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Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 5:42:13 AM   
FirmhandKY


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As a student of politics and especially of the means and methods of influencing political thought, I found this very interesting:

Photo

While I'm not sure about the "propriety" of it, I think the symbolism of it is extraordinary.

The question I have though ... what does it say to you?

Articles about the pic:

"Socialist Joker" Obama portrait goes viral

New Anti-Obama 'Joker' Poster

Firm

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 6:25:49 AM   
Sanity


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On the one hand, it's reprehensible for anyone to do something as low down, mean-spirited, racist and degrading as that. On the other hand, its the only proper thing to do.



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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 6:44:38 AM   
Sanity


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Coincidentally, those posters began showing up around downtown Boise at exactly 6:30 this morning... 




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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 6:47:34 AM   
TheHeretic


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How the hell is this supposed to be racist?  "The only thing missing is a noose???" That strikes me as very polarizing, and very dumb.  



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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 6:48:47 AM   
Lucylastic


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I feel the same way I felt about this one
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article1021201.ece

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 6:49:33 AM   
servantforuse


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I think it's kind of mean spirited and disrespectful. It does remind me of how those on the 'left' thought all of those photos comparing George Bush with an ape were so funny. What goes around, comes around. I think it's funny..

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 6:50:42 AM   
FirmhandKY


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity


Coincidentally, those posters began showing up around downtown Boise at exactly 6:30 this morning... 

And I'd guess ... that it was a total surprise to you, eh, Sanity?

Firm

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:04:31 AM   
Sanity


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The words "Our turn" come to mind, Firm. Turnabout is fair play, after all! 


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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:23:11 AM   
Mercnbeth


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It sucks!

It's a distraction from the issues. It will provide a backlash of sympathy for what has been, so far, an incompetent Administration.

However, I appreciate this is the constituency we have in the US. They want the 'buzz-word' sound-clip or video image and don't have the ability to remain focused on issues. Hell - they don't have the ability to understand the issues. So you end up with this stupid portrayal; similar to the Bush caricature, polarizing and unproductive.

If the poster indicates anything it's that not all 'youth' are Obamites. I don't think this image was conservative Republican generated - they're not that clever and I doubt they even get the 'Joker' reference. This had to come from the 'in' crowd. Were I in the Obama camp that's the only worry this poster would cause.

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:26:34 AM   
FirmhandKY


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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

How the hell is this supposed to be racist?  "The only thing missing is a noose???" That strikes me as very polarizing, and very dumb.  


When I first saw the poster, what immediately came to mind was "A Clockwork Orange":

Photo 1.

Photo 2.


When I went looking, I found that that was a pretty good first instinct:

Heath Ledger's Joker is No Joke!:

Ledger said that his Joker is intended to scare the audience and cited Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971) as an early influence on his performance. Ledger told MTV, “(The Joker) has zero empathy.”


I think the book "The Clockwork Orange"'s message is more on point as well:

Burgess wrote in introduction to the 1986 edition, titled A Clockwork Orange Resucked, that a creature who can only perform good or evil is "a clockwork orange — meaning that he has the appearance of an organism lovely with colour and juice, but is in fact only a clockwork toy to be wound up by God or the Devil; or the almighty state".


Some other points of view about the Stanley Kubrick movie:

From South Africa

A Clockwork Orange is quite simplistic in its message, namely that a man with no free will isn't really a man at all. As one character states: "The question is whether or not this technique really makes a man good. Goodness comes from within. Goodness is chosen. When a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man."



From a site on the Kubrick move:

Here's a nasty little future courtesy of Anthony Burgess (1917-1993) in his novel A Clockwork Orange. By the turn of the 21st century men are on living on the Moon, but life on Earth has descended to a choice between the Scylla of rampant street violence and the Charybdis of a nascent police state. Gangs of brutal young men rule the cities at night and roam the countryside in stolen cars to attack isolated homes in orgies of burglary and rape.

The government's remedy to this epidemic of crime is an experimental programme to "reform" young hooligans with a rather sledgehammer variety of aversion therapy that involves strapping the offender down and showing him films of sex and violence while drug injections cause him to be violently ill. Eventually, even the thought of committing a wrong act becomes so literally nauseating that the offender has to scotch the idea or face suffocation. As an unfortunate side effect, it also causes violent illness while listening to Beethoven, but you can't make an omelette, etc. etc.

...

... why having free will is so vitally important.



I think the "Socialist" part of the Obama poster is trying to get to the same thing.

Firm

edited: format

< Message edited by FirmhandKY -- 8/4/2009 7:51:46 AM >


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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:29:35 AM   
lronitulstahp


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quote:

How the hell is this supposed to be racist? 

It's not racist. The only person that said it was racist was saying so "tongue-in-cheek". It's hard to keep it all in perspective, is it not?  

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:31:30 AM   
kittinSol


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The president as 'The Joker': it's been done before  .

Nothing new here: please move along  .

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:37:01 AM   
FirmhandKY


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

It sucks!

It's a distraction from the issues. It will provide a backlash of sympathy for what has been, so far, an incompetent Administration.

However, I appreciate this is the constituency we have in the US. They want the 'buzz-word' sound-clip or video image and don't have the ability to remain focused on issues. Hell - they don't have the ability to understand the issues. So you end up with this stupid portrayal; similar to the Bush caricature, polarizing and unproductive.

If the poster indicates anything it's that not all 'youth' are Obamites. I don't think this image was conservative Republican generated - they're not that clever and I doubt they even get the 'Joker' reference. This had to come from the 'in' crowd. Were I in the Obama camp that's the only worry this poster would cause.

I agree that it is likely a youth thing.

I'm not sure I agree that the poster is a "stupid portrayal" in the realm of political battles. I think it is very effective and perhaps to be one of the most remembered in the history books.

"Remaining focused on the issues" is important, but I think this poster does exactly that, and in a manner that is almost instantly effective. Sure, it's an emotional statement, and "we" on the "right" tend to pride ourselves on logic and staying issue focused ... but we often forget the power of symbols.

This one is so ... "elegant" and impactful that I suspect that books will be written about it.

Think about how it takes one of the Obama's supporters own icons - and turns it on its head.

Think of how it makes a statement about the seen, and the unseen ... with only one word.

Think about how it passes by the entire debate of whether his policies are correct or not - it simply says that what he has said, and what he is doing are different. Sure, it leads you to a conclusion about whether or not Obama really has your interests, or other interests at heart - but, again such a powerful impact: what symbology!

Firm

< Message edited by FirmhandKY -- 8/4/2009 7:40:38 AM >


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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:41:09 AM   
FirmhandKY


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quote:

ORIGINAL: kittinSol

The president as 'The Joker': it's been done before  .

Nothing new here: please move along  .

Yeah ... but did it go viral?

Firm

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:42:43 AM   
Sanity


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Sometimes a distraction can be a welcome relief from an ongoing disaster. This is just a rotten tomato, Merc. Nothing more. Cast at a bad actor...

Your jaw is set a little tight. Loosen up a little, and have some fun before you die.


quote:

ORIGINAL: Mercnbeth

It sucks!

It's a distraction from the issues. It will provide a backlash of sympathy for what has been, so far, an incompetent Administration.

However, I appreciate this is the constituency we have in the US. They want the 'buzz-word' sound-clip or video image and don't have the ability to remain focused on issues. Hell - they don't have the ability to understand the issues. So you end up with this stupid portrayal; similar to the Bush caricature, polarizing and unproductive.

If the poster indicates anything it's that not all 'youth' are Obamites. I don't think this image was conservative Republican generated - they're not that clever and I doubt they even get the 'Joker' reference. This had to come from the 'in' crowd. Were I in the Obama camp that's the only worry this poster would cause.


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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:53:24 AM   
Mercnbeth


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quote:

This is just a rotten tomato, Merc. Nothing more.

No argument. However, I hate unproductive distractions and feel this poster is one of those. I'd rather keep the focus on the issues and not give any cause to generate politically correct sympathy.
quote:

have some fun before you die.

Sanity -
Debate and discussion is FUN! Commenting on political fanaticism provides nothing but fun.
Trust me - there is no lack of fun and frolic in my life. I hope you'll one day take me up on my standing invite to you to visit us and join in. The next party on Sept 12th may be a good opportunity!

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 7:56:14 AM   
FirmhandKY


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Here is a better photo, of the entire poster:

Poster

Firm

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 8:25:20 AM   
willbeurdaddy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic

How the hell is this supposed to be racist?  "The only thing missing is a noose???" That strikes me as very polarizing, and very dumb.  





I guess its the white face, though anyone who has a clue about the character knows he was always in white face even though he was white. It didnt even register as anything but "the joker makeup" with me until I had to read for the "only thing missing" reference.

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 8:35:08 AM   
servantforuse


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It kind of reminds me of Michael Jackson..

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RE: Obama as "The Joker" - 8/4/2009 8:37:46 AM   
willbeurdaddy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: FirmhandKY



When I first saw the poster, what immediately came to mind was "A Clockwork Orange":



Nahhh..Alex was simply violence run amok, nothing to do with Obama. However, a Two Face photoshop should be given some consideration. After all Harvey Dent/Two Face was a politician (I know Office of Redundancy Office)

http://media.photobucket.com/image/two%20face%20dark%20knight/benvolio_/dark-knight-two-face-art.jpg?o=5

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