Documentary Questions Roy Lichtenstein's Appropriation of Comic Art
A new documentary, Whaam! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation, directed by James L. Hussey, investigates allegations that the Pop Art icon plagiarized works from lesser-known comic artists. The film, set to stream on Amazon Prime, compares Lichtenstein's paintings like Girl in Window (1963) and Blam (1962) to original comics by Hy Eisman and Russ Heath, respectively. It features interviews with comic artists, critics, collectors, and experts, highlighting the ongoing debate over Lichtenstein's use of pre-existing images from advertising and comics. The documentary aims to give voice to the comic artist community, which has increasingly criticized Lichtenstein's appropriation practices.
Key facts
- Documentary title: Whaam! Blam! Roy Lichtenstein and the Art of Appropriation
- Director: James L. Hussey
- Streaming on Amazon Prime
- Examines Lichtenstein's use of existing images from advertising and comics
- Compares Girl in Window (1963) to a comic by Hy Eisman
- Compares Blam (1962) to a comic by Russ Heath from All-American Men of War
- Features interviews with comic artists, critics, collectors, and experts
- Gives voice to comic artists who criticize Lichtenstein's appropriation
Entities
Artists
- Roy Lichtenstein
- James L. Hussey
- Hy Eisman
- Russ Heath
Institutions
- Amazon Prime