a case study approach using the method of blog and online article analysis as this procedure is suitable to identify the main lines of arguments in public discourse.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Two provocative images - The Spear and “Global Players”
2.1 Brett Murray’s The Spear
2.2 Peter Lenk’s “Global Players”
3. Public Reactions
3.1 Reactions to The Spear
3.2 Reactions to “Global Players”
4. Social Issues in the Discourse on The Spear and “Global Players”
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper investigates the societal response to two highly controversial and satirical artworks that depict political figures in a state of undress: Brett Murray’s "The Spear" in South Africa and Peter Lenk’s "Global Players" in Germany. The study explores the underlying reasons for the starkly different levels of public outcry and social debate triggered by these works, specifically focusing on how historical context, race, and gender influence public perception.
- Comparative analysis of public discourse in South Africa and Germany.
- The role of historical trauma, particularly Apartheid, in shaping reactions to art.
- Discrepancies in how gender is perceived and critiqued through satirical imagery.
- The influence of national socio-political climates on the reception of provocation.
- A case study approach utilizing online blog and magazine analysis.
Excerpt from the Book
4. Social Issues in the Discourse on The Spear and “Global Players”
The case studies above have shown that The Spear as well as “Global Players” have caused heated discussions in South Africa and Germany respectively. However, a comparison of the main lines of argument shows a number of differences between the discourses. First of all, it has become obvious that the debate about Lenk’s relief did not reach the same dimensions as the one about Murray’s painting although it portrays five influential German politicians including the chancellor. This raises questions about the meaning and perception of nakedness in South Africa and Germany. According to Volkmar Sigusch, who has investigated cultural transformations of sexuality and gender in recent decades, “[s]exuality is no longer an issue of prominence; it has been largely banalized. Like egotism and mobility, it is simply taken for granted by many people today” (Sigusch 2001: 27). This statement suggests that sexuality, and by implication nudity as well, do not have the potential to cause major scandals anymore.
Considering the results of the case study, this assumption does not seem to apply to the South African context. Nudity in combination with race has a huge potential for conflict due to the Apartheid politics which are still remembered by a large part of today’s South African population. In Germany, nudity also has a historical conflict potential as it can be associated with repressive measures during the Third Reich. Yet, this context does not appear in the discussion of Lenk’s “Global Players” at all. In order to account for this difference, one needs to consider issues of race. The Spear depicts a black president with his genitals exposed. As Apartheid memories are still present in many people’s minds, the depiction of a black naked man is still highly provocative. Race does not play any role in “Global Players” as it portrays five white persons. Maybe the portrayal of a Jewish person would have launched discussions about race issues as it might have caused associations with the context of the Nazi Regime.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research intent to compare the reception of provocative artworks in South Africa and Germany, triggered by discussions in an interdisciplinary summer course.
2. Two provocative images - The Spear and “Global Players”: Describes the origin and content of Brett Murray’s "The Spear" and Peter Lenk’s "Global Players," providing essential background on the scandals they caused.
3. Public Reactions: Details the specific responses from the public, media, and political figures regarding both "The Spear" and "Global Players," using excerpts from online sources.
4. Social Issues in the Discourse on The Spear and “Global Players”: Analyzes the societal reasons for the divergent reactions, highlighting the roles of race, gender, and historical memory.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, noting that while both artworks aim to critique politicians, national contexts significantly alter their impact and societal reception.
6. Bibliography: Lists all academic and media sources consulted during the research.
Keywords
The Spear, Global Players, Brett Murray, Peter Lenk, Apartheid, South Africa, Germany, Satire, Public Discourse, Political Art, Race, Gender, Nakedness, Jacob Zuma, Scandal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
The paper examines how society reacts to controversial art that portrays politicians in a state of undress, using two specific case studies from South Africa and Germany.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The central themes include the interplay between artistic freedom and political dignity, the impact of historical trauma on public discourse, and the role of race and gender in media-fueled debates.
What is the core research question?
The author seeks to understand why the portrait "The Spear" caused national turmoil in South Africa, while Peter Lenk's "Global Players" in Germany resulted in a significantly more muted and superficial response.
Which scientific methodology does the author apply?
The publication employs a case study approach, conducting a qualitative analysis of online blog posts, articles, and public commentary to map out lines of argument.
What is the scope of the main analysis section?
The main part of the work breaks down the public outrage in South Africa versus the humor and indifference in Germany, while applying theoretical frameworks to explain these differences.
What characteristics define this study?
The work is characterized by its interdisciplinary approach, combining art criticism, political analysis, and social history to interpret cultural responses to provocation.
How does the history of Apartheid influence the public's reaction to "The Spear"?
The author argues that Apartheid-era memories of forced nudity make the depiction of a black president with exposed genitals a deeply offensive act that reopens historical wounds for many South Africans.
Why does the author consider "Global Players" to have caused only superficial debates?
The author posits that because the politicians depicted are white and the history of the Third Reich is not invoked in the same visceral way in this context, the satire is largely perceived as a lighthearted or irrelevant provocation rather than an assault on dignity.
What role does the "power of images" play in the discourse?
The author highlights that media images strongly influence the perception of politicians, and the "power of images" explains why a visual satire can trigger much stronger emotional reactions than written criticism.
- Quote paper
- Anna Poppen (Author), 2012, Two provocative images. "The Spear" and “Global Players”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/278568
