In 2000, a California artist named Joe Morford created a piece called “Banana and Orange,” featuring synthetic pieces of the titular fruits duct-taped to bright green paper. He posted it to his Website, Facebook, and YouTube accounts and—here’s the kicker—sought, and received, a formal copyright from the US Copyright Office for “Banana and Orange.” So far, so good, nothing to see here—right?

Well…not so fast.

Fast forward to 2019, when Italian artist Mauricio Catellan presented his notorious piece, “Comedian,” consisting of a single REAL (that is to say, completely edible) banana duct-taped to a wall. “Comedian” caused a huge stir in the art world and beyond, becoming one of the most memed and lampooned pieces of modern art in history.  This seemingly farcical gambit paid off for Catellan three times, to the tune of roughly $390,000!

When Morford learned about “Comedian,” he was none too pleased, if his Facebook status from the time he first heard of it is any indicator. On Sunday, December 15th, 2019, he posted:

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It’s the most popular Christmas song of all time, certified Diamond by the Record Industry Association of America with over 10 million copies sold—the only Christmas tune ever to achieve that milestone. It might be the most danceable, poppy, upbeat song ever to convey the message that a loved one is missed and wanted at home for Christmas. And it’s been a perennial favorite on the pop charts and “Best Of” holiday playlists since it debuted in 1994, becoming nearly as ubiquitous as the Grinch and Jolly Old Saint Nick himself and earning an annual estimated $3.9 million in personal royalties for the artist who recorded it.

I’m talking, of course, about Mariah Carey’s smash hit, “All I Want for Christmas is You.”

But all is not well in Whoville…
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There was once a man who was trying to make a movie. He worked grueling hours at menial jobs, lived in a cold-water apartment, and still couldn’t get his passion project off the ground. At one point, he was so destitute that he had to sell his beloved dog for $25 to eat. But fortune is fickle, and that man ended up becoming one of the most renowned names in modern cinema: Sylvester Stallone! (Spoiler: Yes, he got the dog back, and you can see him in the original Rocky.) This is one of my favorite celebrity success stories and a big reason why Sly remains one of my favorite actors and personal heroes.

Sadly, stories of so-called “starving artists” are commonplace.
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