Obama's Propagandistic Iconography: the Making of a Messiah

http://swordattheready.wordpress.com ^ | By Warner Todd Huston

[frogjerk]

Disturbing at best and outright scary at worst.

[ZX12R]

Creepy is he, and his minions.

[ilgipper]

disturbing. very disturbing. I am shocked that he has 40% support with this unusual idolatry. I would think folks in VA, NC, etc would be scared by this.

[shadeaud]

What are those yellow wrist bands. Are they for the free lunch one has to show at the entitlement office

[Mark319]

I fear that somewhere down the line true conservatives will be know as “The Resistance”.

[petitfour]

We are The Surge!

[Gloucester]

Resistance is futile!



Unless of course you're the kind of person who recognizes a con man when you see one:

[newheart]

It all began here.

As a graphic designer I am particularly sensitive to the kinds of subtexts that a design may include in an effort to tell a story. The book cover for Obama's Audacity of Hope is a very good example of messaging beyond the surface. Some of the messaging is pretty standard stuff that we would expect of any good art and photo direction.

The gray suit establishes authority. The open collar with no tie establishes his accessibility--makes him a 'regular guy.' The sitting pose with hands folded together communicate that this is a contemplative guy. The hands are not posed in an aggressive fashion, suggesting that he is not a threat.

But what fascinates me the most is the way the cover overtly and covertly seeks to establish Barack Obama as the 'Golden Child". The gold in of his name and the gold bar at the bottom work are obvious in their symbolism. His skin tones have had the yellow increased to give him an overall golden glow.

But either by serendipity (I doubt it) or designer intent, the reversal of the letters "AU" out of the dark field of his suit provides the most amazing subliminal messaging. For those of you who have forgotten your high-school chemistry, the letters "AU" represent gold, on the periodic table of the elements.

We can carry this analysis even further (and perhaps beyond designer intent) to suggest that the title layout also gives us a near Augustinian reference--"City of Hope" (similar to St. Augustine's "City of God.") Maybe I should avoid suggesting that there is an ebonic tone to "DA" CITY.

Clearly all of the design surrounding this guy's campaign is intended to elevate his image to something beyond mere mortal. I have to say that it is the best campaign brand imagery I have ever seen even though I disagree with it's messaging and I definitely am not fooled into voting for Obama. But there is no doubt this very sophisticated branding has an impact on the average voter.

[Lucky9teen]

Just ping...

[manditrianne]

Believe me, in VA - I am scared.

[Salamander]

“His skin tones have had the yellow increased to give him an overall golden glow”

Pardon my rural vernacular but us hillbillies would call that “golden” color “calf sh*t yellow”.

[Salamander]

And they are Legion.

[andy58-in-nh]

Such hagiophotography is unprecedented in our nation's history. Even FDR as portrayed in Works Progress Administration and WWII recruiting posters wasn't presented as such a presumptive saint.

[WOBBLY BOB]

Biden is preparing to take Algore’s place in divinity school:

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of The Obamessiah”.

I Biden 1:13

[ZX12R]

And they are Legion.

Indeed. I wonder what we'll do with all of them after they lose the election. I mean...we can't just let them run around loose, can we? I suppose it's too much to hope that they all move to Canada.

[MtnClimber]

I think Obama may have been hand picked by Marxists like Ayers to lead the revolution.

[manditrianne]

You know, as I was reading various articles on OPEC yesterday, it occurred to me that it seemed very odd timing. If OPEC liked the price of a barrel of oil so high, why let it get below $80 to act? Then I started thinking about the “liberal elite media” (as Sarah herself so tactfully put it) and began to wonder how much of this OPEC news is propaganda initiated, or at least encouraged, by Obama’s camp...? Just a thought. Could be *way* off base. But add to this the rest of the crap being spoon-fed to those willing to eat it, fear drives our society at times, and this type of news will definitely cause fear in the hearts and minds of some...

[just me]

I think you are right..

[BubbaBasher]

Excellent analysis! Truly amazing when you understand the iconography.