45 + 85 points
Painted Garbage by JJason Recognition
March 5th, 2008 11:25 AM / Location: 44.939152,-93.16798
For this task I used blue and green paint as well as a small paint brush for each. I was careful not to move the objects I painted or to get any paint on the surrounding area. I didn't paint the entire objects, only electing to paint portions.
Along the way, this task provoked many thoughts. This is the second task I've done involving litter and I was once again surprised by how much your perception changes once you start looking for things you usually ignore. I think people ignore litter because it presents an obligation - if you noticed it, why didn't you pick up it? I was actually slightly worried that someone would ask me this question while I was working (luckily, nobody did). By painting it I was outrightly rejected that obligation and I don't know what I would've done if somebody had called me on it. To a certain extent I think this comments on larger themes - I think many people are apathetic because the alternative is to either work all the time towards what they think is right or to feel guilty all the time. You can either spend all your time picking up trash, feel bad about not picking up trash, or just ignore the trash all together. The alternative to all three options presented here is to simply refuse to feel guilty about playing while the world burns. Maybe I'm overstating my case...
I also reflected on the levels that I think a task can work on. This task effected me, as it made me see my location slightly differently and made me go beyond what I would normally do. It effected my local community, because people will see what I've done and it'll effect them in some unknown way. And it'll effect you, the reader on the internet because you'll see my words and read my pictures. I think a good task works on all three of these levels.
Along the way, this task provoked many thoughts. This is the second task I've done involving litter and I was once again surprised by how much your perception changes once you start looking for things you usually ignore. I think people ignore litter because it presents an obligation - if you noticed it, why didn't you pick up it? I was actually slightly worried that someone would ask me this question while I was working (luckily, nobody did). By painting it I was outrightly rejected that obligation and I don't know what I would've done if somebody had called me on it. To a certain extent I think this comments on larger themes - I think many people are apathetic because the alternative is to either work all the time towards what they think is right or to feel guilty all the time. You can either spend all your time picking up trash, feel bad about not picking up trash, or just ignore the trash all together. The alternative to all three options presented here is to simply refuse to feel guilty about playing while the world burns. Maybe I'm overstating my case...
I also reflected on the levels that I think a task can work on. This task effected me, as it made me see my location slightly differently and made me go beyond what I would normally do. It effected my local community, because people will see what I've done and it'll effect them in some unknown way. And it'll effect you, the reader on the internet because you'll see my words and read my pictures. I think a good task works on all three of these levels.
17 vote(s)
5


















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5
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5
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5
auntie matter
5
done
5
saille is planting praxis
Terms
(none yet)5 comment(s)
posted by susy derkins on March 5th, 2008 9:13 PM
Favorited. The writeup got to me. Thanks.
posted by rongo rongo on March 10th, 2008 12:46 PM
This task is so cool because it makes the tasker see the otherwise invisible, and then makes the invisible into art for passers by.
posted by JJason Recognition on April 21st, 2008 10:17 AM
I am happier than I previously thought possible to learn that Emperor Norton likes my praxis.
I love that you painted a paint chip.