Reading The Pictures: Bitter Has Its Own Poster

#1

#2

#1: Shepard Fairey's original Obama poster. #2: The reformulated version on wingnut Michelle Malkin's blog, riffing on the Clinton attack.

Writes Al Shaw, with a take on the graphic design:

Its meticulously-spaced three lines of copy are a direct hit at Obama's signature both in terms of copywriting style ("CHANGE / We can believe in") and his extensive use of the Gotham typeface. On the surface, the parody works--Obama looks arrogant with an upturned chin, and the O in "SNOB" mimics his recurring logo, reiterated over and over with his message of HOPE.

On a deeper level, however, this spoof falls apart because everything it references contradicts what it tries to convey. Shepard Fairey's art is as anti-elitist as it gets. Check out some of the sightings of the poster for an example of what I'm talking about. The typography also reiterates populism. As H&FJ (the creators of Gotham) recount, the font actually originated out of New York's "vernacular lettering" and signage-- liquor store neon signs, hand painted truck lettering, the sign at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, etc. (not exactly bastions of elitism). It was designed to be quintessentially American--lettering from before the era of "graphic design." Considering the Malkin spoof, the letterforms contradict what the words have to say.

Writes Michael Shaw, with a take on the political design:

1. Upturned chin, check.

2. With a preacher-like feel, I'm wondering if there isn't a racial element here, too. Echoes of Reverend Wright?

3. Sorry, but with the hair missing, and the loss of the red to frame the blue facial shading, I get a little skittish seeing Obama's head cocked back and his eyes closed, that dark blue simultaneously wound around his neck and forming a great gaping gap. And what about that red now?

Photoshop of the week: Typical liberal snob (Michelle Malkin)

For more of the visual, visit BAGnewsNotes.com.

(illustration 1: Shepard Fairey via obeygiant.com. illustration 2: Tennyson via michellemalkin.com)

Follow Michael Shaw on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bagnewsnotes

Comments

[Allen66]

obama is a phony, I just plain think he is an idiot.

He is DIVIDING our country with his Rev. Wright association, with his Farrakahn associations, with his closed door comments to big money donors- talking about middle class people like we are so desperately clinging to our guns until we can find an elitist to save us from such doom. To be quite honest, he is dividing this country in so many ways - I do NOT think he is the kind of change we need. In stead of his boring "hope" speech zeroxed from REAL hero's - it should be more like "doom" because thats all he talks about. Just look at his church.

[Tane]

I think that his posture belies the lesson that we all teach our children... when facing tough times or when defending oneself - "keep your chin up," "keep your head up" and "hold your head up high."

Obama is not patronizing - he is keeping his head up in a cesspool of political silly season attacks. He has every right to maintain dignity and pride while rising above the political games that have held this country in gridlock for 20 years.

When trying to decide who to vote for consider who has worked their entire adult life for the poor, the disenfranchised, and union laborers. It is time for this country to demonstrate justice and fairness.

[lowry99]

I like the Obama-as-F­ascist-lea­der poster that says

HYPE

[SayonaraSnot]

Also:

"It's an elitist thing - You wouldn't understand" is taken from "It's a black thing, you wouldn't understand".

Interesting

[jazzman]

America hates elites and that is why we have gone:

From William F. Buckley to Bill O'Reilly
From Edward R. Murrow to Katie Couric
From Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush

Without elites we now get:

better thinking - O'Reilly
better reporting - Couric
better leadership - George W. Bush

Let's keep getting rid of those elites. We're doing so much better without them.

[TMAN]

Thanks for the chuckle.

[madvetenskapsman]

I congratulate the person who made this poster (though I completely disagree)... it's the one of the few creative things that have come out of Clinton supporters!

For example, on the Obama side we have seen the two Will.i.am videos, Obama girl, the original HOPE and CHANGE posters after which this one is modeled, several dozen other pro-obama music videos, and other supporter-created videos on YouTube (of which Obama has about 3x as many). Not to mention the community service projects started in his name (ObamaWorks, etc).

On the Hillary side we have that extremely disturbing Jack Nicholson video.

[ann1]

It

[magnitude]

Hillary calls senator Obama an elitist? According to the Huff Post, in 1995 she said " screw em" to the the working class whites who apparently did not support the Clintons. That makes her what?

[SouthCentralDel]

A Big Fat Lie.

[SethBLiNK]

I love Obama.

I like Shep Fairey.

I totally disagree with the point of view of this spoof.

But I have to admit that it's pretty good parody.

Of course none of this matters because the only people debating this are elitists. The people who the statement was about either agree with it or disagree with it, but all the rightous indignation is coming from elitists telling other elitists what they think "regular" folks think of Obama.

[Smunker]

Two things:

1/ The original Shephard Fairey Obama poster had the word 'Progress' written on it, not 'Hope'.

2/ Many Obama posters have been produced so far this primary season. Check out:

http://www.expressobeans.com/public/search.php?text=obama&class=0

In contrast, I've only seen two Clinton posters:

http://www.expressobeans.com/public/detail.php/74331

http://www.expressobeans.com/public/detail.php/74403

and no McCain pictures.

Oh, and if Fairey's take on Obama is not to your liking, check out his one of George W:

http://www.expressobeans.com/public/detail.php/12209

[Jane22]

I saw the Obama DOPE poster. Some of these creators are incredibly cruel. This political year is becoming more and more divisive. Michelle Malkin? YUK!

[Sioen]

Shepard Fairey has released four Obama posters.

A "Progress" print on Jan. 30
a "Hope" print on Feb. 24
a "Change" print on Mar. 12
and a small verson of "Progress" on April 2

They're all originals.

[thatvisionthing]

And #3: http://www.whathillarydid.com/images/Hillary-OBEY.jpg

[lowry99]

It is funny how many Obamatons love that original Fairey poster with its fascist iconography. It reminds me of the posters they used for Saturninus's (Alan Cumming) character in Julie Taymor's "Titus."

Considering the demagoguery I think they couldn't have chosen better.

OBEY y'all!

[Sioen]

Yeah, but it's actually deconstructing fascist images and agitprop because, in this case, the people are in control. That's the entire point -- but thanks for playing anyway.

[lowry99]

Yes, I'm aware of the mindset, it's like idiots trying to reclaim the swastika or feminists trying to reclaim McCain's favorite term of endearment for his wife.

You think the government in Nazi Germany put up all the posters by themselves? Propaganda has always had a base in populism. The guy has de-ironized his own formation-­reaction..­.which is to say in an enjoyable twisty way that he has created a straight-up propaganda poster and you've convinced yourselves that's not what it is.

[Star123]

He does look down his nose--in more ways than one. Get it?

[GeoNorth]

If the elite are the best of the best, what would we term Michelle Malkin? This twerp is such a knee-jerk neo-con reactionary, that there really isn't a word to describe her. She, like so many of her ilk, shoot from the hip. Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Hannity, Savage, etc, all shot from the hip, Unfortunately, when they do, it comes out their ass!

[AliHajiSheik]

Michelle Malkin and Hillary Clinton are birds of a feather.