Comments on: Barack Obama in the media http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:17:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: Ford MF http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43015 Ford MF Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:16:14 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43015 I'm not sure what there is to get, but as <a href="http://www.blognigger.com/2008/07/obama-blasts-controversial-new-yorker.html" rel="nofollow">Blognigger</a> rightfully points it, it's still pretty chickenshit. I’m not sure what there is to get, but as Blognigger rightfully points it, it’s still pretty chickenshit.

]]> By: John http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43014 John Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:41:40 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43014 The missing element in this cartoon, the element that would qualify it as actual (successful) satire, is the FOX News talking head holding up the cover and guffawing that it is "Dead-to-rights accurate." As is, the cover just repeats race-baiting right wing talking points, without directed irony. The exaggerated whimsy of the caricature suggests that the artist thought he/she was engaging in satire, but unfortunately the execution is blunt-edged and ham-handed. It doesn't convey what the artist probably thought he/she was conveying. Of course, that may have been the intent: to be provocative. There is another word that: pandering. The missing element in this cartoon, the element that would qualify it as actual (successful) satire, is the FOX News talking head holding up the cover and guffawing that it is “Dead-to-rights accurate.” As is, the cover just repeats race-baiting right wing talking points, without directed irony. The exaggerated whimsy of the caricature suggests that the artist thought he/she was engaging in satire, but unfortunately the execution is blunt-edged and ham-handed. It doesn’t convey what the artist probably thought he/she was conveying.

Of course, that may have been the intent: to be provocative. There is another word that: pandering.

]]> By: Harry Pujols http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43013 Harry Pujols Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:29:23 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43013 Like Obama is going to lose any votes over a cartoon. Chill out, America. Like Obama is going to lose any votes over a cartoon. Chill out, America.

]]> By: Xenos http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43012 Xenos Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:37:05 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43012 @ Simon Jones > Ha! Damn. After I got Spirit of Capitalism from you, by the same group, I was hoping that had potential. Meh. I can't blame you. I'd worry about even commenting on bits of it in my blog. Guess I'll have to stick to an import copy and maybe some translation somewhere or learn some Japanese finally. Well.. um.. 'hypothetically speaking'. ;) Though the images alone speak enough themselves. >:-) Mission accomplished. http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=026og7.jpg @ Simon Jones >
Ha! Damn. After I got Spirit of Capitalism from you, by the same group, I was hoping that had potential. Meh. I can’t blame you. I’d worry about even commenting on bits of it in my blog. Guess I’ll have to stick to an import copy and maybe some translation somewhere or learn some Japanese finally. Well.. um.. ‘hypothetically speaking’. ;) Though the images alone speak enough themselves. >:-)

Mission accomplished.
http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=026og7.jpg

]]> By: spike http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43011 spike Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:52:59 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43011 Eh, I think it's a wash. People have made up their minds about Obama; one cover won't change anyone into voting or not voting for him. And the New Yorker cover exhibits more irony than those Muhammad cartoons, at least. All I know is, having James Carville and Bill Bennett analyze the semiotics of the cover and debate aesthetics is always a bad idea. Eh, I think it’s a wash. People have made up their minds about Obama; one cover won’t change anyone into voting or not voting for him. And the New Yorker cover exhibits more irony than those Muhammad cartoons, at least.

All I know is, having James Carville and Bill Bennett analyze the semiotics of the cover and debate aesthetics is always a bad idea.

]]> By: Simon Jones http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43010 Simon Jones Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:40:10 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43010 Xenos--> No joke... fear of HLS is the *exact* reason we didn't license that book. Xenos–>
No joke… fear of HLS is the *exact* reason we didn’t license that book.

]]> By: Steve Taylor http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43009 Steve Taylor Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:39:41 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43009 The New Yorker cover is a perfect cartoon. Thoughtful and beautifully drawn. Great, nuanced, caricatures. Full of funny details. Barry Blitt should be very proud. He has struck a chord. I love this fucking country. The New Yorker cover is a perfect cartoon.
Thoughtful and beautifully drawn.
Great, nuanced, caricatures.
Full of funny details.
Barry Blitt should be very proud.
He has struck a chord.
I love this fucking country.

]]> By: Xenos http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43008 Xenos Tue, 15 Jul 2008 01:31:10 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43008 Wait.. wait.. How does anyone not get the parody and satire of the New Yorker cover? HOW?! Also, HA! Very cool to see US politicians in manga. Reminds me of that recent collection I saw on one site. http://shaenon.livejournal.com/68886.html Also.. will Homeland Security raid my house if I admit to having a certain.. adult manga where W and Saddam have.. um.. a fun fun party with a girl in the middle of.. um.. peace negotiations? Also the book starts out on in New York city.. on Sept 11.. 2001. Then it goes to the caves of Afganistan where.. Actually, maybe I've said too much already. Is that a knocking I hear at my door? Well I hear Gitmo is nice this time of year. Wait.. wait.. How does anyone not get the parody and satire of the New Yorker cover? HOW?!

Also, HA! Very cool to see US politicians in manga. Reminds me of that recent collection I saw on one site.
http://shaenon.livejournal.com/68886.html

Also.. will Homeland Security raid my house if I admit to having a certain.. adult manga where W and Saddam have.. um.. a fun fun party with a girl in the middle of.. um.. peace negotiations? Also the book starts out on in New York city.. on Sept 11.. 2001. Then it goes to the caves of Afganistan where.. Actually, maybe I’ve said too much already. Is that a knocking I hear at my door? Well I hear Gitmo is nice this time of year.

]]> By: Robert Morales http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43007 Robert Morales Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:27:11 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43007 Btw: Please ignore the "the" before the mention of Blitt - it's the hazard of not having a "preview" function here, I suppose ... Btw:

Please ignore the “the” before the mention of Blitt – it’s the hazard of not having a “preview” function here, I suppose …

]]> By: Robert Morales http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43006 Robert Morales Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:10:31 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43006 Satire isn't any more a luxury than its primary component, thought. It's never the last word on a subject - rather, it's a touchstone FOR conversation. In that respect, the New Yorker's Obamas cover is a resounding success. Whether hailed or decried, the cover brought into the light of day popular misconceptions about the Obamas that the news media has been too sheepish to fully examine, even while alluding to them since Super Tuesday. Another misconception is that anyone other than those "in-the-know" are the only people able to conduct a conversation about, or "get", a very easy cartoon that has been examined every-which-way on cable news today. The goal of the Blitt's cartoon isn't the knowing snigger of elitists, it's an opportunity to the benefit of the very people elitists think too dumb or unsophisticated to take in an alternate point of view. Who's "in-the-know", anyway? New Yorkers? Comics fans? Political junkies? Anti-elitists? The percentage of obstinate morons among them is likely no different than those among any other group or locality. And that someone DOESN'T "get" the gist of something immediately DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF DOING SO, after talking/thinking it over. Satire sometimes shocks, but it should ALWAYS marinate. And given time, it can isolate for us that moment when an issue became unavoidable. Satire isn’t any more a luxury than its primary component, thought. It’s never the last word on a subject – rather, it’s a touchstone FOR conversation. In that respect, the New Yorker’s Obamas cover is a resounding success. Whether hailed or decried, the cover brought into the light of day popular misconceptions about the Obamas that the news media has been too sheepish to fully examine, even while alluding to them since Super Tuesday.

Another misconception is that anyone other than those “in-the-know” are the only people able to conduct a conversation about, or “get”, a very easy cartoon that has been examined every-which-way on cable news today. The goal of the Blitt’s cartoon isn’t the knowing snigger of elitists, it’s an opportunity to the benefit of the very people elitists think too dumb or unsophisticated to take in an alternate point of view. Who’s “in-the-know”, anyway? New Yorkers? Comics fans? Political junkies? Anti-elitists? The percentage of obstinate morons among them is likely no different than those among any other group or locality. And that someone DOESN’T “get” the gist of something immediately DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE INCAPABLE OF DOING SO, after talking/thinking it over.

Satire sometimes shocks, but it should ALWAYS marinate. And given time, it can isolate for us that moment when an issue became unavoidable.

]]> By: Simon Jones http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43005 Simon Jones Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:04:44 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43005 If only that cover had a winking emoticon... If only that cover had a winking emoticon…

]]> By: Jimmie Robinson http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43004 Jimmie Robinson Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:15:15 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43004 The New Yorker is preaching to their secret handshake choir, and that's fine. If they wanted to communicate to the layman on the street I'm sure they would've dumbed it down. Still, whether it's good or bad satire, the fact remains it is a lampoon, thus that should be the end of the story because beyond that this just becomes individual subjective taste. And if the media wants to hold that up for controversy then they better get in line. The New Yorker is preaching to their secret handshake choir, and that’s fine. If they wanted to communicate to the layman on the street I’m sure they would’ve dumbed it down.

Still, whether it’s good or bad satire, the fact remains it is a lampoon, thus that should be the end of the story because beyond that this just becomes individual subjective taste. And if the media wants to hold that up for controversy then they better get in line.

]]> By: Mark Coale http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43003 Mark Coale Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:47:48 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43003 I expect the cover to be popular with the anti-Obama factions out there. They don't care about irony or satire. They've been given a cover to put on posters to wave around and confuse all the voters out there who don't know any better. I expect the cover to be popular with the anti-Obama factions out there.

They don’t care about irony or satire.

They’ve been given a cover to put on posters to wave around and confuse all the voters out there who don’t know any better.

]]> By: Mariah http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43002 Mariah Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:34:45 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43002 I think the problem here is that saying something is satire and then having to explain why indicates that it's not the most successful satire. I think it's more obvious to people who understand political cartoons, the tone of the New Yorker, and have an understanding of the tactical hysterias in politics...which is all fine. And I'm certainly not saying they shouldn't have used it or that there's no place for satire in today's political arena. However, I do think more thoughtful satire...or a more thoughtful approach to this particular issue would have been more effective. Sure, I know it's ludicrous that they've both been portrayed this way by the media and by opponents...but I'm not convinced the cartoon itself is an effective critique of those tactics. If the intent was to criticize those who paint the Obama's as radicals it's only half effective, and only if you already think that's absurd. Mostly because it looks like a critique of them, not their detractors. The imagery doesn't necessarily convey that this is a criticism of those who believe these things...or that those things are absurd. Just because it's cartoony and caricature doesn't automatically make it obvious. Since art is open to interpretation, you have to look at the intent and the execution. And in political cartooning you're usually trying to convey a particular message, in this case a satirical one, that's fairly specific. In which case, because this really can be read in more than one way (one of which being the complete opposite of the intent) then it's not an entirely successful piece. So it's not just a matter of who "gets it" and who doesn't. I get it, and I still think it's problematic because the execution is flawed. So, while many people may be able to pat themselves on the backs for "getting" the joke...I'm not sure what the gain is. I think the problem here is that saying something is satire and then having to explain why indicates that it’s not the most successful satire. I think it’s more obvious to people who understand political cartoons, the tone of the New Yorker, and have an understanding of the tactical hysterias in politics…which is all fine. And I’m certainly not saying they shouldn’t have used it or that there’s no place for satire in today’s political arena.

However, I do think more thoughtful satire…or a more thoughtful approach to this particular issue would have been more effective. Sure, I know it’s ludicrous that they’ve both been portrayed this way by the media and by opponents…but I’m not convinced the cartoon itself is an effective critique of those tactics. If the intent was to criticize those who paint the Obama’s as radicals it’s only half effective, and only if you already think that’s absurd. Mostly because it looks like a critique of them, not their detractors. The imagery doesn’t necessarily convey that this is a criticism of those who believe these things…or that those things are absurd. Just because it’s cartoony and caricature doesn’t automatically make it obvious.

Since art is open to interpretation, you have to look at the intent and the execution. And in political cartooning you’re usually trying to convey a particular message, in this case a satirical one, that’s fairly specific. In which case, because this really can be read in more than one way (one of which being the complete opposite of the intent) then it’s not an entirely successful piece. So it’s not just a matter of who “gets it” and who doesn’t. I get it, and I still think it’s problematic because the execution is flawed.

So, while many people may be able to pat themselves on the backs for “getting” the joke…I’m not sure what the gain is.

]]> By: michael http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43001 michael Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:31:07 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2008/07/14/barack-obama-in-the-media/#comment-43001 Personally, I don't really care about that stuff. Just whoever gets voted in, actually does a good job is all I care about. Personally, I don’t really care about that stuff. Just whoever gets voted in, actually does a good job is all I care about.

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