frank lloyd copyright
In the course of my Christmas shopping I flipped through the Art Institute of Chicago catalog last weekend. I like the selection of items quite a bit.
But I noticed, in the description for the Prairie Sumac tie on page 2, that the text referred to "A window designed by Frank Lloyd Wright® (American, 1867-1959)..." which struck me as rather odd. And it happens again and again, in the Frank Lloyd Wright® Coasters on page 41, and the Butterfly Velvet Scarf on page 21...the dead, overrated architect is apparently a registered trademark.
There's no Charles Rennie Mackintosh®, no Seurat®, no Klee® or Chagall®, and thank goodness.
Registered to whom, I want to know. The Museum? Some foundation? His heirs? Whoever puts the imprimatur of acceptance on officially licensed merchandise?
Don't misunderstand, I'm no bleeding heart pinko, I fully subscribe to the idea that art is commerce by other means. But I still find it strange and off-putting that a human being, even a former one, can be owned as a registered trademark by...someone. In fact, it strikes me as somewhat Frank Lloyd Wrong. And while my fondest wish is to be remembered long after I'm gone, personally I'd prefer it if people think of Joe, and not Joe®.
But I noticed, in the description for the Prairie Sumac tie on page 2, that the text referred to "A window designed by Frank Lloyd Wright® (American, 1867-1959)..." which struck me as rather odd. And it happens again and again, in the Frank Lloyd Wright® Coasters on page 41, and the Butterfly Velvet Scarf on page 21...the dead, overrated architect is apparently a registered trademark.
There's no Charles Rennie Mackintosh®, no Seurat®, no Klee® or Chagall®, and thank goodness.
Registered to whom, I want to know. The Museum? Some foundation? His heirs? Whoever puts the imprimatur of acceptance on officially licensed merchandise?
Don't misunderstand, I'm no bleeding heart pinko, I fully subscribe to the idea that art is commerce by other means. But I still find it strange and off-putting that a human being, even a former one, can be owned as a registered trademark by...someone. In fact, it strikes me as somewhat Frank Lloyd Wrong. And while my fondest wish is to be remembered long after I'm gone, personally I'd prefer it if people think of Joe, and not Joe®.
posted by gloomyjoe at 10:45 PM
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