Adam Mysock

If He Wasn't Handsome, Would He Still be Super?

2016

(after: Henry Fawcett; Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett by Ford Made Brown, 1872) Framed: 8.50h x 10w in On November 7th, 2016, it seemed as if everyone knew how the U.S. presidential election would conclude, particularly our major media outlets. On the morning of November 9th, 2016, it was clear that no one had known what they had been talking about. We’d spent so much time living in a world defined by largely reliable focus groups, polls, and surveys that we’d become convinced that we could idly predict the future. Our news sources became complacent in their analysis of human behavior, and we followed along. It became the blind leading the blind. But what truly struck me was that we seemed surprised to discover our inability to foresee the future, to discover that we aren’t omniscient. Here—in the tradition of other paintings depicting the parable of the blind...

after: Joseph Shuster’s Action Comics #1 Cover (1938) and #19 Burning Flesh from Wally Wood’s, Bob Powell’s, and Norm Saunders’ Mars Attacks trading cards (1962) Framed: 9h x 9w in Continuing the exploration of Superman’s role as extraterrestrial anomaly – an alien who’s also a friend, I spent time considering how important one’s actions (on a singular occasion, in sum, alone, in collaboration with others, etc.) are in determining overall “goodness” or social value. In literally his first exposure to any reader, on the cover of Action Comics #1, Superman is shown smashing a large car against a rock, while three well-dressed men run away in fear. Taken by itself the image presents a deranged, super-strong vandal. It’s only upon reading the full narrative that we understand Superman’s action to be part of a rescue mission and the men to be gangster villains. When we allow Superman to be considered as an individual, responsible for his own actions, and over a series of events, rather than one incident, we find our hero. But when I offer Superman another alien (this one up to no good), and deny any exposure to a fuller understanding of circumstance, it’s much more difficult to separate Superman’s destructive actions from those of his new companion. Better Alone Than in Bad Company...

after: Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s The Blind Leading the Blind (1568), Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s Building (1903), and #17 Beast and the Beauty from Wally Wood’s, Bob Powell’s, and Norm Saunders’ Mars Attacks trading cards...

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