I was having trouble thinking of a topic to use as my first blog post. I flipped through the Design Literacy text and noticed the title “Ashcroft… You’re Next!” Of course I was intrigued—my last name was in the title. As I read, I discovered that this article was about designer Micah Wright, and his ongoing series. Wright is working on the “propaganda project” in which he takes posters from the WWII era, and changes the text and pictures slightly to reflect on current issues. A poster featuring Uncle Sam in rolled up shirt sleeves (originally anti-Japanese) is changed to say “Ashcroft… You’re Next! Break our Constitution, I break your face,” an indictment of the policies advocated and enforced by Attorney General John Ashcroft.
I have always been a fan of subversive advertising such as those by the Yes Men who make political statements with media and performance. The Ashcroft image challenges the Americanism of current policy using the visual language of patriotism. Over 150,000 people have visited Wright’s website, and he has sold over 1,260 copies of different images he created. The images are catchy and require skill to merge historical imagery with typography and language in a way that evokes the era. They play with the viewer’s assumptions—shocking them into looking at old problems in a new way. It forces people to think about what is going on around them.
The question posed by work like this is whether subverting is art. Does the nature of graphic design change when it is not for a company but is used, like painting, to advocate for an idea.
I would be interested to know what everyone else thinks of this issue.
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I also find these sorts of images intriguing, and it seems that Wright’s work continues an old tradition with a modern twist. In that sense I think he is being intentionally subvertive because he is clearly making a comment about how our country has reverted to a 1950s era McCarthy-esque paranoia that stems from 9/11. He also makes the connection between the government and that fear, suggesting slogans like “paranoia is patriotic” that might appear on modern-day propaganda posters issued from the Dept. of Homeland Security if they were still in use. I think it definitely is worthy of the title art, but as you mention it shares goals with graphic design through its use of type and image to sell an idea.
I think the use of old propaganda posters while attempting to present another political idea of today is very effective. While looking at the poster, one may think back to the original or possible original state of the poster. By alluding to history, viewers are prompted to think of its outcomes as well. Relating current issues with past help put into context what the issue is and if this is a reoccurring issue, something must be changed. History is there for us to learn from and by using these older posters; it helps imply change may be the answer. Overall, this is the original purpose of the poster.
After discussing this blog today in class it reminded me of Shepard Fairey. Wright’s and his work seem to stem from the same area.
if the above image doesn’t work check out http://www.obeygiant.com some of the prints relate to Wright’s work. Look in the archived print section.
Heh.
can anyone tell me where i can get this image :”"”Ashcroft, you’re next! Break Our Constitution, I Break Your Face”
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