By Rebecca Olsen
Is the media biased? Does American pop culture impact other countries'' traditional lifestyle? These are topics presented in dialogues of two art shows designed by graphic art students Douglas Thomas and Chris Coy.
When entering the Harris Fine Arts Center, students will see large panels in the center of the main floor. As they draw closer, they''ll notice a 12-foot by 12-foot display of tabloid-sized papers hanging from the ceiling. On one side there is newspaper print that has blots of ink, editing and censor marks.
'I created it to be as dense as possible,' Thomas said. 'I want to show the dichotomy of censorship and editing. That is why each sheet is different.'
On the flip side, a young Tibetan boy wearing a Chicago Bulls hat reflects Thomas'' commentary of the impact of the media worldwide.
'This boy epitomized the human story of globalization,' Thomas said.
Thomas feels that information that comes through news sources is limited, censored and possibly biased. He hopes viewers will understand this and want seek out many sources and points of view.
Two years ago, Chris Coy received an ORCA grant to study how Thailand has adopted and changed because of American pop culture.
Entering Gallery 303, a large design of a Coke can is seen next to the quote 'If there''s civilization, there''s soda,' a statement made by the artist.
The show creates an open dialogue using three movies screens filled with images of Coca-cola products.
'Coke becomes this vessel that contains repeatedly, rapid images of American culture and ideology,' Coy said.
In the center of the floor rests ninety dollars worth of 12 oz. Coke cans laid in a triangle shape-in the middle of the triangle is a plate full of sugar with an apple on top.
'It''s very interesting,' said Marcus Acevedo, a senior from Syracuse New York, a BFA studio arts major. 'It''s Our American culture inundated with this Coca-cola. It''s how they are loosing some of their own culture.'
The artist was asked how he interprets his work. He replied he would rather hear others thoughts and hopes individuals will find out what it means to them. That is his purpose.
Both shows will run till Nov 14 and can be seen in the B.F. Larsen Gallery and Gallery 303 in the Harris Fine Arts Center. An artists'' reception will be held on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, from 7-9 p.m.