Read an objective critique on this book written by fellow artist, Louise Johnson - click here
Whilst conducting research for a recent project entitled, ‘WE WILL FIGHT THEM ON THE BEACHES – WE WILL FIGHT THEM IN THE AISLES,’ I stumbled across the BBC History magazine in the local supermarket. In it, I read, in depth, the story of Harold Godwinson and his defeat at the hands of William the Conqueror in 1066 and how the fate of Britain, from that moment forward, changed forever.
To my surprise, I found myself asking questions such as, ‘well what was happening in England before that?’ and ‘what happened in 1067, 1068 and in the years that followed. Further research on the internet lead me into historical timelines of the world from year 0, which I traced up to 1939 and the outbreak of the Second World War.
Carefully i sifted through 800 pages of world history to finally produce a 28 page historical timeline of our little island. And what did I find? - that for almost 2000 years all we have done is have a big fight, either at home, or abroad; millions and millions of people dead through battle, war and conflict.
In 1906, a Census of the British Empire showed England as ruling one fifth of the world!
The Terminator in James Cameron’s film, of the same title, remarks about the human race,
‘It’s in your nature to destroy yourselves.’
How very true this is. What is it about the Ego that forces us to want more, to desire power, riches and land that inevitably brings about our demise? The film ‘Forbidden Planet,’ a recreation of Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’ and the topic of my Fine Art Degree dissertation, depicts these concerns perfectly with the Ego and the Id a central theme.
From childhood into adulthood we are weaned on the need of the Ego. Boys fight in the playground, we read Ladybird Well Loved Tales about Kings and Queens, millers and peasants, the rich and the poor which nurture our infant minds, and I believe, remain with us for our lifetime.
This book is a personal collection of historical facts and figures and contemporary graphic art, which illustrates the great battle of Harold Godwinson, against not only the Normans, but the contemporary enemy of our beautiful land, the ‘Hoodie.’
The youth of our country which I loathe with a passion; Sulking, skulking, threatening, unemployed – they slouch through their lives with their trousers worn so low around the hips they have the appearance and manner of a docile ape, than that of any human, smoking cheap cigarettes outside Poundland, angry at the world that they believe doesn’t care about them, happy with the £80 quid in their pockets from their last dole benefit.
Not so many years ago, young men of the same age ‘scrambled’ to a Spitfire, to defend our great country from a most unjust enemy. These ‘Hoodies’ are at war with themselves, stealing from their neighbours to feed a habit, no direction, no motivation, going nowhere.
The artworks continue my theme of Lost Civilisations and Relic Worlds, as seen in The Planet of the Apes. Civilisation has reached a point of crises and dissolved itself, from which a new order rises to ‘try its hand’ at making a world, a society; a better 1984. No image on celluloid is as poignant and carries so much meaning even alongside contemporary art than that of the Statue of Liberty destroyed and buried in the sand as our main protagonist suddenly realises that he is Home.
I have also attempted to create my own Well Loved Tale and write it in the manner of the ladybird books that I read and scribbled in as a child. I have attempted to draw comparisons with The Tempest and examine the concepts of Neo-Platonism.
‘Prospero in ‘The Tempest’ is a metaphor for the civilising power of the artist and educator whose 'liberal arts' tame the tempests in the human spirit. Shakespearean drama is a treasury of the disputes that frustrated and delighted humanism, including (among many others) action versus contemplation, theory versus practice, art versus nature, res versus verbum, monarchy versus republic, human dignity versus human depravity, and individualism versus communality.’
Concept of Neo-platonism
By Fomba V. Sannoh
Date: 1/11/ 2000
The Noble Archer in my tale can be likened to Prospero, who serves the King and above all, admires strength and power in Men. He is happy when involved with the Liberal Arts, at the moment of creating, inspired and motivated by the Blackbird, a metaphor for the the spirit (Ariel). However he must first destroy Nature in order to create, without any real regard for Nature itself, that has stood in the form of the oak tree, protecting his Home for more years than the Artist (Archer) has to his name. Nature, in this case - the world is finally destroyed by Art as the Archer pierces the moon with an arrow made from the feathers of the Blackbird and the wood of the oaktree. The moon bleeds to death and Life cannot sustain itself on the planet without the moons influence. Everything dies.
Beneath this vision of a lost world and my lost England, there is hope. The juxtaposition of empty landscape with white stallion remains inherintly Romantic and lends itself to that period of painting and of a ‘time-spent unicorn.’ To a time of chivalry, the knights templar, of myth and of legend, a sharp arrow head striking at the heart of this intangible, secret and hidden power of ENGLAND.
Mark S. Masters - April 2013