As controversy goes, this story is going to be right up there! My personal initial reaction to this application of 3D printing was a simultaneous combination of polar opposites — I was both impressed and appalled. Not even sure how that’s possible, but it’s the best way I can find to describe it. However, I warn you now, if you are easily offended, probably best to move onto another 3D printing story.
The controversy is multi-faceted, we’re talking politics and taste or a lack thereof. In a democratic society, I fully embrace that each individual is wholly entitled to their own political views, and expression of them. After all, that’s the underlying premise of democracy. However, for democracies in the West, apathy is a big problem among many voters these days, where disillusionment with our political systems is widespread and upsetting the status quo is not even close to being a priority — although we do have a tendency to moan among ourselves quite a lot. Look East and the opposite is true with strongly held convictions spilling over into the streets with protestations, revolutions and the resulting upheaval and sometimes bloodshed and loss of life.
It’s not my place to comment on global politics here, but for Mstyle183, as he/she is known on Shapeways, who also goes by the alias of “Political Sculptor”, 3D printing is proving to be an excellent medium to convey their political views. And this person is not holding back. The latest project unveiled on the Political Sculptor website is, wait for it, a “3D Printed Putin Butt Plug.”
The Political Sculptor relays how this piece was originally conceived “in response [to] Russia’s Anti-gay laws” highlighted in the run up to the Winter Olympics in Sochi recently. However, he/she goes on to expand that this 3D printed model and what it stands for is also fitting considering the more recent developments in Russia and the Ukraine and the increasing tensions over the Crimea peninsula. Or, as Politcal Sculptor sees it, Putin “invading Ukraine and putting the world at the verge of WW3.”
It’s a rather strong 3D printed statement, inflammatory maybe, but it has got people talking a lot on reddit.
I just can’t decide whether I think that is a good thing or not!
