Yes, we can.

[Alex]

I think the stylistic connections between that poster and stereotypical communist/socialist propaganda is pretty striking (to me, other people will see or not see the same things).

Completely ignoring that political context it is a style I love. But considering that several people here see similarities I don't think it would be horribly uncommon and is probably not an association the campaign would want. Is this an official poster from them or did someone else make it?

I'm not even saying that was even the intent of the creator; and I'm definitely not saying it is a direct translation of Constructivism (thank Euro for putting the right word back in my head) to Obama but for me it creates the echoes.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis

How about "Triumph of the Will?"

Or "Triumph of the Wii?"

[Ghoulish Delight]

To answer an earlier question, it was done by an artist outside of Obama's campaign, seemingly on their own volition.

[Not Afraid]

In many ways, the feeling behind the original style is generally similar to the rhetoric Obama is touting except the end goal is a bit different.

In the 1920s and 1930s poster illustrators used print and photography to ennoble popular causes. This modern ‘intelligentsia’ was infused with optimism and action for a new art of social commitment.
They saw themselves as the intellectual arm of the revolution, articulating the true voice of the proletariat. Tracing the heroic and tragic struggle of ‘the people’ from pioneering days to the present, they invented a new sense of history from below and of progress towards the destiny of communism.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Guess I'm just clueless on that front. If it is meant to invoke a communistic ethic, well, I'm not going to pitch a fit over it. Whatever works for whatever segments.

[Not Afraid]

This has led to some great conversations between Chris and I about symbology, communication and greater meanings behind such things. Since politics is really all about marketing anyways, it is profoundly interesting to me and with my background in art history and Chris' in communication we may just start another thread.

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

This has led to some great conversations between Chris and I about symbology, communication and greater meanings behind such things. Since politics is really all about marketing anyways, it is profoundly interesting to me and with my background in art history and Chris' in communication we may just start another thread.

Please do!

To echo Alex, it is a style I like. Of course, had I survived the Stalinist era, or had contact with my distant relatives who actually did (or didn't) I might feel differently.

This is much more in line with soviet era, rather than Nazi era posters, at least when it comes to Triumph of the Will.
.

I'm not looking at anything at the moment, but I think there were stylelistically similar "hopefull" and idealic posters extoling life in Germany as part of the propaganda of the Nazis. Anyway, I digress and do not mean to derail as my original intent was to let people know if there was abn interest in the interesting obama poster, where you might have a shot at getting one. I never did manage to get on to the site, so I missed my chance. If Obama does not win the nomination, then I may get lucky on ebay.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

...we may just start another thread.

Originally Posted by Snowflake

Please do!

Oh yes, by all means. We need a Random Political Thoughs Part Five.




(um have you noticed that, no matter how these political threads start out, they end up all the same?)

[mousepod]

Originally Posted by Snowflake

...my original intent was to let people know if there was abn interest in the interesting obama poster, where you might have a shot at getting one. I never did manage to get on to the site, so I missed my chance. If Obama does not win the nomination, then I may get lucky on ebay.

They never showed up on the site yesterday. The site just went down for maintenance, so I'll bet they turn up any second...

You might still have a chance.

link

[Snowflake]

Originally Posted by mousepod

They never showed up on the site yesterday. The site just went down for maintenance, so I'll bet they turn up any second...

You might still have a chance.

link

Thanks MP.

I did a look on ebay, sheesh, the prices people are asking for this. For that kind of money screw Obama, I'd buy another Valentino poster!