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Peter Chesney: Every Plastic Cup

I was not assigned Jon, so I'll keep these reflections a little bit brief. The allusion to the photographic art books of Ed Ruscha comes across clearly, to me especially because I work on Ruscha. Jon and I already discussed in person, and I will add here, that he's playfully captured two sensibilities Ruscha prioritized. One is the ironically humorous. Some of you might find this project a little shaming, and I imagine Jon means it to be just that.

Analytic (Question)

Toxic masculinities?

I was left wondering what or who was the subject of toxicity in this image? Are the cups signs of intoxicated (by alcohol by entitlement) youth? Is it those that encounter the trash in the morning? Does trash intoxicate space, the visual field... or both? Does it represent the general overconsuption and pollution of plastics and petroleum?