Signifier: a bronze sculpture of a bull in an assertive, aggressive pose.
Signifies: power, aggression, dominance, loss of control, overcompensation.
Why?: Initially, the impressive size of the bull leads one to feel in awe when standing in the statue's presence, representing the cutthroat competitiveness of Wall Street. However, when I look at it I see an overcompensating, egotistical animal almost mad with power from his financial status. I see rashness. Bulls are infamous for their association with danger in bullfight arenas of old and modern-day rodeo events, and are often portrayed in popular media as deadly in their provoked state. The expression and stance of this bull classify it as part of the cultural image of threatening bulls. So while this sculpture is intended undoubtedly to enhance the overall "powerful" image of Wall Street investors, it also unwittingly reveals the reckless side of some of the less experienced arrivals in the stock market scene: particularly as poignantly illustrated by the young man in the background of one of the photos taking a picture near the bull's rear for humor.
No comments:
Post a Comment