Andy Warhol's Insight

“In the future everybody will be world famous for 15 minutes.”

Andy Warhol

            Apparently, Andy foresaw the birth of the Internet.  If anyone could have seen it far ahead of its time, I believe an artistic person open to experimentation and unique viewpoints would be the one.  The visuals of color and glorified views of ordinary objects put Andy Warhol in a special place.  Not everyone could see things as he did.  Even today, we can’t escape noting when one has an “artistic temperament.”  Many people use that phrase as an insult, but I see it as a compliment.  Who wants to live life on the straight and narrow, marching in a straight line that leads to death?

            Viewpoints are significant to all people.  However, what is clear to one may be completely muddied to another. The insistence that only one view is correct is truly absurdist.  As we wander through life, people see the same thing on multiple occasions yet describe it in a multitude of ways.

            While there are perceived notions of “good” and “bad” many see these things with blurred vision.  For instance, this week a young Carolina mother posted a photo of her 2-year-old daughter and friend in bathing suits on Facebook.  The mother, a professional photographer, captured a beach moment reminiscent of the early 1950’s Coppertone advertisement.  That ad featured a young female child and dog that pulled her bathing suit down revealing a bare bottom and significant tan line.  Checking with her friend, they decided that the photo was innocent in nature even though it showed the 2-year-old’s bare bottom.  Facebook was quick to respond to the posting and this lead to her account being frozen for 24 hours.

            Was the photo innocent? Yes, I believe it was.  However, this isn’t a sweet picture shared only with friends and family.  This is Facebook a portal on the Internet open to those who would willingly use the photo in unnatural ways.  It’s easy to share a picture, but it is also easy to steal it.  And I’m sure that this thought never crossed the young mother’s mind.  She was innocent in her decision to share the image.

            While Facebook allows for some questionable photos and sites to continue - a recent uproar regarding a young teenage big game hunter has caused serious issues (rightfully so, she depicts a blatant disregard for life and disrespect for many endangered species) - this innocent 2-year-old’s bottom became another.  Facebook is attempting to protect itself as well as their billion-numbered membership.  Could there be pedophiles on Facebook?  Probably. They are certainly in the deep web, known as the dark space of the Internet, as are many other questionable people, business practices, etc.  None of them will jump up to identify themselves.

            The photographer mom has since adjusted the picture by placing an emoticon over the nude portion.  I’m sure she will think long and hard prior to posting any photo in the future.

            Meanwhile, I can only consider the brilliance of Andy Warhol’s statement and note that he was right.  This mom has had her 15 minutes of fame, unwanted I’m sure, but there none-the-less.  I wonder who will be next.