I'll just dispense with the cliche about judging a book by its cover when discussing the last episode of Work of Art. Most of those who failed at the assignment of designing a book jacket for a classic work of fiction concentrated on fulfilling their own vision rather than being subservient to the book itself. Jaclyn went off on her self-indulgent exhibitionist streak with her nude photo shoot. She keeps going on about what a shy person she is and then strips to the waist on a reality show. Is that overcompensating for a repressive childhood? Judith basically said "Fuck this Jane Austen shit, I'm doing what I want" and created a boring pretentious cover with the title spelled backwards and fingerpainted flowers. It would have made sense if it were by Kafka or some bizarre-reality author, but it wasn't. Then she repeatedly told us she was a "fine" artist and didn't feel comfortable doing assigned work. What the hell are on on the show for then?
Peregrine seemed to have confused H.G. Wells' stark future with C.S. Lewis' Narnia by creating a cutesy-poo cut-out valentine with sweet little teddy bears. Huh? There ain't no teddy bears in Wells' horrifying vision of the world thousands of years ahead. He was racist, you know. In another sci-fi novel called When the Sleeper Wakes, he fears African blacks being raised as an army to subjugate white Europe in the 22nd century. What an imperialist pig! But I digress. (Note: The Time Machine book cover is the one on the copy of the novel I read when I was a teenager.)
I had to agree with Judith's eviction. She didn't seem to get the concept of the show or her role within it. The idea is to maintai your own identity but serve the assignment as well. She kinda did it with her "proud pussy" portrait of Jaclyn and half-heartedly with the found-object sculpture, but totally missed the mark this time.
Miles was impressive again and proved he's a sort of mad genius. Since he hadn't read the book, he figured how long it would take him to read it (1 page a minute equals four hours) and then coming up with an original interpretation combining the lightning and electricity theme. If they had until midnight and they started in the morning or early afternoon, that didn't give him much time.
I liked John's winning design for the Time Machine which reminded of s-f book covers of the 1960s with its abstract simplicity made specific by the ladder leaning against the red, multi-faceted thing-ama-bob, and its sharp, jagged lettering. This really calls on the contestants to be graphic designers as well as artists. Mike--I think that's his name--did really well with Dracula. (I think the other Dracula cover by the young woman who constantly refers to herself as a Christian would have been better suited to Jane Austen.) But Ryan should have been in the top three with his Dr. Jekyll, I really liked the split-personality photos, even though the basic concept has been done before. He put a new twist on it. I guess the judges are not constrained to choose three top picks since they only did two this time.
Leaderboard
Miles--two wins--death portrait of Nao; sleep sculpture with two concrete anuses
John--one win--Time Machine book cover
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