artist shows effects of "convenience foods" on American infants

[mamasophy]

Alex Darocy has an exhibit called "Toxic Babies" locally in Santa Cruz right now. He photographs toys to show the effect of formula and convenience foods on American infants. Check out his work at www.alexdarocy.com, under "Toxic Babies".

[carriebft]

Interesting. It is important to note he is attacking the convenience factor (that is, that we have become slaves to corporations for convenience); though I think, despite that, there may be quite a bit of uproar about this.

[tessa67]

I have never been good with understanding abstract things so, honestly, I don't get it.

[carriebft]

Well the first pic for example...he takes children's toys and has them represent his ideas. So you have this plastic mother and child, the mother is naked with her breasts right there, but she is holding up a hot dog (for her children?) and they seem quite happy about it. I also think it is significant that hot dog covers her face.

So you have toys being used to show this grotesque reality of fast, convenience food--and unused breasts replaced by those corporate created food that he feels we are now slaves to.

[sonrisaa29]

His stuff reminds me of that McDonalds ad, that everyone was all upset about.I am surprised how flippant he is about fertility drugs and the women who use them, but I do like the part where he says everyone is human and makes mistakes.

[carriebft]

I think the difference between this is that its not trying to bring people into McDs-- so its not using the image of a child BFing a bun to get business (glorification) but to demonstrate the negative affects the convenience food has. Plus, obviously, he's using toys.

I couldn't tell if he himself wrote the blurb. But the wording and even the idea of "toxic babies" could cause an uproar, which is what I meant in my first post...people might get pretty upset with that wording.

[sonrisaa29]

Originally Posted by carriebft

I think the difference between this is that its not trying to bring people into McDs-- so its not using the image of a child BFing a bun to get business (glorification) but to demonstrate the negative affects the convenience food has. Plus, obviously, he's using toys.

I couldn't tell if he himself wrote the blurb. But the wording and even the idea of "toxic babies" could cause an uproar, which is what I meant in my first post...people might get pretty upset with that wording.

No I understand about the whole McDonalds thing, what I meant is it just seems like that same genre of art to me. If you're just looking at it for arts sake.

[Mama Poot]

: I like it!

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by tessa67

I have never been good with understanding abstract things so, honestly, I don't get it.

I was about to say the same thing.

[BCFD]

Originally Posted by carriebft

But the wording and even the idea of "toxic babies" could cause an uproar, which is what I meant in my first post...people might get pretty upset with that wording.

Yep.

[Aura_Kitten]

I think he's trying too hard... honestly. I wouldn't call this art, frankly. And even as a statement, if enough people aren't going to "get it" ~ why bother?