Look Into My Eyes, What Do You See?

by Will Wilkinson on November 6, 2008

Virginia Postrel was right. Now that Obama’s actually going to be the President, this stuff is totally creepy, and I’m against it!

And I bet Shepard Fairey’s not even getting a dime from Raytheon.

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mk 7 months ago 1 point
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His face is relevant because he's a black president. It's good you and others are warning against cultishness, but I suspect Americans will continue the romance for a good while longer, for the same reason you sanctioned the one night of romance. The symbolism, and what it says about the entire history of America, is too long coming, too historically weighty. Americans are using this symbolism as a lever to change their view of their own country. I think it may be the right thing to do. We have to weigh your valid concerns about cultishness and even fascism, against people's centuries of despair of ever achieving racial reconciliation. Of course Barack is not our only hope for this, not even close. But as we both agree, the symbolism is important, and effectual.

Of course progressives will also try to exploit the symbolism to achieve particular progressive policy goals. We are on risky ground as a nation here. And I think the poster looks ridiculous. But my sense is that Americans are too ironic to let this phenomenon swallow up our rationality.

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Paul Opinion 7 months ago 1 point
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Because we are what we are as a Republic, this image will be revered by many and ridiculed by many others. I am sure that there will be 'modifications' released all over the internet lampooning the creepiness of it all. The unwholesome adulation will not go without it's equally unwholesome comedic response.

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Cool Cal 7 months ago 1 point
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My proposal to counter this ridiculousness:

Someone make the same exact poster. Same colors, layout, etc. Only in place of Obama, a shining bottle of BEER. And below the proud, gleaming longneck, in place of the all too familiar "HOPE" ... "HOPS".

We gradually start replacing the Obama posters with our own proclamations of cold, foamy, shit-faced, apolitical good-timery.

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mk 7 months ago 1 point
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Excellent.

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Jason 7 months ago 1 point
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Word. Alas, I'm not all that great with Photoshop. Any takers here? This just begs for parody.

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http://kraorh.livejournal.com/

Paul Opinion 7 months ago 1 point
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I rest my case (of beer?)

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Michael Drake 7 months ago 1 point
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At the very least, the wine needs to be bottled for awhile.

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2 /people/strangedoctrines/ /people/strangedoctrines/following/ http://www.strangedoctrines.com

jdar5039 7 months ago 1 point
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It's possible that this poster is ironic. The OBEY logo at bottom left suggests that to me.

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Will Wilkinson 7 months ago 1 point
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Well, that would make it doubleironic, since the OBEY line was ironic propaganda to start with but has become what it was satirizing. If it turns out Fairey is actually punking everyone to make a point about the credulity and manipulability of the masses, I will bow before him. But he has been reeking of pathetic sincerity.

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6 /people/willwilkinson/ /people/willwilkinson/following/ http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle 851540116 in/wjkwilkinson willwilkinson willwilkinson

alexi de sadesky 7 months ago 1 point
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I think you're correct here. Fairey sold out long ago and this reeks of sincerity. I much prefer banksy and espo in all things graffiti.

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webgrrl 7 months ago 1 point
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I guess as a graphic design issue, it's just not quite as cool as the old Soviet ones - this is just a tad busy.

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Shai 7 months ago 1 point
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Let folks enjoy the moment. We should celebrate but not blindly follow once the new administration is in full swing.

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jaltcoh.blogspot.com 7 months ago 1 point
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I like it.

But oh, no, those young people getting exciting about being involving in politics -- horrors!

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http://jaltcoh.blogspot.com

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