Posted on 02/09/2005 10:44:05 PM PST by hipaatwo
By MARK REYNOLDS The Providence Journal February 08, 2005
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Jeffrey Eden devised his award-winning project less than 30 minutes after his high-school art teacher asked him to express a thought or two in a three-dimensional way.
So, in the wake of last year's polarizing election and the war in Iraq, the 17-year-old built an abstract scene comparing President Bush's war policies with Adolf Hitler's pillage of Europe.
The student's diorama-like assemblage juxtaposes Hitler quotes with Bush statements, Nazi swastikas with American flags, desert-colored toy soldiers with olive plastic figures. And so on.
Eden said he's trying to point out certain similarities between the U.S.-led war in Iraq and the German blitzkrieg - without actually equating Hitler to Bush.
In this, the success of his project is debatable.
Nonetheless, it has earned the Charlestown student a silver key at the Rhode Island Scholastic Art Awards. It has also tested the contest's commitment to an overriding principle: that students should be encouraged to express their own thoughts through art.
The piece, titled "Bush/Hitler and How History Repeats Itself," triggered a complaint soon after it was displayed at a store with other award-winning entries last week.
"It's offensive to me," said Paul Lewis, a 34-year-old North Providence man.
Lewis asked that Eden's piece be removed and phoned newspapers as well as TV stations. He said he sees zero relationship between the policies of Bush and Hitler.
"It's a stretch," he said.
Lewis said the piece poorly conveys what Eden told The Providence Journal he was trying to convey because it leaves too much to interpretation. Someone might think the artist believes the president is as evil as Hitler, he said.
"I believe he should have been a lot more clear in putting those two things together," Lewis said.
The store refused to remove the exhibit, but the store did attach a disclaimer. The views of the artist do not represent the store, it said.
"We don't censor art," said store owner Hershel Alpert. "We're not in the business of censoring art."
Eden hopes to study art after he graduates from Chariho Regional High School next year. Eden said that although he supports U.S. soldiers, he believes the invasion of Iraq was unjustified.
The recent election in Iraq has not changed his views.
"At the time we invaded we did not have the justification nor the intelligence to take him (Saddam Hussein) out the way we did," he said.
Eden thinks the work is comparing Hitler and Bush - not equating them.
"I felt I was clear about what I was trying to get across," he said. "I believe those who misconstrued the artwork didn't take the time to really read into it."
His teacher, Lynn Norton, believed he got his point across. She gave him an A.
In this case "A" stands for Assinine.
"Eden hopes to study art after he graduates from Chariho Regional High School next year. Eden said that although he supports U.S. soldiers, he believes the invasion of Iraq was unjustified."
Children should be seen and not heard.
I don't know when we decided people under thirty should be taken seriously. When I was his age I had one child and worked a full time job. The only people, back then, who took notice to anything I said were dumber than I.
That PoS got a 'A'? Wow.
Home Economics perhaps. Doesn't look like much creatively than a few pieces of fabric. Where are all the facts?
I bet this kid doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to the differences between Hitler and Bush. I bet he doesn't know daggoned thing about Hitler, how he came to power, what he did, etc. Well, obviously he doesn't or he's just flat out stupid.
The Left obviously has not gotten the memo about Godwin's Law.
In related news late today, Eden was chosen as the recipient of the "Ward Churchill 'ethnic studies' skolarship" at C.U.
Said Churchill, "This fine young person has nothing to apologise for. I am proud of his achievements in waking people up, and I think with proper indoctrination - er I mean diligence, he will become a great little Eichmann..."
(/sarcasm off)
"I felt I was clear about what I was trying to get across," he said. "I believe those who misconstrued the artwork didn't take the time to really read into it."
"His teacher, Lynn Norton, believed he got his point across."
Art is always open to the audience's own interpretation, as an Art teacher she should know that. So why does this teacher and student try to attach one meaning to it. Art? More likely, teacher/student political agenda. In any event, disgraceful.
I just don't understand why the left keeps bashing their hero, hitler.
Heavily revised, liberal approved
Translation of Eden's comment: "I am sure that those US soldiers who do not believe in their mission and return to the US (after their tour is finished) ready to dish some dirt on their officers and fellow soldiers are probably decent and acceptable human beings. The others I will spit upon, or accuse of lying, torture and atrocities, and supporting an imperialistic, oil-grabbing, whitewash effort."
Adolescents can throw that stuff around soooooooo impressively.
Lying idiot. One compares similar things and contrasts dissimilar things. If you compare, you meant to show small differences between similar things.
"I felt I was clear about what I was trying to get across," he said. "I believe those who misconstrued the artwork didn't take the time to really read into it."
There you go again Eden, feeling when you should be thinking.
His teacher, Lynn Norton, believed he got his point across. She gave him an A.
I would say Eden is at a second grade level for artistic merit. For a high schooler, he sucks.
I wonder if a student had an artwork praising President Bush or Christainity, it would've been removed for being 'offensive'.
I bet ya mommy or daddy (or both) had a role in this!
Idiot teacher -- Lynn.Norton@Chariho.K12.ri.us
Not really. After the art was displayed, the student and his entire family were transported to a death camp and gassed. < /sarcasm>
Hey, this kid is ready to work for the DNC. He could be Howie "Screamin" Deans paige. If not that, MSM definitly has a place for him at their stable. He can take over for Eason Jordan at CNN and you wouldn't even notice the difference.
:-)
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