As some of you might know, I've got a bit of artistic streak. I like doing design work and of course am always looking to trade my skills for weapons or cash. I've always loved looking at others' artworks and designs but lately, I've become dismayed.
Just read an article by Doug Tennapel (LOVE his books!) about how Republican is the New Punk. I disagree that Republicanism is the new punk insofar as I have little faith in the GOP to further the cause of freedom. I'd say that being Freedom Oriented is punk, not the GOP.
However, that little quibble aside, what Doug says is so true
The arts have failed. They no longer keep mass culture in check with thought-provoking art that challenges the establishment. Now they’re in charge of spreading the mainstream mandate of the Liberal Vatican. There isn’t an original thought among them, just a thousand-mile stare, a blue logo and the drone-like vocabulary of emotive, vaguely inspiring chants.
I bring this up because I was looking through some of my design feeds today, and without fail they all have at least one article on how to do 'artistic posters' that involve... you guessed it! OBMAMAMA!
And that's just today. There have been countless articles on how much better designed the new Whitehouse.gov site is. Gushing over the layout of HopeNChange.org or whatever it was. Reams of pixels spilled over every last Obama themed poster and design.
It's as if the artists of the world have suddenly grabbed their canvases and marched in lockstep with their designs.
Don't get me wrong - Obama's logo was brilliant. Instantly recognizable from a mile away. It was clean and able to be integrated into any phrase that had an O in it. Hell, Pepsi decided to integrate it into their logo as far as I can tell. The design in and of itself was effective.
But there's too many artists out there who take a picture and slap in the logo, call it 'art' then call it a day. Instead of attempting to get people to think with their work, they're trying to prevent any thought.
For God's sake, these people copied Communist propaganda posters without any trace of irony.
The cult of Obama scares me.