120524mg

Zapiro 120524mg

Mail & Guardian

24 May 2012

Jacob Zuma's Panem et Circenses - Brett Murray and the "Spear of the Nation" Painting

This week,news and politics have focused on Brett Murray's "The Spear of the Nation" painting at the  Goodman Gallery. The ANC was shocked and polygamous President Jacob Zuma felt hurt and surprised  at being portrayed as a "philanderer and womaniser" so much so that  the ANC has even filed a case in the High Court to  try and get the painting banned and all photos of it taken off from sites on the world wide web. In the meantime the painting itsef was vandalised by three people who apparently did n't know each other. What appears to most is that the ANC is trying to take atttention away from its problems of non-delivery, corruption and bad governement and letting the frustrated masses vent their anger instead on a painting that would have unlikely got publicity otherwise.



Zapiro's cartoon based on the Latin metaphor panem et circenses) meaning superficial means of appeasement. Wikipedia goes on to say It was the basic Roman formula for the well-being of the population, and hence a political strategy unto itself. In the case of politics, the phrase is used to describe the creation of public approval, not through exemplary or excellent public service or public policy  but through diversion, distraction, and/or the mere satisfaction of the immediate, shallow requirements of a populace. The phrase also implies the erosion or ignorance of civic duty amongst the concerns of the common man

 

 

 

Art,  Censorship, Criticism,  The Spear, Vandalism, Freedom of expression, Metaphor

 

Wikipedia defintion of "Bread and Circuses" (or bread and games) (from Latin: panem et circenses)
Fallout over Jacob Zuma penis painting exposes ANC's increasingly thin skin - Shouldn't the movement of Nelson Mandela be big enough to ignore a man with a paintbrush and concentrate on governing?
South Africa: In a Flurry Over Murray - Painting of Zuma Has South Africans in a Tizz
President Zuma - the difference
Young Commies march for Zuma
Brett Murray's portrait of Zuma opens old wounds - ANC - Jackson Mthembu questions why black, not white, defacer of painting was assaulted by security guard - ANC WELCOMES THE SOUTH GAUTENG HIGH COURT DECISION TO HAVE A FULL BENCH OF JUDGES TO HEAR THE ANC AND PRESIDENT ZUMA'S URGENT APPLICATION REGARDING THE OFFENSIVE DEPICTION OF PRESIDENT ZUMA
PAUL HOFFMAN: Zuma as Lenin: the limits of freedom of expression - It is not Brett Murray’s portrait that tarnishes the image of the president, it is the conduct it symbolises that does so
From The Spear of the Nation to SpearGate - What the hell is going on? The case of The Spear smearers is defined by questionable coincidences and dodgy discrepancies. Is someone managing the men who painted over Brett Murray’s depiction of Zuma? And if so, why? The answers are behind the ink, but we may never reveal the hard truth.
'X' marks the blot as Zuma painting defaced in front of school kids - After captivating the country’s imagination, Brett Murray’s Spear painting of President Jacob Zuma was dramatically defaced on Tuesday – while the ANC gathered a few kilometres away in Johannesburg to have the painting banned.
Night of long lies as police try to dupe media and Spear suspects charged - Three men were charged with malicious damage to property at the Goodman Gallery on Tuesday. Two were charged for defacing the controversial painting of President Zuma. One was charged for his unfinished graffiti on the gallery fence. What followed was a bizarre attempt to deceive journalists and co-opt the suspects.
'Battle lines are drawn' as ANC takes 'Spear' fight to the streets -The battle to censor the controversial "Spear" painting looks set to be fought on the streets as the ANC rallied its supporters to mass action.
Court postpones "Spear" case indefinitely as ANC lawyer breaks down in tears
a Nation divided over Zuma painting
Themba Siwela on 24 May 2012 in The Citizen via Africartoons
Madam & Eve on 24 May 2012 in Madam & Eve via Africartoons
Gavin Thomson on 22 May 2012 in People’s Post via Africatoons
Yalo on 23 May 2012 in Sowetan via Africartoons
li>120520st - Painting of Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed creates an uproar
120522tt - President Zuma outraged at Brett Murray's Painting - Spear of the Nation