Barry Blitt Defends His New Yorker Cover Art Of Obama

Barry Blitt is the artist behind this week's very controversial New Yorker cover of Barack and Michelle Obama. Via email, I asked him to respond to those who feel that his work was offensive, and to explain his own personal feelings about the Obamas. Here's what he wrote:

I think the idea that the Obamas are branded as unpatriotic [let alone as terrorists] in certain sectors is preposterous. It seemed to me that depicting the concept would show it as the fear-mongering ridiculousness that it is.

And in retrospect, given the outcry, is he glad he made the art?

"Retrospect? Outcry?" he wrote. "The magazine just came out ten minutes ago, at least give me a few days to decide whether to regret it or not..."

Rachel Sklar has much more.

Update: Three of Blitt's previous cover pieces are below. Note the Ahmadinejad bathroom shot, probably the most provocative recent New Yorker cover prior to the current one.

Comments

[exmun]

Why is everybody losing their damn minds over this election? The level of naked racism coming from so-called respectable journalists, pundits, politicians is mystifying. One has to wonder with all of the stories to make a mockery of WHY the New Yorker would choose to depict Barack Obama and HIS WIFE (who isn't running for anything) in such a racist manner. The level of sloppy and mean speech is deafening. And NO ONE is calling it out for what it is. NO ONE is saying making fun about John McCain's age, involvement in the S&L scandal, infidelity to his first wife to conveniently marry his rich wife, Cindy McCain's drug problem and stealing drugs from her charity). Why is it that McCain's issues are off limits but cheap innuendos about the Black candidate AND HIS WIFE is legitimate fodder for satire? It's because America STILL doesn't see Black people as a part. Black people are somehow less than human, so much so that they can so vilify Michelle Obama so publicly and no one says a damn thing about. Well, for one I'm saying the B.S. and the racist stuff has to stop now! I won't stand by and watch the New Yorker and others try to dehumanize Black people and get off with the excuse of satire. I'm going to call the New Yorker cover what it is... racist trash.

[HopeGirl]

Its not satire-its a political attack that we have not see the likes of ever.

It is blatant and Barry knows it.

I canceled by 10 year subscription. When I get my copy in the mail-it will be mailed back and I strongly urge everyone to do the same.

They will continue with this until we the people stand up and do something-anything. If you do not have a subscription to cancel, then you can buy copies at the newsstand and mail those back.

It is my great hope that we the people wake up and do something, other than type meaningless posts here on HuffPO.

[eden4barack08]

Me too, cancelled.

[Coronadoman]

You, ma'am, do not understand satire.

I direct your attention here: http://www.daumier.org/

Even this may not work, since you're clearly a repugnant lurker.

Begone! And darken our intellectually active doorsteps no longer!

[solarenergy]

In economizing recently, I cancelled my subscription to the New Yorker. I had originally subscribed to support Sey Hersh's work, but usually read little of the rest of the magazine...sorry, to boring, and now, shown to be quite elitist and out of touch.

Note that true progressive journals such as Harper's or the Nation would never have published such a stupid "joke."

[kassandrasduplex]

Harper's was co-opted about a year ago. I had subscribed to Harpers for some 12 years until I noticed a subtle editorial shift (not so subtle in some cases) after their great editor Lewis Lapham left. Now I look to Lapham's Quarterly for inspiration.
The rest of it has gone to trash. A good example is when so called "liberal" Mother Jones did a smear piece on Rachel Corrie, the 23 year old peace activist murdered by the Israeli Defense Forces when they rolled a bulldozer over her. That a publication such as Jones would do that said something really disturbing about the American media.

[kristin]

One commenter following an article in the Washington Post today about the New Yorker cover states in part: “ ‘Did you know that he's really a Muslim? His father was, therefore he is a Muslim for life!’ This hints that all Muslims are radicals who want to infiltrate and destroy America. Of course the facts are, Obama is a Christian and the overwhelming number of Muslims of this world are peacemakers, not wild-eyed mad bombers.”

For those who disingenuously ask again and again why reference to Barack Obama as a Muslim is offensive, scottshot explains very well why it is offensive in its implications and by extension, that explains why the New Yorker cover misses the mark.

[Einstein44]

At what point do we draw the line ? Do we stretch our imagination to ANYTHING goes,even if displays the most horrendous image....It is ONLY SATIRE...right ?! ..Where is the accountability and sensitivity ?
Is it creativity or madness ? There are individuals that think it's HILARIOUS and HARMLESS..Well, I beg to differ with their nonchalant attitudes..It is NOT FUNNY nor AMUSING...It's SICK!!!!!!

[Hollyse]

Fairytales and political satire are never intended to amuse children. Cartoons are skillfully drawn provoking interest, educating, and stirring emotions fitting the storyline of the times. Let's give a moment of silece if offense is made to anyone as personal emotions get in the way of introspection about the political satire itself. There should have been outrage at the Bush administration, a congress's allowances for Bush and Cheney remaining in the White House for a first term less alone a second. More is often said with politcal satire than the spoken word. Start thinking.....

[Sneakerface]

This satire deserves an award. At first I was taken aback, like most people were - especially that it is on the cover. But that is the point: to shock you in how over the top Obama has been portrayed. It is helping Obama immensely already, because even right wingers are now acknowledging how ridiculous their claims are.

[who38]

Please provide names.

[someguytwo]

http://urbangrounds.com/2008/02/24/barack-wearing-muslim-clothing/

People relax you are over reacting about this, this is free speech. you don't have to like it but at least respect it. a lot of posters here are such hypocrits that its kind of funny, by saying that George Bush should be dressed like that and Lord knows that I am not supporting Bush.

like one of the previous post said it would be Parody if it was Rush or Sean so its funny if its a right winger but not funny if its a liberal, be consistent in your beliefs.

[wbramh]

Among the 12% of Americans who STILL believe Barack Obama is a Muslim, I wonder how many of those same respondents believe the Holocaust never happened? Some polls have shown the number of Holocaust Denialists in this Country hovering around 25%! I'd be willing to bet that most of the 12% who believe Obama is a Muslim are also Holocaust Non-believers. Their thought processes are too similar.
The late Tim Russert told a very funny story about a woman he met in Iowa who complained to him about Obama's relationship with Reverend Wright and his Christian church. Then she added, "plus I won't vote for Obama because he's a Muslim." Russert tried to explain to her why her logic was comically flawed, but to no avail.
My guess is that the 12% of idiots that existed prior to the New Yorker cover hovered at the same 12% after the cover - and will still be 12% on Election Day no matter how often they hear otherwise.
Maybe we should be grateful it's only 12%. After all, even Bush hasn't dropped that low.

[Whatevah]

Never forget that 50 percent of the population is in the dumber half.

[CoulterIsASuccubus]

Just not funny. Really not funny.

[cutter]

Barry,
You illustrated false rumors being spread to hurt Obama and his wife before the election. The only thing worse then drawing this cartoon is now trying to defend it. (LOL-not)

[peter777]

The Editor and others at the New Yorker are too out of touch with the rest of the country and common folk to realize how devastating this cover is to Obama. It will be deliberately misused and spread on the Internet like the rest of the lies about him. It would be better for them to lampoon Hannity, Limbaugh, and the crowd that encourages the lies in subtle and not-so-subtle ways..

[wdw101]

but it is funny though

[greylox]

**No. It's not.

[lizr]

it might be funny if it werent so incredibly stupid and destructive.

Irresponsible is the word that comes to mind.

[Dramaticlookcat]

Look, I don't think it's fair to blame the artist. He does not have ultimate authority about what goes on the cover. The fault here is the Editor or Managing Editor. They were obviously trying to create buzz and they succeeded, but at what cost? I really don't think they wanted to offend Team Obama. All their subscribers are voting for Obama after all. I think it was just a huge mistake. I do think an apology is due to the Obamas, especially Michelle, however.

[strangelet]

What are you talking about -- "ultimate authority"?? He DREW the damn thing.

[wdw101]

yes he did.......darn good job he did! funny as hell it is.

[who38]

For a fee. So who is to blame, the godfather or the hit man?

[elgrande]

Good Point. These editorial cartoons can be a collaboration between the artist and the editor. Since the issue features an article on the topic of fear-mongering, most likely the editor asked the artist to depict his take on that theme. It's possible that Mr. Blitt drew the cartoon completely independent of other input, and it just happened to coincide with the coverage of the topic, so they used it, but I suspect he got a suggestion from the editor. It is absolutely the editors call to use the art.

[lesnouveauxpauvre]

Silly Americans! I am from Europe and I am a racist! A lot of people are and we are honest about it! And proud. We are proud to be white and privaledged. It is our heritage/culture. In italy for example, if you arent "Italian" you can never be a full citizen with full rights, same goes for Germany..etc...what do you think about that? I would dare you to go to those countries and call them racists, they would laugh in your face, then kick your ass! Americans are saps...you people are becoming weak....and if your argument is that your American experiment is the right best way, why is your country in such sharp decline? Multi-culturalism doesnt work. Since the USA initiated civil rights in the 60's, the country has been going downhill...It is self-destructive and doesnt promote social cohesion which is essential for a properly run state/society. In Europe we like order/stability, as a visitor, your country is very fractured, very unstable, you have so many problems, man, I feel sorry for you people....

[TRex86]

Good to hear from you H. Bormann. Sad what happened to Eichman isn't it.

[dhendrixe]

Ha! I too am a racist - a humanist who believes in my race Homo Sapien.
As an American living abroad, I do not like this sort of nationalistic pride. Indeed Europe is arguably handling many aspects of the 'modern' world better than most. But the time is coming when 'pure races' do not exist - and in the future humans will finally become what we are - one race. America is dealing, though quiet chaotically and incomplete, as a 'melting pot' ...which is the future of the entire world. And for all of Europe's great strengths (frequently ages ahead of America) this is a very serious flaw.

[dhendrixe]

However so many Americans are being too sensitive and blindly reacting to the cartoon. It is the dictated 'political correctness' - without much thought, too sensitive thought without heart and genuine concern. I wonder how many of the people reacting this way belong to the 'white' majority and are in fact isolated from other ethnicities. We have already seen this once - in the reactions to the comments on Wright. Lord knows, though perhaps a small minority take them seriously, black America commonly ponders similar 'conspiracy theories' - and for good reason. One only has to think about Tuskegee experiments to understand where this sort of thinking could come from. And in a time when 911 conspiracies are so common place! Civil rights has done so much - but it cannot stop.
Oh - and this cartoon is funny! This is the sort of comedy one might find on Jon Stewart's Daily Show. Intelligence and understanding....come on think!

[j0em0mma]

My favorite recent Cover (I think it is same artist) was the Eater Bunny in a business suit crucified on a tax form for their Easter time frame issue a few years back. That nothwinstanding,

When I first saw this Obama-related cover, I must admit I blanched. Pretty hard core. On further review... just seems too soon or something, I can't put my finger on it. I have to agree with some other commentators, it just didn't work, and left a pall... Seems like art by committee on this one, not inspiration.

[lizr]

think you are missing the point.

[eden4barack08]

" Seems like art by committee,..not inspiration." That's so bang on!

[flabingo]

I cancelled my subscription. You might let Conde Nast know. They own it. The editor should be fired. Sounds like what Judith Miller did to the Times and this country They fired Jimmy the Greek for a lot less.

[wdw101]

i think BO being lampooned by a liberal rag is funny as hell. Satire works both ways. It just came out about a month or 2 early.