by CARLGARDNER Currently ar the institute of Contemporary Arts gallery on the Mail in London [antil 15 September] is a retrospective exhibition of one of the most political and original artists of the revolutionary movement the German communist, John Heartfield.
Alone artist-comrade George Grosz - - both heavily influenced by the Dadaists - he virtually invented the an of photomontage. This form has been commonplace since 1968 in contexts varying from the front pages of revolutionary newspapers like Black Dwarf and Socialist Challenge, the sumptuous ads in the Sunday Times supplement.
Heartfield was in a position to use his developing techniques far mans revolutionary purposes, the communist press of the 20s and 30s, first against the Weimar Republic and to chart the rise of fascism and Hitler's dictatorship.
snucted satirical montages, dirocted principally at the various backers, were revolutionary not aly in content. They were based the latest technolozy of hoto-reproduction and were in well-suited for mass reproNo Fren socalisalon 01 art-object for wary tower Ical life, It is only in the last few the bourgeois an world his been able to appro priate him into the pastheon of artistic wizards 2 minor belies them, although he was paricularly adept at the technique, sometimes bad photographs specially posed and models conпасса, po-montarc con De employed by anybody. In essence it consists of cutting up already in newspapers, magazines, ero, and juxtaposing which dislocates ordinary associ ations and helps people see the TERRIS OUTWO EASE BRA new, radical way.
Unlike painting or poetry or the theatre, there is no duced. The exhibition helps in Heartfield's simple tools means of production — and the stages through which some of his But another breakthrough that Heartfield's work made was the total destruction of the false COMMENS GISELIE BOT "objectivity" and "manipulation though derived from objetree media His constituent elements, are clearly and honestly manipulated" which is more teachful', HeartNick's montage of Hitler being slipped a fistful of hank-notes by the loomine laure d Gentiat capitalism. or the literal, manipulated' in Nazi rallies, glorifying the purity and omnipotence of the Fuhrer. BUBBLE Critical questions such as these cursory glance at Heartfield's creations The dny word man ipulation? here becomes an asset and a virtue because he was never misled by tivity?
dispensable, too, # the d play тетрогату Cienma political posters — many directed legislation of Here Schmide's social democracy. These serve to SHOW ME CUCE BELON SENIE left but the whole visual media owe to Heartfield:
The John Heartfind echihition is it the ICA man pillery arden Hoase Terrace, Londor Photomontage. by Down Ades, cinding Hearield Published by Thates and Hudson at E2,50 "mystery" in showing 12. MILLIONEN STEHEN HINTER MIRE DER SINN DES 33 Jehn Heartield, Mither Stand Selind Me (16 Ceinber 1932) day 2e00 amend ensit we filed, by te goled al chair price on for capt to fore me kid inne worter to jin a anion...
hetween different sectors, and I POwer Control ober the press exercised by advertising sevenues. One example: 'In 199 he Ball marion of ser advertising revenue disappea ed." How control works through ising" sensorship through know- Philo.) ing what makes good news THE OTHER BOOKSHOP Hooks at NOWOPEN Extensive selection of books on: Marxisti, politics, economics, history, sociology: plus left journewspapers 328 UpperStreet, London NI.
Tel: 01-2260571 stories' is also povered, though The sections on suraregies for media bias are vers weak. This isn't really surprisin We are only just beginning to realise the ways the media ctertise power. How to neuralis that poser is the next problem.
Trade Unionr and the Media Pete Batmell and 295 Macmillan, =TH-OTHER-CINEMA 25 Tottenham Street, London W1, Tel: 637 9308 THE BATTLE OF CHILE: Nat only the beat filme about Allande ang Tra Sur 403 are 13 August at 4.30 Far 2 T us Pet coup, but two of the best documentary fam