OK, I’m sick of it too. Obamagraphics fever just won’t die! But Shepard Fairey’s appearance on The Colbert Report may be the shark-jumping moment we’ve hoped for. I thought the interview was pretty dull, perhaps because Colbert seems to be a real fan of Fairey’s work. If you, on the other hand, are just plain tired of the guy, maybe you should take another look at this classic unhinged diatribe about how Fairey is a “second-rate, infantile plagiarist.” Let it all out!
Returning to Colbert, I was far more interested in this segment on Obama Collectibles. Stephen’s guest “P.K. Winsome” presents a range of historic products, including a commemorative energy drink, the Yes We Can of Energy Drink. I think I saw that in my local Rite-Aid!
I second RL. Shark jumped. But I have a feeling this not the last of Printeresting’s Obamagraphic posts.
hmm… if Vallen’s article weren’t backed up by image comparisons, and research by others in addition to himself, I would say it was an unhinged diatribe… but as it is? Some slightly inflammatory language aside, it seems like a pretty clearly argued and demonstrated case-and-point.
This is a really interesting Washington Post article analyzing the image…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/12/AR2009011203422.html?sub=AR
via notcot
Jean C.! I called it a “classic” unhinged diatribe!! What else do you want?!
I don’t use the word “classic” lightly, unless I’m talkin’ about Coca-Cola Classic. MMM… Classic!
Was thinking about this today so here’s a more thorough response to Jean’s comment.
Listen, despite our constant blog posts about this Obama poster, I don’t have much respect for Fairey’s work either. And I agree that the ubiquity of his work is disproportionate to its quality. But my initial reaction to Vallen’s essay has not changed since it first made the rounds last year: it is well-researched, but not sophisticated. With some context that demonstrates a more nuanced understanding of appropriation, he could have made a far more compelling case that Fairey is intellectually lazy.
This guy makes a more concise case that Fairey is just plain ol’ lazy. His close up of the carelessly rendered mouth makes his point in a single image, which is worth a thousand words.