Monday, November 03, 2008

Cynical, but beautiful


I know, this looks like a very basic message - kinda like "aren't we treating men like consumable goods nowadays?" but I loved the graphics. It's not really a graffiti but a printed paper glued to a vent pipe, that I photographed in the Beaubourg area. The garbage can is typical of Paris (with its transparent plastic bag to avoid bombings - that is, to avoid that terrorists hide a bomb in it). It's not exactly the best photo I could choose to start the week, but it really caught my eyes. BTW, I have no idea who did that, so if anyone knows...

62 comments:

  1. That's a really striking image. And it certainly does a good job at conveying it's message.

    Though honestly I was hoping for a more traditional shot of Paris today to make me smile, but there are always the archives...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Goodness. A penis on Eric's blog. Yes I clicked for the close-up. Of course! Well, well! This has to be a first. What an interesting illustration it makes too. Could the message be about men, or perhaps about man, i.e. all of us are consumed and disposed of after fast use. I wonder?

    ReplyDelete
  3. ...at least I presume it's a penis. Maybe it's just part of the shopping - a bag of plums, perhaps? ... just musing, you understand... I'm off to bed soon, now with this imprinted on my mind. What are you doing to Lynn, dear Eric?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lynn! now I have to go in for the close-up! will get back to you afterwards with my verdict. What are we like, ha ha......

    ReplyDelete
  5. Way to go, Justine!

    I think its a great image, too. Hope this isn't too depressing, but, I read it as an environmental 'end of days' type msg - as in, we've trashed ourselves by creating all this refuse. Of course, tragedy is in the eye of the beholder - and I'm simultaneously still able to be optomistic,so thank goodness for compartmentalization! On the other hand, sn't it wonderful that the bag of plums was right there in the trash where his legs ended up - otherwise we would have had a serious problem! ; }

    ReplyDelete
  6. Ooh yes Lynn! A fine pair of plums.Or kumquats maybe? Looks damned uncomfortable anyway ;-) hee hee.......

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey - it just dawned on me -- maybe I will get to see this with my very own googlies - its near where I'll be staying!!!!

    Wooo-hooooooooooo!...........:) Le Samedi prochain! Its getting realier and realier!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just been back for another look and what is that underneath?!! it looks like hair!! is it a wig? (it's not a short & curly one!)

    ReplyDelete
  9. lol Sue! Well, I mean, a girl's got to check this out, huh? How often do we find a naked man stuffed into a transparent carrier bag, bottom first? Not often, in my experience. That's what's called picking up a really decent packed lunch.

    Poor Eric. There he was, trying to make an intellectual judgement on an illustration and we girls are just getting straight to the crutch...er sorry...the crux of things.

    Note to self: Pack banana and a couple of grapes for work break tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Carrie yes do go and look at the goolies with your googlies. Oh sorry that was bad I know. Couldn't resist.

    Sue the dark thing...hmm. Curious. I had to go and examine again, just for completeness. It could indeed be hair. Considering his position, this could well be the case. Or, it could merely be shadow. Or, poor chap, perhaps he was just....scared. LOL. Need I go on? Oh please don't make me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That is really cool, a very creative idea! Glad you have capture it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, gee, after getting a closeup of the pix, I was about to make a comment on what I discovered in the trash, but 100 other women beat me to it.
    As an added note, Eric, graffiti has indeed branched out into paper graffiti.It is also known as sticker art.I have a book called Sticker City ,paper graffiti art. Well, YOU turned me into this monster!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think this photo is an unconscious continuation of the question raised yesterday: "what does jetlag feel like?"

    (By the way, there is no shortage of free porn on the internet if you crave to see 'naughty bits'.)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Oh but Jeff that would be searching for it. This popped up - pardon the pun - into our screens as a complete surprise. Much better. I'm off to bed now anyway with a plastic-wrapped bottom on my mind. It's a first.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Now you've started me off Lynn. I was just about ready for bed, cuppa in hand, now I'm wide awake because you've made me laugh. I will lie awake thinking of this poor creature, stuffed in the bin, cast out like an old smelly sock. I was going to make a meat & 2 veg casserole tomorrow too......

    ReplyDelete
  16. Intriguing... it would be interesting to know who the author is.

    ReplyDelete
  17. very striking image! The idea of transparent garbage bags are very useful indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  18. I love that phrase: naughty bits - it just seems so innocent. Not like what Eric posts,you know - pure trash! :}


    New sign on word: fetsquedge!! Isn't that the best?
    I think its the sound he made going into the bag. 8P

    ReplyDelete
  19. (Eric has once again provoked without saying a word!)

    "Whaaat....? I just thought it was an interesting image."

    ReplyDelete
  20. For a moment I thought that the municipal budget of Paris was in such crisis that they had to combine trash services with another service.

    Then I realized that it was just a depiction of the rather anthropomorphic tree from which we can harvest the "hémorrhoid dilaté" variety of plum.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Encore une fois -- see what you've done, Eric (and thanks)!
    Lynn, TG (all of you really): You make me laugh so much. If this image had appeared in the US (which it wouldn't, but), for sure the "naughty bits" would not have been visible. I would also like to know who did this -- and what they mean by it.
    And congrats on GF, Justine (can't imagine what you'll be adding to the crown)!!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wasted human or Human waste?
    Life in different states? I like the image and the thought that it evokes.

    ReplyDelete
  23. lol alexa, lol jeff lol uklynn

    ReplyDelete
  24. I do hope someone helped the poor modeling lad in and out of this position.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Lynn - "scared" !! LOOOL Can you actually be scared when you're passed out drunk and your buddies are stuffing you into a see through pair of pants? How did I go so wrong in my first assessment of the picture?

    Sue - at least the poor smelly old sock has someone to think of him! Even if he's not aware of it.

    TG - is this what they meant by the fruit of our loins?

    ReplyDelete
  26. I'm really off my game today. When I first saw the photo, I thought he had pants on (there seems to be a crease across his shins) and I was thinking more of a recycle/environmental message. I also thought he looked a little like Borat.
    I think I just need a nap.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I can't believe a grown man can fit in a garbage bag that size. Maybe he's "wasting away"...

    Punny-ness aside, i don't know who designed this, but it was probably a woman ;)

    ReplyDelete
  28. As I have said before, " Only in Paris!" Thankfully the French don't get all ruffled about a little nudity like we do in the US. For the love!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. What an image and conversation to wake up to this morning. All this trashy talk. And why do women always think about food when they're describing our naughty bits? LOL

    Seriously Eric you said, "It's not exactly the best photo I could choose to start the week, but it really caught my eyes." I think you're wrong. It's a great image!

    ReplyDelete
  30. You're absolutely right, USElaine, we are nuts. I know I'm just plum out of ideas when it comes to finding any better word to describe it.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I can hardly wait for Eric to weigh back in now that we've had a go -- "Cynical, but beautiful" -- do tell!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Oh I had to come for another peep before work. Yep, it's there, I didn't dream it. Ohhhhh.

    ReplyDelete
  33. A strong graphic, Eric. I think Carrie's take is on track. Poor Adamic creature has trashed himself and can't get out of it. Is he doomed? Who can pull him out of the bin?
    What does the writing say?
    -Kim
    Seattle Daily Photo

    ReplyDelete
  34. Well well well, looks like Eric has offered the girls a real treat today! Eye candy to some, great topic for a discussion, what a good start to the week. Well done Eric!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I'm curious to know the size of the poster though - is this almost life size or a tiny postcard size sticker?

    ReplyDelete
  36. I thought it was a real advertising campaign! Quite striking, truly efficient... And the "design" is perfect.
    It was glued on one of the Museum vent pipes? It seems to be big, not just a sticker...Am I right?

    Girls, I'll say the same thing that I said few days ago: BEHAVE! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  37. Efficient indeed, Guille. Like Elaine, I've gone nuts over this image. Or bananas. You've all made me laugh. And I think Eric knows exactly what he's doing when he posts an image like this!

    ReplyDelete
  38. No Petrea, I swear I did not intend to trigger all this! I should have thought that someone (say... Lynn!) would blow up the photo and check all fine details.

    To be honest, even though I noticed the can/bin was transparent, I was far from thinking you could see his nuts and banana!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm sorry, Eric. I should have known you were innocent. You are never one to seek controversy...

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hee hee. Do you have something up your sleeve to provoke a discussion for our American election day?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Nice shot. I feel like just that poor guy sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Nathalie has a good question. You know what they say... size matters.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I'm home. I came straight to Paree to see the poor chap all scrunched up in plastic, his bits all squished. I thought of him at lunchtime as I tucked into my banana. Oh Eric you know me so well... sigh...:)

    ReplyDelete
  44. I couldn't think of anything creative to say; so, I stayed out of this one. Not touching it with a ten foot pool ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  45. For those of you who wonder about the size (of the graffiti...) here is a broader view.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Next time they ask, "Paper or plastic?" I'm asking for paper thank you very much!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh no Eric, not a broader view. We'll have to suffer through a whole new rash of fruit and vegetable comments!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Michael, they don't ask everywhere anymore. San Francisco has a ban on plastic (not actually enforced everywhere, but that's another story ;). I almost gave a poor Safeway clerk a stroke last month when I asked for a plastic bag to contain my leaking sandwich (shrug).

    In Europe we've been "going Green" for the longest time (only because gas is so expensive and you always take your own bag to the grocery store lest you want to carry your groceries in your pockets ) but God forbid you should ONCE ask for a plastic bag so you don't end up with chicken salad sandwich all over the inside of your backpack ... pfffffffew

    ReplyDelete
  49. OK, let's go see the enhance Pen.. I mean enhance poster.

    ReplyDelete
  50. Oh, yeah, it's pretty good size! I really like it actually.

    Somebody should paint a US version (with a US garbage bin) and put Mr. Bush's face on the guys' body. Out you go!

    + + + DON'T FORGET TO VOTE + + +

    ReplyDelete
  51. That's a great image. A bit depressing, but striking.

    BTW, I didn't know of the reason why the trash bins were plastic until you explained it. I was always wondering why, when I saw them in Paris. You learn something new everyday. :)

    ReplyDelete
  52. I think I'm with lois simon, not touching most of this discussion with a ten foot pole!

    Is is: An interesting commentary on the transience of life? Or a statement that the sanctity of life is not taken seriously enough? We may never know....

    ReplyDelete
  53. what a wonderful discussion! i saw this on a comment of how we treat ourselves and thus our environment, throw away consumer culture gone too far! and sticker art, brilliant! i may try some ; )

    ReplyDelete
  54. Thanks Eric, I can't deny the question of size had entered my mind. Who would have guessed, also, that the illustration would be applied to a phallic erection?

    ReplyDelete
  55. This really caught my eye too, very interesting way to express it though!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I can see why this caught your attention. The vivid colours first attract, then the realization that something is odd, and then the analysis process that comes when trying to figure out what the message is. Interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  57. I saw another one!!!
    See it on my blog!
    http://ladevoratrice.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete