07/25/2008
Obama and McCain Campaign Posters Under the Influence
Meaningful Distractions notes (via jockohomo) that the poster the Obama campaign used to publicize his speech yesterday in Berlin pays tribute to the German Bauhaus movement:
"Predictably, once the flyers came out looking 'different' from what we’re used to seeing, the Republicans started to throw around their new favorite attack word for Obama: 'arrogant.' They love using it — these days Obama can’t brush his teeth in the morning without the Republicans telling us how the flavor of toothpaste he uses somehow reveals how 'breathtakingly arrogant' he is....But here’s what the Republicans and even some moderate voices are missing: this campaign poster isn’t evidence of a 'messiah' complex; it pays homage to a pivotal era in graphic design history: the German Bauhaus movement during the early 20th century (see above right for example)."
Of course, as I noted yesterday, John McCain uses a similar tactic. He just pays tribute to Michael Bay war movies.
Now who was that with the Messiah complex???
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 9:40 AM EST by Andy in Advertising, Art & Design, Barack Obama, Election 2008, John McCain, News | Permalink
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..."it pays homage to a pivotal era in graphic design history: the German Bauhaus movement during the early 20th century (see above right for example)."
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Posted by: Jason | Jul 25, 2008 10:00:48 AM
That McCain poster comes from a poster contest that the campaign is hosting. It was not created by the McCain campaign. There are ten of them, most of them borrowing the same futurist/fascist style used by the Obama campaign (and number 9 steals the Obama logo outright).
All ten posters can be viewed and voted on at the McCain website.
Posted by: Arem M. | Jul 25, 2008 10:20:08 AM
Michael Bay, ha ha ha, so funny.
Posted by: Jocko | Jul 25, 2008 10:32:08 AM
Here's the link to the poster contest: http://www.johnmccain.com/involving/petition4.aspx?guid=7812710a-aeca-4573-adf9-92c5a6c5f4e7. I think number 9 is the best, except for the fugly font.
Posted by: Adam | Jul 25, 2008 11:16:10 AM
I'm sorry, but the poster is cultish, as are many of the Obama graphics. As far as historical reference goes, the most interesting reference in my book is that the roots of the Obama campaign's visual look & feel is very heroic Soviet propaganda poster style. It all feels a little icky, the cult of personality around the guy (Who I will vote for, BTW)
Posted by: propobamaganda | Jul 25, 2008 12:47:54 PM
Poster designs may look "cultish" but that's what Americans get for focussing their politics so much on personality.
As far as the Obama campaign's other graphics go, they've made consistent use of the great Gotham typeface designed by Hoefler & Frere-Jones based on vernacular American signage:
http://www.typography.com/fonts/font_overview.php?productLineID=100008
Posted by: John C | Jul 25, 2008 1:23:07 PM
I am a "fan" of socialist/fascist" art/graphics. I like the clean lines and bold graphics. Having said that, Not a good move by his staff. The style is ONLY associated with socialism/communism/nazism/fascism. All the wrong isms.
I can't believe no one got this before they were approved. All the repubs need to do now is morph him with Lenin. It's really "cult of personality".
Posted by: thevegasstyleguy | Jul 25, 2008 3:04:48 PM
thevegasguy and others
Softer posters would have heard people screaching that obama is soft. Posters too austere/ hard and they are screeching about that
No posters and people would have screached that he hated america, american political tradition vis a vi posters, etc
If he smiles he is arrogant for smiling
If he doesn't smile he is arrogant for not smiling
etc
etc
ad infinitim
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Jul 25, 2008 3:37:40 PM
More evidence of the damage that has been done by years of cuts in funding for arts education. Americans really are devolving culturally.
Posted by: DwH | Jul 25, 2008 4:28:26 PM
I'm really happy that Obama is having this tour to cities outside of the United States, still, I do not understand why is Mexico not part of the schedule, or why is the campaign not more directed towards Latin America. We share the same continent, perhaps some attention would be healthy for the tense situation.
Posted by: Andrés | Jul 25, 2008 4:47:19 PM