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Self-Satisfied New Yorker Cover Fails
By Tommy ChristopherJul 15th 2008 9:29AM
Filed Under:eDemocrats, Republicans, Barack Obama, John McCain, Media
David Knowles reported yesterday that the Obama campaign was not amused by The New Yorker's satirical cover, saying: The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree.The McCain campaign agreed, and the cover has stirred enourmous controversy, plus an "answer cartoon" from cartoonist David Horsey, depicting John McCain as a demented, constitution-hating oldster with a pill-popping wife.
There seem to be two camps here: Those who think that the cover is offensive, and those who think it is a bold, clever indictment of Obamaphobia, and that the other camp are a bunch of humorless whiners who didn't get the joke. Case in point, The LA Times' James Rainey:
It seemed fairly obvious to me, my 8-year-old and, likely, the majority of readers of one of America's finest magazines that the cover drawing by Barry Blitt was a parody. In other words (for those still struggling with the concept), the joke was not on the Obamas but on the knuckle-walkers who would do them harm by trying to turn a couple of fresh-scrubbed Harvard Law grads into something foreign and scary.That reminds me of a third camp: Those who think it is a brilliant satire of the Obamas. All three have a point, but camp #3 is closest to the mark.
Let me first say that I defend, 100%, The New Yorker's right to run the illustration, and my right to hate it. In their
defense, The New Yorker knows its audience, and had no reason to think they would interpret the cover in any other way. Unfortunately, that's also the problem. They can play the wide-eyed cherub at this publicity maelstrom, but they certainly had to know this cover would stir controversy, and that it would reach a much wider audience than their own. And that, I believe, was the point. The "cool kids" who read The New Yorker would all chuckle into their giant mugs of chai, while the rest of us "knuckle-walkers" twisted ourselves in knots, alternately denouncing the cover, or emailing it to 15 of our friends with the subject line, "I knew it!"
It's satire as global performance art, and I would be on my chair applauding if they had carried it off.
The problem, though, is that nowhere in the image itself is there anything embedded to let the viewer, knuckle-walker or not, know who is being satirized. If you saw the same drawing, without the New Yorker banner, how would you ever know that the drawing was not mocking the Obamas?
Of course, the "cool kids" will tell you that that's why it's so cool, man! It's like a mirror, y'know?
As a sometime humorist myself, I am vehemently against "hanging a lantern on it," (making the joke more obvious) but it is the job of the humorist not to muddy things up, either. The use of Osama Bin Laden's picture, and the burning flag, are so prejudicial that the burden is that much greater to execute the gag well.
Instead, what we have here is a pinup for every anti-Obama, anti-Democratic Party office, dorm room, or rest room, and a source of outrage for people who want their pictures of offensive stereotypes to be in service of a good joke, plus a reason for James Rainey to feel superior to all of us.
And in the end, there is also the disengaged voter, who has heard vague chatter about Obama from both sides, and wanders into that rest room. He gets that the picture is speaking in metaphors, but he doesn't know he's a knuckle-walker. He thinks he's just a regular guy who's too busy to watch hours of cable news. And the only context he has is, "Here I sit, broken-hearted..."
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 91)Carol10:30AMJul 15th 2008
The difference here is the one was done not out of hate the other was done for spite and hatefullness. Which do you think I would prefer to look at? Why did there have to be an answer? Typical...............
Paula10:30AMJul 15th 2008
I definitely felt it was tasteless, useless and disgusting. I'm not a reader of The New Yorker, nor shall I ever be after that. I understand "Freedom of Speech" as much as anyone else, but I also feel that with "freedom" comes responsibility, and that cover, IMO was VERY irresponsible. The person responsible for it should be discharged.
sam10:31AMJul 15th 2008
call it want you I call it fear........
Z1210:32AMJul 15th 2008
If they were so smart, they shouldve had a split cover of both renderings then it would be equally thought of as a joke. Cant wait it out til the next issue, frekin idiots who get paid too much!
MCMasnata10:33AMJul 15th 2008
I was one of those dumb readers who live in a cage and didn´t get "The New Yorkers" the joke straight. Now I get it. Turning the Obamas into something scary has made me laugh. Good luck to you all in the nest elections! and Let the best man win!(Hope so for your own good)
Dee10:34AMJul 15th 2008
www.usawakeup.org
barroidbonds10:35AMJul 15th 2008
All the people who bought into the Obama fad are now incensed about this cover. One must have a functioning brain to realize that this is humor, people..lighten up.
al10:35AMJul 15th 2008
DO NOT BUY THE NEW YORKER EVER AGAIN
Deemo10:35AMJul 15th 2008
Since when do we get to dictate what can be said or criticized about someone. I cannot believe the audacity of this guy Hussein Obama. The problem is the Democratic Party and the Liberal Media are letting the bum do it. What a Joke. They have made fun of McCain and Bush and I dont here them whining about it. Cant you see this guy is a Joke. When are you Hussein Obama supporters going to wake up.
Larry10:36AMJul 15th 2008
that cartoon cover may be funny to a lot of people,
but there is a lot of truth to it, maybe thats the change he is always speaking about,the gun idea is okay, but wearing a dish towel on my head,!!! well thats going a little to far, and bending over with my ass up and praying for some guru, no way josey,
not unless gas goes down to 150, a gallon,
Fred10:36AMJul 15th 2008
If it wasn't mocking Obama, it should have been.
Scott10:36AMJul 15th 2008
Whatever the opinion is about this, one thing is for certain. It isn't the first time a public or political figure (right or left) that has been displayed on a publication's cover! One more thing. It certainly won't be the last.
Michellestinks10:37AMJul 15th 2008
Oh...all the stupid Hillary cartoons were OK but picking on your golden child is not OK...lets not be hypocrites.
k10:37AMJul 15th 2008
WRITE IN RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT !!!.......to save whats left.
clare10:38AMJul 15th 2008
my god wat is happening to our world wat is up wit the new yorker
Deemo10:38AMJul 15th 2008
You liberals make me want to puke. If this was about McCain, which there have been a lot worse on McCain, you would be rolling in the streets laughing. The Hypocricy of the Democratic party is finally showing is ugly face for the whole world to see. "Do as I say not as I do" is the Democratic motto.
Scott10:38AMJul 15th 2008
I just can not believe the uproar on either side.But the Obamas and thier backers better get a tougher skin, because if they do win this will be a daily occurrence.Tell me what president has not been in cartoon panels on a daily basis.Whats next laws being passed to protect Obama because he is just so damn sensitive.
john10:38AMJul 15th 2008
The Media Created Barack Hussein Obama As Americas Presidential Candidate By saying He's A Rock Star And He Can Be President. The Media Started This Campaign Two Years Ago And All The Sheep Fell In Line And Said How Wonderful He Is, BULLCRAP !, WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PERSON EXCEPT FOR THE RACIST AND ANTI-AMERICAN And Criminals That He Has Associated With, i.e.. Resco, Rev. Wright, Fahrakan, who is Muslim, Williams Aires, The Palestinian Professor That Was A Palestinian Militant. AND WOULD NOT WEAR THE AMERICAN FLAG UNTIL ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF MAY and Barack Hussein Obama who has a Muslim name ! I think it is important for the Mayor Bloomberg to know that before he misleads the public about Barrack Hessian Obama's Religion by saying hr's not a Muslim, he should know that the child carries the religion of his father, unlike Judaism whereas the child carries the religion of the mother. Therefore Barrack Hessian Obama is a Muslim. Mayor Bloomberg, do research before you make such a declaration that will mislead the people. The conclusion is that Obama is a Muslim in his mental state mind, he is a MOLE. P. S. Barrack Hessian Obama was endorsed by Libya. We Know Not From What Rock He Crawled Or What Tree He Jumped From. He's A Racist NOT A Rock Star. DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE THAT YOU WILL REGRET. I'M A DEM AND WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA ! I'LL VOTE REP. JOHN MCCAIN.
john10:39AMJul 15th 2008
The Media Created Barack Hussein Obama As Americas Presidential Candidate By saying He's A Rock Star And He Can Be President. The Media Started This Campaign Two Years Ago And All The Sheep Fell In Line And Said How Wonderful He Is, BULLCRAP !, WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PERSON EXCEPT FOR THE RACIST AND ANTI-AMERICAN And Criminals That He Has Associated With, i.e.. Resco, Rev. Wright, Fahrakan, who is Muslim, Williams Aires, The Palestinian Professor That Was A Palestinian Militant. AND WOULD NOT WEAR THE AMERICAN FLAG UNTIL ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF MAY and Barack Hussein Obama who has a Muslim name ! I think it is important for the Mayor Bloomberg to know that before he misleads the public about Barrack Hessian Obama's Religion by saying hr's not a Muslim, he should know that the child carries the religion of his father, unlike Judaism whereas the child carries the religion of the mother. Therefore Barrack Hessian Obama is a Muslim. Mayor Bloomberg, do research before you make such a declaration that will mislead the people. The conclusion is that Obama is a Muslim in his mental state mind, he is a MOLE. P. S. Barrack Hessian Obama was endorsed by Libya. We Know Not From What Rock He Crawled Or What Tree He Jumped From. He's A Racist NOT A Rock Star. DON'T MAKE A MISTAKE THAT YOU WILL REGRET. I'M A DEM AND WILL NEVER VOTE FOR OBAMA ! I'LL VOTE REP. JOHN MCCAIN.
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TC10:29AMJul 15th 2008
SHAME SHAME SHAME
THIS WAS DONE TO OUT OF MEAN NESS AND EVIL NOT SATIRE