Altman is an American photographer, best known for his work with Rolling Stone magazine. Photos from his book “The Sixties” are on display at the Idea Generation Gallery, London E2, from 16 July to 29 August. http://www.ideageneration.co.uk
- 1 Does art make a difference? Art Garfunkel made a difference. And Paul Simon outdid Art. Can it make a difference in the global sense? Will it ever impinge on world peace? I think not, but I do know it can and has altered the course of an individual’s life on the rare occasion.
- 2 Should politics and art mix? Bono seems to have made positive use of the powers that be. But should President Bush jam with Bruce Springsteen? Puhleeze. Though I might support him joining Riverdance.
- 3 Is your work for the many or for the few? For the many, I trust. As a photojournalist, I had a wide audience in mind. During the Sixties I was enthralled by the possibility that my images might positively impact the many.
- 4 If you were world leader, what would be your first law? To create a world court system where countries, smaller entities and individuals could petition their grievances.
- 5 Who would be your top advisers? Mel Brooks would be my top “go to” guy, and Hank Berman, my best friend from third grade. Hank can quote Schopenhauer. You never know when you might need that.
- 6What, if anything, would you censor? I’d censor shoppers in supermarket lines who always wait until the very last moment before fumbling for their purses.
- 7 If you had to banish one public figure, who would it be? Would you kindly throw in time travel, too? Then Mr Hitler would have been gone from this world before his first “Sieg Heil!”. Next to feel the metal-tipped toe of my boot would be a fella named Rush Limbaugh.
- 8 What are the rules that you live by? Even if I knew there was no God, I’d still subscribe to goodness and doing the right thing. Well, why not?
- 9 Do you love your country? I do. Particularly the America that the Beach Boys sang about. I may be stuck in time, though.
- 10 Are we all doomed? When our final hour appears I’ll repeat the last words of Augustus: “Acta est fabula, plaudite!” – “The play is over, applaud!”
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