Thursday, September 5, 2013

Tweak Me To Your Leader

09/05/13


It should be no surprise to anyone that when Russian citizens mock their president, they usually find themselves in hot water with the authorities. Artist Konstantin Altunin discovered the consequences after painting a portrait of Putin standing behind prime minister Medvedev, both dressed in lingerie. The painting, titled “Travesty” was confiscated from an art museum in St. Petersburg , as were three other satirical paintings of Russian leaders by the same artist.
This is the stuff of totalitarian states where dissent and criticism are typically verboten.  Then there’s the USA, where if you happen to be a rodeo clown who parodies Barack Obama, you’ll discover there’s a price to pay there as well.  In fact, that sort of gesture will get you forced into reeducation “sensitivity training” and banned for life from the venue where the alleged crime took place. Think of it as Siberia on the American plan.

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