Family Hockey Fan 

Editor: Here we have Jack Davis’ drawing, likely titled "Family Hockey Fan", judging by the signature and subject matter. It seems to be made with pen and ink. The exaggerated style makes me think of a comic, with a somewhat chaotic scene. What are your thoughts about it? Curator: Well, immediately, the subject matter lends itself to an analysis of consumption. Look at the labor involved to produce and broadcast a hockey game, then all the commercialized enjoyment displayed in the fan’s setting: the television, beer, snacks, the hockey paraphernalia. All this imagery speaks to leisure as a constructed experience deeply intertwined with capitalist structures. Editor: I never thought about it like that! So, you're focusing more on the bigger picture rather than just, say, the individual’s passion for hockey? Curator: Exactly! It is not just the final product, but rather the intricate web of social, political, and economic forces that produce what we are seeing here. Also, observe how Davis' pen work contributes to the message: are the energetic lines suggesting uncontrolled consumerism, or the material weight of everyday life bearing down on the individual? What is the purpose of this distortion and the grotesque portrayal of the character? Editor: I think that brings out a new understanding. It challenges that clear divide between the commercial and what we find artistic or interesting. Curator: Yes! Instead of considering it simply "low-brow," we can think of it as a deliberate engagement with mass culture and how materials reflect the culture it represents. What did you take away from that? Editor: I see now how it goes beyond a simple depiction to a commentary on labor, materials, and consumption within the spectacle of a sporting event. Thanks!