“Politics” by Molly Crabapple
A temporary installation currently displayed in the exhibition Spotlight on the Permanent Collection
On View October 15th – November 15th 2008
In the American tradition of political cartooning, “Politics” explores politicians depicted as debaucherous animals, driven by overwhelming urges. Building on the famous elephant and donkey symbols of the Republican and Democratic parties popularized by cartoonist Thomas Nast in Harper’s Weekly in 1874, Molly Crabapple transforms our standard political iconography into a subversive circus with her satirical painting, “Politics.” 
While “Politics” can be viewed as one collective entity, it is also rich in subtle subtext. “My work is like Where’s Waldo gone bad,” explains Crabapple, “Swarms of detail let you hide in all sorts of wicked and revealing things. Kind of like earmarks in a Senate Bill.” Viewers are encouraged to examine the painting closely to explore both the blatant displays and coded nuances present in the piece.
Crabapple describes her work as social commentary on how class, rather than intelligence or aptitude, is the defining characteristic in determining where voters fall in the political spectrum. An example of how class discrepancies can influence political parties is evident in the top right corner of the piece. Here, Crabapple depicts the upper class with a “privileged view.” She says, “They sample coke and champagne in their balcony, pausing only to amuse themselves with pundit sock puppets.” Further examples of the artist’s views on class and politics, including her own, are intricately woven throughout the piece. Crabapple’s political views are subtly displayed in the lower right hand corner of the painting.
In showcasing “Politics,” the Museum of Sex is inviting and encouraging our patrons to engage in a potent discourse surrounding these politically charged issues. Although the Museum is a non-partisan institution, it does and will continue to support sexual freedom, expression and education.
Molly Crabapple is an award-winning, internationally acclaimed artist and the founder of the increasingly popular Dr. Sketchy Anti-Art School, the worlds largest chain of alternative life drawing classes.