jean basquait

<Tab/>Jean Basquiat was brought into this world in 1960 and grew up in New York. His
mother was Afro-Puerto Rican, father was Haitian, and both were middle class citizens. He didn't
try to keep his background from the public, and did not exhibit shame or the need to reverse
negative stereotypes about African-Americans, but rather publicized details of his life in paintings.
He did not try to involve himself in the black political arena because he didn't feel welcome in the
upper-class black art communities. Although he didn't become involved in politics concerning
African Americans, he certainly did criticize and make statements in his works that revolted
against the mistreatment of his race and others as well. He died at the age of twenty seven after
painting professionally for only seven years.
He repeated themes in his paintings, portraying his ideas innovatively and intellectually. His
paintings at first glance seem to have a primitive style, but the symbolism he uses and his chaotic,
discordant technique merely enhances the impact of the message he tries to send. His use of
words, phrases, arrows, symbols and scribbles are the reason for much of this discord; but perhaps
he felt as if his message would not be heard unless he made use of them.
<Tab/>His messages are bold and defiant; at times, his paintings almost express a sort of
anger and contempt towards the human condition. It seems that his works suggest a deep-rooted
hostility toward the exploitation and corruption of the innocent for capital gain through the use of
religion, taking lands from natives, and excessive industrialization and commercialism at the
expense of those who have no power to reverse any undesired effect. The placement of words and
symbols seem at first to be unimportant, and only after looking deeper can one reach any
conclusions.
<Tab/>In his 1984 untitled painting, he uses the phrase SUN GOD/TRICKSTER which
parallels this idea; his use of the word trickster in relation to God brings about this same
skepticism and contempt for the use of religion to manipulate and exploit people. It could also
mean that exploitation runs deeper than a means through which to acquire profit, but that it goes as
far as to manipulate the beliefs and religions of people as well.
In his 1983 untitled painting (QUALITY?), he combines the phrases "Rest in Peace" and "In God
We Trust." He manipulates the phrase that is seen on United States currency in the combining of
the two to form the expression "REST IN PEACE WHO TRUST?" leaving out any mention of
God. This could point to a questioning of trust in God by replacing this with the word WHO. The
combining of these phrases implies a death or morality (indicated by the cliché

phrase 'rest in peace' commonly associated with death, and the replacement of God with 'who').
This death or corruption, according to Basquiat, is brought about by the exploitation and tainting
of pure ideals and excessive greed (from the use of the phrase on our currency). This skepticism of
God, representation of God, or representatives of God is a recurring theme in Basquiat's paintings.
Basquiat points to corruption and exploitation in the conquering of lands and natives for the
purposes of greed. In his 1983 untitled painting (Quality?), the words "ORIGINAL THEIVES
FROM THE MAYFLOWER," appear in bold black lettering. The general theme of this painting
is capitalism, and its negative effects on the human condition, so perhaps Basquiat traces the roots
of America's capitalism to the Pilgrims from the Mayflower and other early settlers who assumed
superiority and took over land that was not theirs.
Another reference to the stealing of lands from natives can be seen in the painting Natives
Carrying Some Guns, Bibles, Amorites on Safari. At the bottom of the painting reads "I WON'T
EVEN MENTION GOLD," and an arrow points to various spellings of "CORTEZ." Hernando
Coronado Cortez was a man who went in search of the 'West Indies' to find cities made of gold
that were rumored to have been seen in the 'New World.' While this painting focuses mainly on
the Black laborers and how they were exploited for profits in colonialization, this 'oh and by the
way' statement seems to say that there are many examples of how native people are taken
advantage of due to greed.
The Doctrine of Discover was practiced by European countries who were in search of new lands;
this doctrine held that those who are conquered in a new land need not be negotiated with unless
they are Christian. This belief and the fact that it led discoverers to believe that those who were
Christian were inherently of a higher standing than those who weren't led to conflict and the
mistreatment of those who were natives of these 'new lands'. Because those who Basquiat refers to
in his paintings were obviously not of the Christian faith, they were abused, stolen from, and
violated. This also ties in with his contempt for the use of religion to manipulate and abuse.
Basquiat hints to his feeling that corruption and abuse id directly linked with greed and capitalism.
In his 1983 untitled painting, he makes use of consumeristic symbols and concepts to imply that
these are the source of the mistreatment and manipulation of pure and innocent peoples and ideals.
Going back to the phrase "REST IN PEACE WHO TRUST?", the fact that the phrase that is seen
on the currency in the United States is manipulated into a dubious question and has intentionally

been left with no mention of God could imply that the death of morality as mentioned earlier is at
the hands of money and capitalism. Basquiat could be suggesting that the United States is corrupt
and deteriorating due to the very capitalistic nature of our society.
In the same painting, there are words in both red and black which are dominant and seem to
represent the already corrupt, tainted, and manipulated, and there are smaller and less threatening
words in black print. In red is a crown which is directly above the words "MASS SLUMS," and an
arrow pointing from the words "MASS SLUMS" to the words "PUBLIC GHETTO." This points
to the colonialization theme that is evident in Basquiat's painting Natives Carrying Guns, Bibles,
Amorites on Safari. This again suggests the abuse of innocent lives for profitable means. This also
implies that profit is made for those who are in authority positions at the expense of others; the
common stereotype is that the ghettos, projects, and slums are inhabited by
minorities predominately African and Mexican Americans so perhaps Basquait is trying to say
that even today in the United States the government still exploits the 'underclass.'
The smaller words in this painting seem to resemble ideas and things that have been brought about
by capitalism or regions and things that have been affected by it. For example, the word
DISNEYÓ appears with the copyright symbol. The Disney Corporation is supposed
to be one that brings joy to children and provides suitable entertainment for today's youth. It,
however, is ridden with consumeristic ideals that are ignored; Disney World and Disney Land,
clothing, bedroom decorations and furniture, and toys that are used for profit and not intended
solely for the purpose of pleasing children are perfect examples.
Another word in 'fine print' is HARLEM. This could be in reference to his love of jazz music and
his feeling that even that has been tainted by materialism and capitalism.
In his 1984 Untitled painting, he centers his work around the boxed phrase "GLOBAL
INDUSTRIALÔ," and uses these same consumeristic symbols with everyday things
like colors and the miracle of birth. Below those words are seemingly random sketches that
resemble blueprints or construction plans with a cat in front of them. To the left of these
'blueprints' on a yellowish-orange background are a number of items placed together in disarray.
Again in this portion of the painting, it appears to be construction plans, calculations,
measurements, chemical compounds, and blueprints in the backdrop. Towards the top of this
technical background is a Christmas ornament on its side and the boxed words YELLOW AND

GREENÔ .
In the top left portion of the painting is a heavy-set aboriginal woman giving birth with the title
"ABORIGINAL GENERATIVE Ó." This is a statement voicing the opinion that
even the purest of ideas and the most innocent concepts are manipulated for greed and profit. The
use of trademark and copyright symbols in conjunction with everyday concepts, ideas and objects
such as colors and even childbearing insists that innocence and the natural world is being
advantageously exploited through GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL projects and plans in exchange for
capital gain.
The only obvious consumeristic symbols in Basquait's Native Carrying Some Guns, Bibles,
Amorites on Safari are the dollar signs that replace the s's in the words "TUSK$" and "$KIN$".
These are the symbols that point to the Black laborer in the painting to be viewed as a commodity.
As discussed earlier, the missionaries and poachers in this painting are one and the same, so by
using the dollar signs in these words, it reinforces the idea that the laborer seen in the picture is the
'animal' that is being hunted and used for profit.
Basquait's use of monetary and capitalistic symbols in association with everyday objects seems to
say that all things and all aspects of society have been tainted, manipulated and exploited in order
to satisfy the greed of those in authority positions. They appear to say that global and United
States industrialization does not serve anyone's best interests except those who are doing the
exploiting and industrializing. He seems to be saying that it serves no other purpose than to extend
corruption, manipulation, deceit, exploitation, and abuse to that which would exist and thrive
without the intrusions of capitalism and greed.