Monday, March 10, 2008

Credit Card Man

Credit Card Man

My friend, Glenda Guilmet, is an incredible artist who recently created "Credit Card Man." Extending the public appearance of her original work of art, Credit Card Man can now be viewed at youtube, by going here. Although I know very little about economics, friends like Glenda, with a background in economics and business administration (as well as art, now how well-rounded can you get?), make the current economic situation in the US somewhat understandable and certainly put things in perspective.

Glenda Guilmet


I've noticed that the economy has been in the news a lot lately, from reports on how rich the rich really are, to NPR reports on "super capitalism," to criminal investigations into Pentagon contracts with Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan, to America's addiction to debt, and finally, to an international fear of a dollar collapse, which brings us back around to Credit Card Man. I shake my head in disbelief. It's just spend, spend, spend. Everyone seems to own a snowmobile, ATV, gas-guzzling trucks, power boats, etc. in my neck of the woods (except my family and close friends, of course), even though most of them cannot afford it! What kind of madness is this?

I try to maintain a sense of sanity in the face of such economic upheaval by escaping into the worlds that books create. Keeping in mind such memorable lines like the opening of the novel Scaramouche, "He was born with the gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad," I also turn to comedy (thank you John Stewart and Stephen Colbert). Besides dry wit, I love irony and satire. Which brings me back to Credit Card Man. Satire puts things in perspective.... Politics through art, I like that. Thank you, Glenda.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Stephen Colbert is not funny in any way whatsoever. He's droll and boring. Now the cerebral Al Franken is a man with a brilliant sense of sarcasm. Spuddy Buddy