THE REAL-LIFE VERSION OF THE DICTATORWhat happened a couple of years ago at the Tohopekaliga Tiger Invitational in Kissimmee, Florida, seems like something straight out of a Sacha Baron Cohen comedy. During a high school race, one competitor decided that rules didn’t apply to him and, instead of overtaking his rival with effort, opted for the quick route: a surprise punch.
Apparently, this runner wasn’t even officially part of the race, but he decided it was the perfect time to recreate that epic scene from "The Dictator," where the protagonist, gun in hand, ensures there’s no competition left on the track.
# Watch video
Happy Birthday.
PAUL PFEIFFER. CARYATIDPaul Pfeiffer is a contemporary American artist, born in 1966, known for his innovative work in video, photography, and sculpture. His art often explores popular culture and media, manipulating images to question how we perceive and consume visual content in today’s society.
In his Caryatid series, Pfeiffer uses footage from sporting events to delve into themes of vulnerability and societal pressure on athletes. In the pieces focused on boxing, Pfeiffer digitally removes the opponent, leaving the boxer alone in the ring.
The absence of the adversary creates the illusion that the boxer is being hit by an invisible force, highlighting the loneliness and symbolic weight these athletes bear, both physically and emotionally. This approach encourages reflection on how athletes, much like caryatids in classical architecture, bear the weight of society’s expectations and projections.
Through these manipulations, Pfeiffer transforms fight scenes into visual meditations on human fragility and media pressure, reinterpreting the sports spectacle as a symbolically charged act.
# View photos and videos
Somersault.