Look and Look Again: Eating the Wall Street Journal–Pope L
When I first looked at this piece I found it very intriguing. What caught my eye was the pendulum looking object in the middle of the structure that for some reason reminded me of Miley Cyris’ “Wrecking Ball.” I also loved the paper mache effect and the way the newspaper overlapped. I didn’t even notice anything on the top of the structure. On my second look with the guide, I looked up and saw a toilet, and a bottle of ketchup, and flour, and a carton of milk. Now I was confused. Then I saw the TV in the background. At first I thought that maybe the whole structure was simply to symbolize that the world of business isn’t elite and that businessmen aren’t superior, which is why there was a toilet and other everyday items on top of the structure. Then I watched the video a bit close and the guide explained what the performance really was: A man eating the Wall Street Journal with ketchup and milk and regurgitating it every so often. Well. If I wasn’t already uncomfortable, I was now. The thought of someone damaging themselves like that makes me cringe, and watching someone swallow newspaper on screen makes me nauseous. I understand the concept and the profound meaning behind it now; I was right to an extent when I first looked at it, except this performer took it to a whole other level.
