Posted on 09/22/2008 5:45:30 AM PDT by Mobile Vulgus
Washington Post Writer Philip Kennicott sees all the worst in America at the reopening of the famous Gettysburg Cyclorama.
Talk about a skewed look at history. On September 20, the Washington Post's Philip Kennicott unleashed a tirade against everything Civil War in a story that was supposed to be about the re-opening of the revamped Cyclorama painting in the America's quintessential Civil War town, Gettysburg, PA. Not only did Kennicott denigrate in every way possible the over 100-year-old painting in the round of the battle of Gettysburg -- it's a mere "relic" that doesn't live up to its hype he says -- he also attacked Americans who have an interest in the Civil War as somehow just trying to forget about slavery. Kennicott also cast stones at capitalism and basically said that the gigantic painting was not really "art." With his final analysis he seemed to turn up his nose at every aspect of the Civil War, Gettysburg, and the Cyclorama painting. If he hated the thing so much he should have stayed home and played a video game!
On the occasion of its re-opening Kennicott tells us that the famed 1884 painting received a $15 million restoration and has been returned as a major attraction at the recently completed Gettysburg visitors center. The way the public views the painting has also been changed to better reflect the way the creators had envisioned. A light and sound show has been added to enhance the viewing, as well. And, apparently this all does not sit very well with Kennicott.
As expected, his first paragraph sets the generally disparaging tone for this piece. Before he tells us that it was never a "great painting" in the first place, Kennicott scoffs that "For generations, kids have begged to see it, and for generations they have walked away wondering, is that all?"
He goes on...
Read the rest at Publiusforum.com...
Well if their pal Obama is elected, they’ll get a second chance to get their facts right. First hand.
Whole lot of talk about a painting that wasn’t shown with the article.
IBSW!
“Well if their pal Obama is elected, they’ll get a second chance to get their facts right. First hand.”
That’s a fact.
Mr. Kennicott obviously subscribes to the Howard Zinn school of history. Marxists hate everything America stands for and will go to any length to destroy it.
ping
I remember seeing it on a grade school field trip 40 years ago. It seemed pretty cool at the time but obviously can’t compete with today’s multimedia extravaganzas. At 100 years old it is now a piece of history and should be respected for the accomplishment, it’s scope and it’s detail.
The Civil War is a fascinating time in history. It is a real shame that a neutered little nobody like this is able to have a national forum for his anger.
Right! Maybe they can have an ‘ethnic cleansing’ of all historical documentation, etc. Forbid remembrance of all things unapproved.
Same here, but I had no idea that it was that old.
Yeah, a Degas version of the Battle of Gettysburg would be ... interesting. Honestly, what does this dinglebob think a battle is like? Water lilies?
It is true that military subjects were common (the Battle of Waterloo, for one). I remember reading about these "paintings in the round" after viewing the one in Atlanta.
It was an art form that might've lasted longer, if not for the public's intense fascination with that next attraction to come along - the motion picture. What a shame that the writer can't see past his dislike for the subject and value a piece of history (and work of art) that is deserving of preservation.
Seriously, it’s only a matter of time until Civil War history is re-written to classify the Confederacy as an evil on grander scale than Nazi Germany. We’re already on that path and an Obama “post-American” presidency will further it.
The dinglebob is also unaware that many painters (some of whom were inclined toward the new impressionist styles) actually earned money for their own artistic pursuits (and kept their families fed) by working on these "lowbrow" pre-impressionist panoramic paintings.
Mr. Kennicott, please go to Moscow and visit the Borodinskaya Bitva, and tell the Russians how much their painting sucks.
I have been to the Cylclorama a couple of times. Its worth the trip. It IS art and quite impressive.
Excellent point. I saw the Gettysburg Cyclorama most recently in the early 90’s. It’s a significant historical artifact, and I’m glad they’ve fixed it up.
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