When I'm downtown, I typically stop in the Arts District on 3rd and Alameda and check out the new graffiti murals and wheat paste posters posted on one particular wall where a high rise building owner welcomes them.
One can get a sense of which conservative political figure the arts community hates the most.
Five years ago, the wall would be covered in derogatory posters depicting George W. Bush as a henchman or murderer.
When Fed Chairman Ben Bernake's name became commonplace in the press starting with the stock market crash of 2007, his likeness began appearing in a very uncomplimentary fashion on this wall.
Today's large installations on the wall shocked me: They depicted President Obama as the devious joker in Batman. And more surprising, one enormous poster shows Obama joining conservative icon Ronald Reagan (who's face got covered with Big Bird) shooting a Mickey-Mouse-ear-wearing-American girl.
I guess winning a second term makes President Obama part of the evil conservative elite? Aaron commented that hipsters may have liked Obama more had he lost the election; he could have been a martyr.
Weird! - Ann
ReplyDeleteI love Obama...He has brought the country back and the complainers are the rich SOB's who are frightened that they'll start having to pay taxes at the rate of the middle class...Poor rich people... ABOUT TIME!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is not a place to spew political ideology. We are divided enough as a nation. It doesn't have any place on Mike's Blog. If you need to hammer someone then look no further than yourself for being so judgmental.
ReplyDeleteLast I heard that this was a free nation with free speach and I will die to support that belief...
ReplyDelete"I love Obama...He has brought the country back and the complainers are the rich SOB's who are frightened that they'll start having to pay taxes at the rate of the middle class...Poor rich people... ABOUT TIME!!!"
ReplyDelete--- I am not a rich man and I certainly wish Obama would have lost.
On top of this pathetic attempt of trying to not get "political" on Mike's blog is asinine. Of course people will get political... Anything and everything is political these days. If I posted a picture of a small dog riding a bike- somehow that would be skewed into a liberal or conservative post. So lets not act like it isn't going to happen.
Oh, one last comment to the Obama lover- whether you are rich or poor, you should not dislike anyone from a different class. The rich earned their money and most did it honestly. So why don't we tax the middle class more since poor people don't have as much as they do. Or we could just make a flat tax.
All in all great post Mike! Loved it.
My friends, I had no intention to express a political opinion when I posted this blog tonight. I am considering taking this entry down.
ReplyDeleteMy intent is merely to express my surprise that some in the arts community are vilifying President Obama.
For the last two years, I have posted photos of wheat paste posters on the giant wall in the L.A. Arts District. Most of the posters are politically oriented in general, and especially derogatory of conservative political figures--from the previous president, to the Fed Chairman, to leaders in the banking industry.
Again, my intent is to show my surprise that after a victory at the polls just weeks ago, these posters picking on Obama go up in the Arts District. I can't imagine why--other than the mere fact that the president won the re-election and now, perhaps, might even be considered a mainstream politician.
My friend Aaron pointed out that hipsters generally dislike mainstream. Has the president's re-election success made him mainstream and, hence, unpopular in the art community?
I remember in college when a friend loved U2. But when they released "Joshua Tree" to a stunning success, my friend despised U2. He later admitted it was for no other reason than the fact that the band had gone mainstream.
Thirty years later, I can't help but think that this same idea is at play now.
Perhaps I am better at doodling and taking pictures than expressing what's actually on my mind.
I love your posts, Mike, and I think you do a fine job of expressing what is actually on your mind. The way people interpret it is entirely their problem. I also love how free speech (on someone's blog or anywhere on the interweb) is shrouded in anonymity because heaven forbid people actually put their real name to the rudeness they spew in the comments sections of articles and posts.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, friend. I'm not afraid to say so and have my name attached! You bring color into my world and educate me about the places that are geographically near to me and yet still light years away thanks to my personal spheres.
I find it interesting that hipsters (a group I'm totally not familiar with) would choose to turn away from or support something just because it's mainstream or not. Strange rationale to me- a conservative, straight, married and monogamous, lower middle class, fair flat tax supporting, home school my kids because it's better for them, irritated with modern churches but still a strong God fearing WOMAN!
I'm just grateful I've been off Facebook for many days (other than to share articles on my wall) and was unaware of this dust-up.
ReplyDeleteIt behooves the reader, before responding, to be sure he clearly understands the point. Otherwise, his comment becomes "sounding brass and a tinkling symbol.
To the careful reader, the original post was clearly a statement about the intriguing development with these posters/murals/wall art and a commentary on the arts community per se, not a political statement.
And if it WERE a political statement, last time I checked it is still a free country--for a little while at least--and the blogger can post what he darn well pleases. If I ever begin a blog, I assure one and all it will be 90% political, so you are forewarned.
Reflecting this morning upon the mercy of our God who made sure I missed this entire sequence of events and the two posts until now. He knows I don't need to add "Have a stroke" to my "to do" list.
Mike, I get it and love and respect you for your gentile way. People who try to bicker and argue political points here are possessed and overcome with much a due about nothing. Please don't shut down a good thing because of a few idiots. Ray
ReplyDeleteTo those who must not know Mike very well or at all shut the front door. This is neither welcome or needed and will spoil a place of sharing and peace he has created. No wonder your post is anonymous. You have the right to remain silent so do all of us who care about this blog and Mike and clean up your act.
ReplyDelete