Linked to http://dversepoets.com/2011/10/01/dverse-poetics-pop-art/ prompt! Get your pop art on and join us!
DOB (art toy) by Anna Montgomery
Hot off the presses in Tokyo, Paris, Miami Beach
Aya Takano’s octopus (tako) fights
with a topless high heeled girl
to set the scene – what planet are we on?
A spaceship – last week she flew over a plane –
indigo intensity battling hot pink haute couture
while Hayao Miyazaki’s animation plays
background noise on High Def TV
Yoshitomo Nara’s dog slashes with a knife! through Takashi Murakami’s 727
Pop art snogs graffiti art
anime crashes into Japanese street culture
it’s all so surreal, post-modern hip now kiddies
Louis Vuitton claims kawaii (drop dead cute in Japanese!)
Too cool for school little girls
smoke cigarettes shouting through
pouting mouths ‘power to the punx!’
(adorning manga inspired canvases)
Feel the pain/kill the pain (squash it FLAT!) it’s all too much, it’s harmless!
A solid fist declaration of war for yourself!
Haunt it, flaunt it, kiss it, Kaikai Kiki Co Ltd. produce it!
Travel to outer space from your living room
build social capital, put bling on your phone
(get caught standing next to the giant boobs of Miss Ko!)
Tan Tan Bo Puking high meets low (only $350,000 USD) let’s all have a go!
Kid Robot toy painted
pop icon DOB gets your head
S P I N N I N G
subculture hot house demands
Are you in the know?
Didn’t think so.
- ‘DOB’ backside (art toy) by Anna Montgomery
STEAL THIS POEM
To learn more about the superflat art movement (Japanese Pop Art) click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superflat and to learn about Kaikai Kiki Co Ltd. (in English) click http://english.kaikaikiki.co.jp/whatskaikaikiki/
Chromapoetica 
I have to admit, this stuff–the manga and anime, the mascots, the kawaii thing–grown women dressed like little doll-girls esp–scares the bejeepers out of me for some reason-thanks for that link on Superflat as now I feel marginally more informed. There’s a quote in it that pins it totally in the pop-art realm for me: “..used by Murakami to refer to various flattened forms in Japanese graphic art, animation, pop culture and fine arts, as well as the “shallow emptiness of Japanese consumer culture.” I have to say I’ve only seen the money made off the shallowness of consumer culture. I am such an old crab. But i found this poem extremely fun, as well as edifying– esp liked this one:
Feel the pain/kill the pain (squash it FLAT!) it’s all too much, it’s harmless!
The cute, it’s killing me. 😛 thanks for de-cutening it here.
Call me anytime you need to be saved from cuteness or consumer culture – I got your back :). It’s art full of irony. Thanks as always for reading!
Fight the powa, Anna! 😉
With all my stuffed animal friends ;)!
ha…japanese is all the rage these days…many of the kids i counsel are all mangafied…some really fun lines in here…my favs…
Feel the pain/kill the pain (squash it FLAT!) it’s all too much, it’s harmless!
A solid fist declaration of war for yourself!
Haunt it, flaunt it, kiss it, Kaikai Kiki Co Ltd. produce it!
mass produced for exportation for sure….
Yes, I painted this art toy for my cousin’s 14 year-old son. I introduced him to the art toy movement years ago through the I Am Plastic books I got at the art museum. He loves it (he was already a fan of manga and anime). Thanks for enjoying the fun.
A lot going on, very engaging and creative. Your mind would be a great visit. I think exploitation is your key word, for me anyway. Always interesting and entertaining.
http://henryclemmons.wordpress.com/2011/10/01/pop-art/
Thanks Henry, I look forward to reading your entry. I appreciate your feedback very much and thanks again for listening to my 12.5 minute monster :).
The whole anime culture is fascinating to me because I don’t get it at all. Hedgewitch’s comment had me cracking up. But, this was quite a fun ride through it all, and I thank you for the links, too. You had me googling all kinds of fun stuff. Great job 🙂
Yes, Joy’s a hoot, glad you enjoyed it despite the confusion!
yeah, pop art was the precursor to Anime and many other forms.
True, thanks for reading.
Thanks for the intro (for me, anyway) to Superflat. I love your “Toy”–I can’t help but think of the influence that Japanese art has had on so many artists throughout the ages (Whistler comes to mind at the moment.) There is an art prof here in NV who’s work with ceramics is reminiscent of yours. Her name escapes me at the moment (wait till you’re my age).
Thanks also for the reference to “Chromophobia.” I’m so in love with color–this could be an interesting perspective on our culture.
Thanks for the fantastic prompt, glad I could introduce you to a new art movement. I do think you’d enjoy the book, he’s a painter and an art professor. I bought his book at the Tate Modern back in 2001 and it’s influenced me ever since. It’s one of the few books I don’t loan out because I’m afraid I won’t get it back (Amazon has it now). I too am in love with color! Oh, I’m happy you love the toy 🙂 I have others on http://chromatoids.com if you ever have an extra minute (there are three up so far – one is an ode to Robert Kushner).
I will check it out when I get “caught up” if there’s such a thing! Thanks, Anna.
Goodness, what a trip! Houston, we have lift off…
Thanks Fireblossom, space is a big theme in Aya Takano’s work.
love this anna – such a lot of great lines..don’t even start to quote my favs – too many… lots of things like that coming from japan at the moment – maybe it stands for the “state of mind” they’re in with all the difficulties they are facing regarding cultural development and economy. love that you direct our eyes this direction – too often we rather look the other direction here in europe but think the real revolution with all its art and rebellion involved is going on on the east part of our world mostly at the moment
It was a better choice for me as I’m alive now (Superflat’s been going strong over the past 15 years) and I wasn’t at the beginning, middle, or end of the Pop Art era in America (though I love Wayne Thiebaud). Also, I have many art books from Superflat artists so I could draw inspiration there. I think you’re right, we too often neglect to look to the East. Thanks Claudia, so glad you enjoyed it.
Japanese pop culture is the hyper-animated cousin of our own, Western steroids, the drabbest of conformities writ large … So many Japanese youth languish in the bedrooms of their parents’ houses, no work to be found, economy in long flatline (the statistics here for that generation are abysmal, the worst economic opportunities since WW2). When the real fails you, there is always the surreal, and Japanese pop-culture fantasy has long been fantastical, phantasmagorical, from extreme fantasies of violence and manga sex, the hyper-stylized cartoon heroes and heroines with huge Western eyes and the powers of Mothra and those Power Rangers, girls in school uniforms defeating the fanged entropies of the universe. Haruki Murakami’s Sputnik Sweetheart is the subtext here, where the crushing annihilations of traditional conformity squeeze out dollops of dayglo color from the these techno-savvy kids … There’s a wierd American wannabe culture of anime-enthralled birds in flight from our local recessionary pressure. I have a niece whose dream is to work in anime publishing house in Tokyo – she spent a semester there in an extension of Tulane, barely grazed the xenophobic culture, came back and draws and draws and dreams in pop dayglo colors, in lieu of any real colors here. Fine write, Anna. This stuff is like imagination’s crystal meth — immediately addictive and warped beyond all measure.
I’ll have to read Haruki Murakami now, thank you. So much of the art and writing also deals with a post-apocalyptic world (and in a way it is Japan after the bombs of WWII). The thing about Superflat is it was designed to export, specifically to appeal to the US using the subculture of anime, manga, street art. In an odd way it’s our culture processed through theirs and repackaged to return to us (like their economy) – layers and layers of the surreal. Thanks for reading and giving me a lot to think about in your comment.
Anime culture is rich..
Loved DOB so much
So glad you loved my interpretation of DOB!
Dob is cute here. But happenings at Manga and anime are so varied. There are fights and clashes which thrilled little children. Hopefully they would not go through life thinking it is good to kill and maim.
Hank
Yes, some of them are terrifyingly violent. I don’t have children so I don’t have to worry about influencing them :). I am a pacifist and for the record I don’t read manga or watch most anime. I do however, have many art books. Thank you Hank for reading!
Gotta love the ‘Dobs’
Japense culture fascinates me top to toe – since a kid – samarui – ninja – cherry blossom – of course Marukami is my man – Kierkegard is big in Japan – amazing culture
my friend is a Mangist (at least thats what i call her lol) – and she explains the finer points of her culture which helps
this is an insightful account anna full of interesting ideas and great lines – the final stanza is awesome.
hilariously – i recently found the entire IT crowd cat on my sat box and just last week watched the episode of which you spoke -V.funny
Have you seen the movie – submarine – moss is a very talented man
So glad you know ‘DOB’ and IT Crowd – Richard Ayoade is awesome, I’ll have to see Submarine. Also there is an incredible German movie by Doris Dorrie called Cherry Blossoms you might enjoy (since you brought them up – the movie involves the fascinating modern dance/art form Butoh as a part of the plot). I’d really like to see Japan, my husband lived there for 4 months and learned enough of the language to read comics. Kanji and hirigana are so beautiful visually. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh and I got to see the ©MURAKAMI exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in 2008 it was the highlight of that particular trip to NYC.
my spelling is poor as per – lol
exciting ride,
I love all the cities in Texas and vacationed at all of them,
Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and more.
your take is very unique and powerful.
I think you have written an exceptionally current piece that evokes that “pop” that inspired the art movement of the same name. It’s very techno-pop here and your toy is both adorable and scary–and perhaps that can be said of the art movement too. Very well done. G.
Oh Gay, you’ve hit the nail on the head with scary/adorable! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. Hope you are well.
Pop culture is anime and manga from fashion to toys. Enjoyed this poem Anna. I am just glad that my youngest daughter is not into it…I think the anime toys and fashion look hideous (at least for me.) However for this halloween, she is planning to look like one of those Japanese scary looking anime dolls – school uniform with dark make up. I am dreading it already ~
I like these lines:
A solid fist declaration of war for yourself!
Haunt it, flaunt it, kiss it, Kaikai Kiki Co Ltd. produce it!
I can visualize the horror of the Halloween costume (I think it’s always a difficult line to decide what to expose children to). I look forward to reading your contribution.
So fun, Anna! I’ve been fascinated by Japanese art and culture for some time. I liked the ‘quickness’ of this read, which reminded me of how fast pop culture changes. So many great lines, but I think my favorite is, “Travel to outer space from your living room” Really conjured up the amazing slogans that go with advertising promises. Relevant in the 60s, or today. Futuristic!
Thanks for sharing DOB : ))
-Eva
Thanks Eva, I did want to imbue it with that one liner – fly by sense of in the moment cool – catch it by osmosis, quick! Wonderful you appreciated my hybrid ‘DOB’, thanks for coming back to comment :).
guess it engages us all every time we turn on the TV… interesting
My daughter is obsessed with Japanese pop and anime. I have become enlightened as to whole new levels of annoying.
This poem, however, rocks!
Yes, the art of Superflat is far removed from the noise of anime so it’s easier to swallow. Thanks for liking the poem despite the frustrating presence of some of its influences in your life :).
Enjoyed it immensely. Loved squashing it FLAT! You captured the mind twisting trends vividly, though I don’t understand the allure.
Beth
Thanks Beth, I like the high art aspects so with Murakami I tend to enjoy his giant paintings but not the sculptures of pigtailed women with giant breasts. Yoshitomo Nara deals a lot with the fear and isolation of growing up so I find his art quite accessible (he was a latch-key kid like me). Aya Takano just has a great relationship with color and form (also, I like her animals) but her philosophy is bizarro. Sorry, now I’m digressing, I greatly appreciate your feedback and visit!
I am not in the know particularly, not for a few years since my own children were younger, but I love indigo intensity and hot pink haute couture, and the title and your own piece (front and back) particularly.
Thank you so much; I’m not much in the know either :).
Really enjoyed this, great fun but serious too..I love Japan, when I visited during gap year (spoilt brat year, well 2 brat years actually!! haha) i felt so at home…I’m a quarter made of the same DNA stream,, but it wasn’t that, they were just so welcoming but respectful of space, loved it…gone so off point, just you reminded me of that memory, crazy the absorption of western popular culture refracted, filtered, great though…
I really want one of your toys!!!
That’s so wonderful you spent so much time there. I will go one day if the stock market ever stops its suicide dive. Serious fun is sometimes the best combination :).
Fun! This is a strange world, indeed. but I love your use of Irony here.
pregunta, por favor: what is ‘DOB’? a pop icon? I’m at a loss here…but then, I Never Knew what Flat nor Super Flat art was before I read this poem — never even knew it existed! ‘’Are you in the know? Didn’t think so.’’ fits me to a T.
As said, I like the ironic touch, your humor lifts off the page and I get a tour guide into a realm of complete ignorance to me. Twas a lesson, indeed. (SuperFlat art?? Wow!)
I’m still on the edge about all this anime and manga stuff — it’s all hit me, a person from the previous century, as new. I feel it all too sweet, tinged with a sweet poison.
Fun Stuff – an entirely amusing read. I like your ‘beat’ in the voice…it’s like listening to a reportage — Orson Welles, miking it.
Thanks for sharing.
.
‘DOB’ is a character that the artist Murakami created here’s a link to a picture http://dev.guyhepner.com/pieces/takashi-murakami-prints-dob-super-dob. He was creating his own iconographic character and the art toy at the top is a DIY Munny that I painted as a version of ‘DOB’ in tribute to Murakami for a young relative. Thanks for your kind comment, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
This is so exhuberant and pop-artish! The tone is so appropriate to the content. This is where you impressive flexibility and range-of-skill totally impresses. You make you approach best support your statement!
Thank you, I do try to use that flexibility to structure each poem appropriately and imbue it with an effective tone, it keeps me (and I hope the reader) from getting bored. I appreciate you stopping in to read and comment!
I was definitely NOT “in the know” but am more so now, thanks to the links you provided, which helped the second (and third!) readings of this amazing riff on the “sub culture hot house” in Japan.I could feel the pounding beat and like Brendan was reminded of the other Murakami, who views his culture from a similar angle. Yes, Sputnik Sweetheart even Kafka on the Shore. Wonderful write. Thank you for your kind visit, which led me here.
“Pop art snogs graffiti art”–oh, yeah!
Thank you for returning the favor, and for re-reading! I enjoyed your poem immensely and I’m glad you found something worthwhile here. I hope you continue to link up at dVerse it’s a fantastic group of supportive and talented poets! (oh, and that line, couldn’t resist snog (such an underutilized word here in America))
Interesting and entertaining post. Abs loved it.
Take care
Thank you, I will come visit you soon.
I really enjoyed this, although I found it rather frightening that I understood so many of the manga/anime/Japanese pop references! My daughter is into the anime culture, so I’ve had to accompany her to Otakon, etc. It’s actually a very creative and friendly atmosphere despite the consumer culture!
That’s great, my cousin’s kid always goes to Comicon :).