The Merry Prankster
by Jenny Revitz Soper
Title
The Merry Prankster
Artist
Jenny Revitz Soper
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
This two-story mural on the east stucco wall of the Odd Fellows Building in Springfield Oregon commemorates Ken Kesey (1935 –2001), novelist, short story writer, essayist, poet and hometown boy.
Kesey wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, inspired while he worked the night shift at the Menlo Park Veterans' Hospital. He spent time talking to the patients, often while he was under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs as a volunteer in a CIA-financed study under the aegis of Project MKULTRA, a highly secret military program. Kesey believed that, rather than being insane, society marginalized these patients because their actions and behavior did not fit with the conventional ideas of the day. Published in 1962, the novel was an immediate success; in 1963, it was adapted into a successful stage play, and in 1975, a screen adaptation, which won five Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Best Actress (Louise Fletcher), Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Kesey left the filming two weeks into production. He claimed never to have seen the movie because of a dispute over the $20,000 he was initially paid for the film rights. Kesey loathed the fact that, unlike the book, the film was not narrated by the Chief Bromden character, and he disagreed with Jack Nicholson being cast as Randle McMurphy (he wanted Gene Hackman). Despite this, his wife Faye stated that her husband was generally supportive of the film and pleased that it was made.
This photograph won THIRD Place in the Candid Street Photography Group Photographer of the Year 2018 Contest Round 4.
Featured on the homepage of the following FAA Artist Groups:
Images That Excite You 11/02/2017
Self-promotion Skills For Artists 2/11/2018
The Best Photo Album 2/13/2018
Camera Art 9/28/2018
No Place Like Home - 5/2020
1000 Views on one Image - 5/2021
Roadside - 10/2021
The Artists Group - 11/2021
Uploaded
November 2nd, 2017
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Viewed 1,625 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/29/2024 at 5:12 AM
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Comments (55)
Christopher James
One of your peers nominated this image in the 1000 views Groups nominated images by your fellow artist in the Special Features #17 promotion discussion. Please visit and pass on the love to another artist.....L/F/Tw
Diana Mary Sharpton
This is an excellent capture in lighting and composition Jenny. Nominated for special feature in the 1000 view group T/F
Christopher James
Congratulation.....your wonderful work has been featured in the 1000 Views on 1 Image Group l/f/p