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The Bean, known formally as Cloud Gate, has been a well-known landmark in Chicago since 2006. In early 2017, the NRA released an ad called "The Clenched Fist of Truth," claiming the left wing has been feeding people their lies and making the right wing the enemy. The ad uses the image of The Bean for a moment in the video montage while Dana Loesch lists all the evil acts the left wing has commited to push their agenda. Anish Kapoor, the sculptor behind Cloud Gate, is not pleased with the NRA for the use of his work to endorse their beliefs. For this brief use of imagery, Kapoor is suing the NRA. For less than a second of footage, is a lawsuit really appropriate? YES.
After seeing the ad, it is easy to understand why Kapoor would not want his work associated with the ad in any way. Loesch makes outrageous accusations of the left wing, saying "they use their media to assassinate real news." Using gun lingo like assassinate to turn the tables on those who want gun control? Is this a fair use of the word? Assassinate? I know of presidents and other public figures who have been assassinated. Usually with firearms. I have never heard of an assassination by word. Unless the word is "shoot!" Their assassination metaphor is just silly, but unlike Loesch, I will let you decide for yourself.
Loesch continues by accusing the entertainment industry. "They use their movie stars, and singers, and comedy shows, and award shows to repeat their narrative over and over again." First of all, I understand that "they" is referring to the left wing, but it comes across more as an attempt to vilify individuals. They create an image of big, dark, faceless individuals that are manipulating famous people into convincing the public of their lies. What? Just because these famous figures all discuss politics and tend to lean left does not mean they’re being told to say it. It just means they are smart and capable of using their sway to try and keep people safe. They are outraged by gun violence? Well, so are a lot of people. Kudos to those who want to speak up, especially when guns are involved. Loesch accuses celebrities of doing exactly what she is doing: using her clout to convince viewers of a lie.
With more scenes of rioting, a dystopia apparently created by the left wing, Loesch pins the blame on "their ex-president...to make them march, make them protest, make them scream racism, and sexism, and xenophobia and homophobia," saying that they "bully and terrorize the law-abiding" until the police have to step in, this result being "an excuse for their outrage." I may be wrong, but I am pretty sure that those who scream racism, sexism, xenophobia, or homophobia actually have the right to do so after having experienced racist, sexist, xenophobic, or homophobic acts. And those who don't come forward and "scream" about having been wronged probably don’t out of fear of being accused of crying wolf by the gun-wielding fear mongers who have probably never been faced with these problems.
After seeing "The Clenched Fist of Truth," and everything it stands for, I truly hope that Kapoor will "scream" until he wins. As the artist, he has every right to not want his work associated with these hateful accusations about the left wing. With any luck, and if justice prevails, this slanderous ad will be taken down.
In a perfect world, all ads would be fair and free of lies. This is not a perfect world, but it could be better if the truth prevails and lies are not fed to those who will eat them up with zeal; it could be better if these lies were not fed to the ones with guns.