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The Perfect Image For Humanity

Posted: 07/25/2011 10:24 am

Finished principle photography on Life's Too Short. It was an eight week shoot and probably the easiest and most fun ever.

It was so stress free and we did such short days that every evening I had time to relax and write stand up.

Now I just need to edit it all down into seven half hour shows. I'll spend most of the next few weeks in an editing suite in central London. Well two editing suites actually as I'm also editing An Idiot Abroad 2.

We arranged for the editing suites to be across the road from each other but I'll still feel like Mrs. Doubtfire running between the two with different hats on. Metaphorically of course. I won't literally be wearing hats. Nor did Mrs. Doubtfire actually. This analogy is flawed.

In the evenings I'll work on The Ricky Gervais Show Series 3.

So that still leaves me enough time to think about posters for my next tour. It's called "Humanity" and I'd like your help with choosing the perfect image.

I've wanted to do this picture for about 20 years. Finally did it this week with Photographer Rich Hardcastle.

2011-07-25-ricky2.jpg

And this was done for Rolling Stone Magazine but I think they decided it was a little strong for their demographic.

To be fair when I described it to them over the phone weeks before the shoot they said they'd like an alternative, if I wanted a front cover. When it came to it I decided that I didn't want to do an alternative, as I knew they would go with that.

I was right. They definitely would have gone with the alternative, but since I didn't give them one they went with Rihanna. Ha Ha. Fair enough. I stand by my decision.

I love this pic though by Nadav Kander.


2011-07-25-ricky1.jpg


Thoughts? (Reverse psychology might be best, as I'll almost certainly choose the one that most people hate. Ha Ha).

I thought the caption for the first one could be "Eager to please", or 'Dead funny". And I thought the caption for the second could be "Stand up for what you believe".

Vote now.

And don't get annoyed. Just ignore them if they offend you. Or is that the right thing to do?
Obviously as an artist it's important to evoke a strong reaction. But should I care beyond that how it affects people?

Should art have a social conscience?

I'm a comedian. Some people probably object to me using the term artist about such a lowly profession. And some people think I shouldn't even be pondering such highfalutin questions, let alone answering them.

So for a change I'll try to be economical with my opinions and simply try to provoke yours.

First of all, what is a social conscience?

Is it simply an attitude of sensitivity toward and sense of responsibility regarding injustice and problems in society or does it involve positive action?

Secondly, what is art?

And does being art automatically justify something?

Does art have its own conscience?

Or is it amoral?

Can there be art that is so bad that it is no longer art?

And could art be great art but cause great harm?

Can art "cause" anything?

Anyway, what photo of me is your favorite?

 
Finished principle photography on Life's Too Short. It was an eight week shoot and probably the easiest and most fun ever. It was so stress free and we did such short days that every evening I had ...
Finished principle photography on Life's Too Short. It was an eight week shoot and probably the easiest and most fun ever. It was so stress free and we did such short days that every evening I had ...
 
 
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12:42 AM on 09/22/2011
First one is most offensive, of course I am also of the disbelief in a big man upstairs... second one is muy sexy!! Now I can't stop thinking about you!!
12:35 PM on 09/21/2011
I prefer the second pic because you still look like you. But as to the first, in our house you are referred to as the king of the pregnant pause so I think you should call the pic "pregnant pause."
11:29 AM on 09/21/2011
I like #2 - it's so YOU! You are awesome and not afraid to ever speak the truth :)
05:59 AM on 09/18/2011
#1 gut feeling: disturbing, reaction: shut it out, title is hilarious though: dead funny, but I definitely would NOT attend a comedy show with that image

#2 gut: interesting, odd; reaction: what does this image say, what does he want this image to say;

I would use #2 for a show & submit #1 to an art exhibition.
11:50 AM on 09/07/2011
I really like both pictures... but if I had to pick one, I prefer the atheist picture. I just like the message behind it, it's meaningful, which means I automatically want to pick it. Plus, the irony of the whole thing is simply delightful!
11:37 PM on 08/29/2011
As much as I like the "Athiest" pic, I have to go with the first one: Slightly shocking, chock full of subtext and quite memorable.
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Rador
And so it goes.
07:26 PM on 08/27/2011
"(Reverse psychology might be best, as I'll almost certainly choose the one that most people hate. Ha Ha)."

In that case, both bring on such a state of boredom that I'm having myself checked for narcolepsy.
11:50 PM on 08/25/2011
I don't like the clown picture. I'm not offended, I just don't like it. It makes me feel icky. I do like the one with the mike stand and no shirt. who knew ricky gervais could look sexy?
04:25 PM on 08/23/2011
Both photos are boring and superficial. There's no point in evoking a strong reaction when you have nothing worthwhile to say. You should have a social conscience because you're a human. Being a comedian or an artist doesn't give you a free pass there.
05:28 PM on 08/22/2011
Ricky, I think that you should choose the second picture as it really reflects your comedy, you touch on things where other comedians dare go which isnt a bad thing. After life and God really gets people talking and debating about things which really is what make us human. I also love the caption "stand up for what you believe in"- clever.
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Mriana
Freethinking mother of two grown sons and two cats
01:36 PM on 08/22/2011
I like the second picture best. I see nothing wrong with it looking like an atheist is being crucified either. Not sure why others do and after all, isn't that what many Xians do when they find out that one is an atheist? I don't think it is amoral, but I do think it is artistic. I don't like the first one because it seems extremely gruesome and not at all what I would consider tasteful art. Seems to glorify suicide, IMO. Just my thoughts on the matter.
01:17 AM on 08/22/2011
#1 - creepy but effective.
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08:32 PM on 08/19/2011
Im gonna take a different tack here Gervaise, and ask this question: do you want people thinking about YOU when they take their program home, or see the poster, or do you want them thinking about Heath Ledger?

For me, its as simple as that....
:)
06:54 PM on 08/07/2011
First picture remembers me on the film "The dark knight" . I really was impressed by the thought that everybody is changeable.people are just caring about yourself and turning the loveliest catholic christ into a devil. (http://waschmaschine-test.org)
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gal416
is a Bible verse † † †
06:26 PM on 08/02/2011
I like the first one because I always liked the Smokey Robinson song Tears of a Clown.
da
da da da
da da da
da da
da
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gal416
is a Bible verse † † †
06:32 PM on 08/02/2011
That didn't post the way I wrote it. The da da da's were suposed to be the notes to the lead-in to the song.