Modern Myths Keep Popping Up On Brooklyn Streets

June 18, 2015 Artists

MYTH is a perfect name for a street artist, right?

The practice can allow one to be the subject of mythology, or to make stories about other mythological creatures or super/anti heroes. You may wish to deconstruct, critique and parody socio-political or religious mythology and mythological figures. You also get to wear a full body spandex costume and a mask and prance around in alleyways waiting for the plum opportunity to wheat-paste your art, further perpetuating your own myth.

In this case if your name is Myth you actually get to lay down some heavy truths – as delivered by well established names like Spiderman, the Care Bears, Wonder Woman, Elmer Fudd, and Captain America. Lord knows you can probably trust Captain America more than Bank of America. Using the Wu-Tang logo as inspiration for his own, Myth also lets the kids know that he’s probably dope.

And humorous. And absurdist.

Myth (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion,” comes from the speech bubble over top the head of Elektra, her victorious arms spread wide, her thunder thighs charging across the wall. French philosopher Albert Camus may not have envisioned his inspirational words to the downtrodden proletariat to have appeared from this superheroine’s mouth, and neither did you.

A socialist revolutionary perverting imagery to sell an idea? Oh, relax, everyone is doing it. In the hands of the state you may call it propaganda. In the hands of industry you might call it something that sounds harmless like advertising. In the hands of the corporate class or the Koch brothers it’s called subverting democracy – or democratic speech.

In a small way his modest interventions are radicalizing this little corner of the street, making synapses fire. The truth is with these unusual pairings of image and text this humorist made you look, and possibly to think about the myths that we have learned, internalized, accepted.

Myth (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“A nation will not survive morally and economically when so few have so much while so many have so little.” Myth may have provided us with the first street art piece directly advocating for a presidential candidate in the 2016 election courtesy of this Care Bear quoting Bernie Sanders. Check out the tiny hammer and sickle tattoo on his hip.

Myth (photo © Jaime Rojo)

“Eating animals has ruined my life. I’m 31 years old!” – is a paraphrase from a character on The Simpsons named Hans Moleman, a mole-like man with plenty of bad luck. Veganism is a recurring theme from Myth.

Myth (photo © Jaime Rojo)

A lyric from “Protect Your Neck” by Staten Island’s Wu-Tang Clan is a perfect blending of Myth’s favorite influencers.

Myth (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Wonder Woman may have been inspired by the scholar and atheist Meslier, Diderot, or the radical students of the Sorbonne Occupation Committee when she says “HUMANITY WON’T BE HAPPY TILL THE LAST CAPITALIST IS HUNG WITH THE GUTS OF THE LAST BUREAUCRAT.” The helmet at her feet may be a clue.

Myth (photo © Jaime Rojo)

Who knew Chairman Mao Zedong could be so poetic when giving props to women? From that day forward second class citizenship ended, thanks to Storm from the X-Men.

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