Techno-Feudalism

Techno feudalism or-as it might be much more apt to call it-American Feudalism. It’s a very sobering idea, but one that I think is very necessary in my art. More particularly, with this series of paintings I feel both that the idea of an impending police state is both emphasized and in the worst way and also underappreciated in the worst way: It is talked about, and more and more people are seeing how it will potentially unfold. But there is a playbook, and the playbook isn't overly complex-nor terribly new. Totalitarianism, or fascism, or authoritarianism are just hyper realized versions of the same greedy urge for imperial conquest that has plagued more or less all parts of the world for ages. Of course, there are golden ages and grand heights, but all empires fall; they collapse in on themselves. Personally, I didn't appreciate that fully when the most prominent people discussing this where firm right-wing lunatics talking about America falling into a Romanesque debauched decline. Of course, there's truth into that, but given these sorts of people’s overly grandiose image of themselves, they can't understand that they're part of that debauchery and degeneracy too. Further, they don't understand that those they call 'degenerates' can be some are the keenest protectors of liberty-and everything in between. That complexity goes over their head, and-indeed-they do that to control. So, we must remember the old playbook and look into it, really study it so that we can see the archetypes, and the ancient myths of politics play out. Even if you hold on to a little block of their façade, you won’t look around to see the whole thing crumbling or revealing the darkness beneath; It'll always be too late. And that shouldn't be the case.