The Lot- Michael Leunig

Victoria MAK

Michael Leunigs The Lot: In Words is written from the heart. Leunig writes frankly in his own voice
about his take on life. He is an older, middle class, left leaning, white, male cartoonist who presents
an offbeat view. Leunig moves through a broad range of topics and poses questions about the
values underpinning commonly accepted policies and beliefs. He makes a point of disputing the
accepted wisdom and challenging some cornerstone beliefs and icons of Australian life.
Illusions illustrates that our visual perception cannot always be trusted. The components of an
object can distort the perception of the complete object. Our mind is the final arbiter of truth
Picasso and the Bull
What is Leunig saying about the role of:

Art
The meaning of art is slowly diminishing due to academics, publicists and critics who
suck its blood and make it anaemic.
It should make us think and feel, we should be able to establish a connection with the
art itself.
Be influential, and should be a form of expression of ideas rather than art for the sake
of money, fame (Leunig is especially critical about), fanfares and prizes reputation.
-

Sometime the piece of art about an issue becomes more important than the issue
itself. With reference with Picassos painting called Guernica. Should reflect the ideas
and feelings of:
Pain
Suffering
Death
Chaos
Dull
Depressing
Dark
Morbid
Disturbing
Uncomfortable
Confronting
Leunig likes this painting, although he dislikes it because of the
The Artist
way is it glorified, and worshiped by people who neglect the real
To look at the world differently,
with the
example
of the French painter Pierre Bonnard.
meaning behind
the
art.
Has a dilemma as soon as they share their art, the art then loses the meaning behind
the reason of its creation. Such that society redefines it.
To be original and ensure the art comes from within.
Through experience, personal values and a good understanding, an artist will fulfil its
title. Winnicott regarded the artists quintessential drive towards authenticity as being
an exemplary achievement in terms of maturity, psychological health and personal
integrity.
Art Galleries
Buildings that imprison the true essence of art and creativity.
Art becomes depressed.
Stifle meaning of the art
Turns the art into a pageant
Art shouldnt be commercialised
Makes the meaning of art shallow
Its all very orderly, grey and hushedthere are now glass ceilings and things are very
plush and cosy a truly terrible environment for an artist. These places drain its
purity, extravagance which was initially reflected by the artist.

Main Ideas from Picasso and the Bull:

Art from the heart

Vocabulary List:
Chiaroscuro- strong
contrast between light and
dark in paintings
Damnation- Hell, eternal
suffering
Unperturbed- unworried,
untroubled
Delinquent- reckless,
unlawful, unruly
Pompous showy display,
fanfare, ceremony
Pious- holy
Sanctum- holy/ sacred
place
Perverse- twisted or
unnatural behaviour

Banality- unoriginality,
predictability (Eg. The
banality of life)
Gravitas- seriousness
Perplexed- worried,
confused
Charlatan imposter,
fake, fra
Hypocrisy- double
standards (say one thing
but does the other)
Pejorative- offensive,
highly critical, negative
Latte sipping fancy
Chardonnay- posh, rich,
stuck up, suggest more
about your lifestyle, people

have got time to sit in wine

bar, or coffee shop and talk
about issues, but doesnt
do anything about these
issues. It has a negative
connotation. Educated
people with too much time
on their hands. Talking
about the world but not
doing anything about it.
Hence chardonnay
chiaroscuro- people have
time to discuss art, but
they do not engage in art
themselves, yet they are
able to criticise the work

This Essay reflects upon the world of Art and the art priests(critics, curators, scholars) who seem
to manufacture and promote artists and art as purely a trend and a means of wealth. Society is
beginning to question the validity of some of this art, such as with Bill Hensons nude photographs
of children, and that are being defended by the Art establishment as culturally worthy and beyond
criticism.
Sometimes artists shock the population with painful truths and difficult beauties, but
sometimes its the other way around, and artists too need to be confronted with
uncomfortable realities and the shock of the new. (p39)
Leunig is outraged by artists such as Henson, expressing his disgust when claiming we must be
conscious or energy that poses as talent and freakishness that poses as originality.
What is leunig is saying about the role of:

Art
It need is to be from the heart, pure, and truly original.
It is like a religion, it can be from the heart, but it can also have other implications on
forceful teaching.
There is true art and false art. Where true art has originality, talent, controversial,
come from the heart, experience, meaning and a substance.
True art does not look like art (p34) Expression of emotion, reflection of experience
The Artist
Are expected to be sexy, attractive etc. instead they should be true to themselves
Leunig prefers the older stereotype of an artist- poor, struggling
Artists need to be confronted with uncomfortable truths
Need to make something meaningful
Artists are dedicated to art
Art Galleries
Nourish perversity instead of true art
Art pieces are displayed like holy relics, and are told to worship it
Acts like a church where art is confined in a space with rules and regulation. Instead
art should be embraced in a place where life, and genuine admiration can occur.

Thou Shalt Be Attractive and Clothes Breaketh the Man

Questions of the ideas derived from Leunigs essays:
Who decides what is attractive?

Society:
Through peer influences
People who you surround yourself
with
People who make judgments
Different groups in society such
as sub-culture groups (ie. Goth,
indie)
Media
Advertisements
Marketing businesses profit
hungry giants
Beauty industries
Fashion designers who set
trends
Ourselves
Personal views
Reflections of who we are, and
who shapes us

Fear and rejection urges us to

conform to what the idea of being
attractive Is

Whos the tyrant/dictator in our society?

-

Society
Advertisements that promote the
essential idea of beauty
School, the need to follow rules
and regulations.
Politians
Our social beliefs
Our social morals
The domineering media
Successful people in society
Hypocritical and bitchy
characters in society
Any authoritative figure

Useful Quotes with relation to:

Being Attractive

Her face is sagging and creasing; she must have it injected with lies and smooth
deception to make her feel good about herself
Suggest that people are willing to lie to themselves in order to achieve the ideal
beauty which society accepts and beauty.

Success

the thought of failure and rejection it keeps them [citizens] busy and subdued like
slaves
in the name of aspirational self-improvement
We have the idea of being successful embedding into our minds, so that in order to
achieve such success, we must avoid all possibilities of failing and appearing less than
normal

Power

There is no escaping the image of the great tyrant, and no refuge from the dictators dire
commandment
It suggests that this power that is wielded by such great authoritative figures in society
are all-encompassing and is impossible to avoid.
Our ideas of being attractive are not our own, but it is ourselves that choose to change
or conform.

Love

modern humanity is badly loved

to be known and emotionally held and to be taken seriously for who we really are

Authenticity

We need to know and reveal who we are before love can exist
Learning how to make it look like the real thing
Lest We Forget
What does ANZAC day mean?

All of which are closely related to the ideas of a cultural reality:

Remembrance
War
Patriotism
Death
Pride
Soldiers
Forced conscription

Sacrifice
Loyalty
Gallipoli
Biscuits
Poppies