1. The Violence of Public Art W.J.T. MITCHELL

2. Why is “Do the Right Thing” a work about Public Art? Other examples: –Tiananmen Square (1989) –Tilted Arc (1989) –Vietnam Veterans Memorial (1982)

3. Tiananmen Square 1989

4. “Tilted Arc” (Richard Serra) 1981

5. Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Maya Lin) 1982

6. “Do the Right Thing” (Spike Lee) 1989

7. Public/Private Art … Symbolic/Actual Violence Mitchell argues that these distinctions are eroding. Historic link between public art, violence and regime change.

8. Kinds of Violence in Public Art The image as an act or object of violence: either doing violence or suffering violence. The image as a weapon of violence: attack, coercion, incitement or other “dislocations”. The image as a representation of violence Can be mixed: Pornography is both a representation and a weapon of violence against women.

9. His argument for film as public art Film can be considered public art because of the blurring of the lines between public and private. –Private Arousal/Public Action in the example of pornography. –Differences: Public Art is stable/Film is mobile –Pacified space vs Commercial private [isolated] space. –Film uses violence as a climax.

10. “Do the Right Thing” as a work of public art Not only work of “public art”, but a work about public art. –The “public image” is the “Hall of Fame” in Sal’s Pizzeria. Sal’s response is “economic” As is Buggin’ Out’s. –A highly realistic representation of the public images of blacks. [Representations]

11. Mookie’s Act He breaks the window, which is an –Act of Violence that Attacks a public symbol By breaking the boundary between public and private property. –Mitchell argues that the act is about more than Mookie’s rage. Why is it an “ethical intervention”?

12. “Do the Right Thing” as a work of violent public art It is a –A REPRESENTATION of violence –An ACT of Violence –A WEAPON of Violence. Mitchell argues that it is “intelligent violence”, both ethically and aesthetically precise. “Daring to dream of a more humane and comprehensive sphere”