On 'Fixing' Art

So the other day I came across a whole twitter quarrel between a famous Spiderman artist and an anonymous (potentially teenaged) "art fixer". Usually I tend to support or find some kind of explanation or excuse for the underdog- the non-famous, small account, low tier, unrecognized artist rather than the mainstream, famous, potentially entitled artist with the huge following. Usually, it's warranted.

Not this time.

Of course one can argue that an "art fixer" is not an artist. I'm not going to get into semantics though. An art fixer is also a person who draws, so I'll count them as an artist or at least a wannabe artist.

But I digress.

This is the image I came across, and I was surprised to find it immediately pushed my rage button (which is pretty hard to push).



Ironically, just days ago I'd poked fun at the image on the left- the way MJ is sitting looked uncomfortable and awkward to me, and potentially a stretchy pose to make her boobs pop. It never once occured to me to "fix" it, aka draw over it to make it "better" or make MJ look less sexy or less awkwardly seated.

I figured the artist just wanted to draw a sexy lady that will appeal to people who like sexy ladies, and though I personally found it awkward and thus funny, it wasn't my place or my job to fix anything. I'm not the guy's editor or mom.

Then, I saw the image above, with "the fix" which basically was YET ANOTHER awkward and uncomfortable position of MJ on the couch, but with less bewbs. The artist later "fixed" the "fixer's" image by pointing out all the problems in "the fix" and then drawing over the it to make it better, which pissed off the "fixer" who complained this was harassment (despite it being exactly what they had done to the original artist).

I found the "fixer's" actions extremely offensive, obnoxious, and entitled. Making unsolicited interventions to another artist's art is not only extremely disrespectful, it's a violation and negating of all the effort, inspiration, fun, or amusement the original artist invested in the piece. It's also a gag on artistic expression.

Imagine if people went to draw over and "fix" all the classical, impressionist, modern, or famous art pieces they didn't approve of.





How about some fixed Harry Potter? (and I don't even like Harry Potter anymore)

Whether I like or don't like the original art piece, "fixing" it or having it "fixed" by anyone else than the actual artist of the piece is a travesty, a gag, an act of defacing and destruction.

If I don't like an art piece, I will say so, voice my opinion, and then move on. The artist is free to take my criticism into account or throw it in the trash. It's their prerogative and their expression, and they should be able to freely display it and share it without having it culled by those who "fix" things.

Even if the art is extremely offensive to any group, this must hold true. I remember once I came across a painting that I found blasphemous. It deeply offended me and I said so. I would still defend the artist if anyone tried to "fix" it to be compliant to my religion, just as I would never even go near an art exhibition of his.

Now, does offensive art have consequences? Of course. If someone draws nazi art and portrays Jewish people or other minorities as vermin, they should be castigated for it. Their art however has to remain unfixed: it's a good reminder of what the artist expresses.

Usually though, art fixers aren't really out for more than clout or a chance to fly on the coattails of the artists whose work they are fixing. And that is pretty bottom feeder stuff.

Just don't do it, people. If you get the urge to 'fix' something, don't. Create your own version of what you would like to see fixed. And when you upload, DON'T post it next to the other piece of work and call yours "the fix". That's still not okay.


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