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Artist Captures What’s Wrong With Today’s Society In 38 New Thought-Provoking Illustrations
The works of the Argentinian illustrator who works under the pseudonym “Al Margen” criticize the current patterns of behavior in society and propose a reflection on issues that are set aside by a large part of the population. Though dark and macabre, his art is sobering and speaks the unfortunate truth about modernity.
In the images, the artist is always using a provocative tone to address themes such as capitalism, consumerism, technology, media manipulation, body image, smoking, interpersonal relationships, and others.
"My artworks are just drawings that I imagine. The things I see around me inspire me to do them," the artist told Bored Panda. It isn't the first time his works have been published on Bored Panda. Here's the link to his previous work.
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I think this represents the excessive money being spent on body modification and how ridiculous it can get.
As a Christian, I hate that people use their faith in God as justification to deny love. Our God is one of love and not hate.
This is what passes for education in the U.S. And a few other places.
The way we are treating this planet and its other inhabitants--
This is so true. Artists tae weeks, months, and sometimes even years to write songs. They pour their hearts out to the world. They put all their effort into making good songs for their fans, and what do they get? They get hate comments from people. As an example, Justin Biebers new song 'Lonely' is talking about how lonely he is and how much hate he got writing songs growing up. Not everyone knows he whole back story of people. They just assume song writers and singers have like the best life ever, and they have everything in the world. But they don't. Before you assume, appreciate.
I'm a nurse and I get to see the horrible consequences of this disease. I could've died when I had it myself. Anyway, sorry you think you're imprisoned in your own house with your own WiFi and Netflix. Sorry you have to order takeout instead of going to restaurants in person. Sorry you can't go on Tinder dates. Sorry you're that self-centered.
Chiseling off facades to see the real individual. SURPRISE: I am not who are looking for.
[TRIGGER WARNING: vent about eating disorders] It looks like the eyes are body shaming her. I know a lot of people who've body shamed me, even people from my own family. It sucks, and it could lead to eating disorders, like it's doing to me. As a current sufferer from anorexia and bulima(or ednos, which still sucks..), both suck. It's leading me to eat less because everytime I got to eat, I hear the body shaming coming. I am too ashamed to let people see me eat because I'm scared to be shamed. Whenever I eat and get ashamed, like whenever I end up eating anything I consider junk food, I end up abusing laxatives, which I know won't help, but it for some reason makes me feel safe. And it sucks because I have been struggling for a YEAR, and I'm only 15. So it's been a year of either eating as few calories as possible, or binging and purging, sometimes just eating and eating until my stomach is painfully full. (Sorry if this is off topic.)
This one hit me hard. I have never known anyone who has fought in a war like this, but I can imagine what it must feel like. The horror of the battlefield and the loss of loved ones and friends must be heartbreaking to everyone fighting, no matter their side.
Wow, I felt this. And I mean REALLY felt this. It's like, you are using music to help yourself heal and to protect yourself from feeling any hurt. Using music to help yourself keep fighting.
I like to run out and about and talk with real life people. Make some good friends that way!
I'm an old child (I'm approaching 70) This feeling hits me occasionally... I am healthy, optimistic, and an active musician who refuses - most of the time - to allow the clock or the calendar - to give me any feelings of the finality of my life...
I feel this is a very common problem with insecurity. I understand this drawing well bc I am going through it. We all want to look like a model but some models aren't in this shape. Some models are in bigger sizes and that has helped me a little bit about wearing certain outfits.
I feel like this one's somewhat about pedophilia, or targeting women for sexual assault. Both are bad, and both shouldn't exist.
I see how this could be about pedophilia. Also makes me think of sex trafficking. To me... the big one represents a masculine figure, shaping the smaller feminine figure into what he/it perceives as beauty? Or that it rips away the beauty of the female?
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there's this book about this serial pedo/killer/maniac/phsyco. He would kidnap girls and call them his "butterflies". They were all young, probably 14-16ish. They called him the gardener. He tattooed HUGE butterflies on their backs and changed their name to what ever he wanted, and then raped them. They all lived together (the butterflies), and they were under constant supervision. When the girls turned 21, he would kill them and preserved them in resin. It's kinda freaky. The book is called "The Butterfly Garden" and if you don't wanna read the entire thing, there's this youtube called MissMangoButt, and she kind of summarized it. She also has a podcast about it (RottenMango). It's an hour-long but worth it. I really recommend it.
I just enjoy reading everyone’s interpretation, shows how diff we all are and how we think. I did think of dad and daughter tho. He needs to lighten up. He’s teaching her well but needs to let her spread some of those wings
This is about control. Could be daughter, wife or sex trafficking. He has crowns on his tie. He catches the beautiful butterflies in his net and controls them.
Looks to me like a father having certain ideal about how her daughter should grow up, and moulding her into it while she having no choice but to follow.. but to each their own interpretation...
He is a sex trafficker he captures women/butterflies in his net, and then he sells them.
I think this is gender dysphoria: she doesn’t identify with the man which is why he is faceless but that’s her overarching appearance which comes with expectations that don’t allow her to fly. She thrives as a woman (has wings) but is sad that the world cannot see her this way — stuck in the shadow of the male.
Wasn't there a movie called "Butterflies are Free"? Well, this is not that.
Not to mention that to pull the wings off an insect is a form of torture and murder.
Yet, it is now legal in California. As goes California - so goes America. WAKE UP!
This one hits me. As a struggling person with depression, it always feels like everyone is happy and it sometimes feels really lonely. Sometimes I feel as if I don't deserve to be happy, which leaves me more exhausted and sad. But I'm staying alived for those few people that really care about me and for music.
After the first few I just kinda skimmed through them but I think it's the usual " everything is terrible " stuff. Apparently drawing pictures about it is supposed to make things better.
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Some of these are beautiful and clever, and some of them are just too clever and I'm left not sure I'm getting the point correctly.
These feel like they run from slightly highbrow political cartoons to Art (capital A) where the first is usually pretty obvious and intended to be and the second isn't obvious or intended to be. I can still enjoy Art even if I don't "get it" so I'm taking it at that if the meaning isn't clear. The ones I like least, actually, are the ones that are overt and verge on yelling "get off my lawn!"
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Some of them are about today's society but some I think are timeless. I personally don't like abstract art or surrealism, especially as a way of conveying ideas because I think that they aren't clear enough and different people can interpret them in different ways, which could cause confusion as to which thoughts the artist intended to "provoke". That's just my opinion, though. I did not understand some of these, definitely understood a few, and the others I'm not sure about.
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I'm looking forward for the day I read the article "what are the good things in society?"
I don't know if this is just me, but I'd rather see people doing something to save the planet rather than draw the same illustrations. Beautifully done, but this kind of "everything is wrong with society" messages are all the same and are not original any more.
Wow, these drawings were so good, and some just.. hit me. Some of these issues illustrated need to be stopped. And I've also been through some of these issues. The illustrations are so meaningful.
I was wondering when racism would appear ig its not a modern problem....:(
I couldn't do it. I read through a few but they hit me to hard. I relate to most of these and it's really had to realize that this is you on the inside. It's hard to accept that you aren't right, that you aren't ok. The ones about depression really hit me, I have mild depression and severe anxiety and I cant think about how others feel with severe depression and anxiety. If you are one of those people I'm here and I'm not gonna say I know what you are going through because I dont. People can say that they know what you are going through but really everyone is different in their own ways. Again I'm here to talk and remember that it is perfectly OK to cry. 💙
The reason I come on this site, other than for the memes and cute animals, is for beautiful people like you.
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I ask this under the comments of the image with the wedding cake, but I’m going to ask it here as well because I do want a genuine opinion. Scrolling through these images was very thought provoking and the artist is incredibly talented. I’m sure this was the same for some others, but to me personally, the thoughts these images provoked were particularly upsetting, almost bringing me to the point of tears, making me lightly nauseas. I often get this way when seeing things relating to today’s world, or just generally negative topics. So the opinion I want- with how badly negative things affect me, is it because I’m just too sensitive or like, weak as a person? Or is it normal or caused by something
I agree with Stephanie. It shows that you are empathetic. "Senstive" is not the same as "weak". Sometimes our feelings can make us FEEL weak, but it's also a source of tremendous strength. Be glad of your feelings and your ability to sense the feelings and needs of others.
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Superior artistic skills. “A picture is worth a thousand words”. These leave me speechless.
I was expecting another edgelord wannabe “deep” artist with works about how phone bad and nice guys finish last, but I was pleasantly surprised. Bravo.
The point of Art is to elicit a response, a feeling. 2020 has been mostly about confusion, fear, anger and frustration. I think that they hit the nail on the head. I may not like my reactions, but they're powerful and appropriate for what we've been living through. The point of Art.
I didn't understand most of these but they are very thought provoking, which is the point.
I have to object to the use of the word "wrongs" in the title. Things like depression and addiction are not wrongs, and to lump them in to the same category as voluntary behaviors like bullying and abuse (which actually are wrongs) is very unfairly stigmatizing.
After the first few I just kinda skimmed through them but I think it's the usual " everything is terrible " stuff. Apparently drawing pictures about it is supposed to make things better.
Load More Replies... Some of these are beautiful and clever, and some of them are just too clever and I'm left not sure I'm getting the point correctly.
These feel like they run from slightly highbrow political cartoons to Art (capital A) where the first is usually pretty obvious and intended to be and the second isn't obvious or intended to be. I can still enjoy Art even if I don't "get it" so I'm taking it at that if the meaning isn't clear. The ones I like least, actually, are the ones that are overt and verge on yelling "get off my lawn!"
Load More Replies... Some of them are about today's society but some I think are timeless. I personally don't like abstract art or surrealism, especially as a way of conveying ideas because I think that they aren't clear enough and different people can interpret them in different ways, which could cause confusion as to which thoughts the artist intended to "provoke". That's just my opinion, though. I did not understand some of these, definitely understood a few, and the others I'm not sure about.
Load More Replies... I'm looking forward for the day I read the article "what are the good things in society?"
I don't know if this is just me, but I'd rather see people doing something to save the planet rather than draw the same illustrations. Beautifully done, but this kind of "everything is wrong with society" messages are all the same and are not original any more.
Wow, these drawings were so good, and some just.. hit me. Some of these issues illustrated need to be stopped. And I've also been through some of these issues. The illustrations are so meaningful.
I was wondering when racism would appear ig its not a modern problem....:(
I couldn't do it. I read through a few but they hit me to hard. I relate to most of these and it's really had to realize that this is you on the inside. It's hard to accept that you aren't right, that you aren't ok. The ones about depression really hit me, I have mild depression and severe anxiety and I cant think about how others feel with severe depression and anxiety. If you are one of those people I'm here and I'm not gonna say I know what you are going through because I dont. People can say that they know what you are going through but really everyone is different in their own ways. Again I'm here to talk and remember that it is perfectly OK to cry. 💙
The reason I come on this site, other than for the memes and cute animals, is for beautiful people like you.
Load More Replies... I ask this under the comments of the image with the wedding cake, but I’m going to ask it here as well because I do want a genuine opinion. Scrolling through these images was very thought provoking and the artist is incredibly talented. I’m sure this was the same for some others, but to me personally, the thoughts these images provoked were particularly upsetting, almost bringing me to the point of tears, making me lightly nauseas. I often get this way when seeing things relating to today’s world, or just generally negative topics. So the opinion I want- with how badly negative things affect me, is it because I’m just too sensitive or like, weak as a person? Or is it normal or caused by something
I agree with Stephanie. It shows that you are empathetic. "Senstive" is not the same as "weak". Sometimes our feelings can make us FEEL weak, but it's also a source of tremendous strength. Be glad of your feelings and your ability to sense the feelings and needs of others.
Load More Replies... Superior artistic skills. “A picture is worth a thousand words”. These leave me speechless.
I was expecting another edgelord wannabe “deep” artist with works about how phone bad and nice guys finish last, but I was pleasantly surprised. Bravo.
The point of Art is to elicit a response, a feeling. 2020 has been mostly about confusion, fear, anger and frustration. I think that they hit the nail on the head. I may not like my reactions, but they're powerful and appropriate for what we've been living through. The point of Art.
I didn't understand most of these but they are very thought provoking, which is the point.
I have to object to the use of the word "wrongs" in the title. Things like depression and addiction are not wrongs, and to lump them in to the same category as voluntary behaviors like bullying and abuse (which actually are wrongs) is very unfairly stigmatizing.
