Forgetfulness

So for this class, I'm supposed to post at least one blog every single week...it's been a couple weeks since I posted on here, but I do believe there's a nifty little transition coming up into politics. Do you remember what was happening in the political world two weeks ago? I barely do. It was the whole fiasco over the Mother Jones video, the "47 percent."

And that's what I'm going to talk about today: the forgetfulness of the American Public. It doesn't matter how people feel now, for the most part. All that matters is how people feel about the candidates when the time for voting comes around. This 'iconosphere,' this entire world, filled with thousands and thousands of photos, videos, posters, etc.; it is constantly changing, preparing us or teaching us to think a certain way. Every one if them is an appeal, a plea, essentially, for votes.

Now, I wouldn't say that what happens today doesn't matter. It does, but only in the way that the first domino matters because of its connection to the last domino. This video prompts a response, which may even lead to something else. Even when they stop talking about it directly, that event will continue to have an effect on the 'image' which voter have of Romney, and it is something that he will either embrace or refute. And that action could be the one that defines his campaign, all the way up, and maybe even, on election day.

The Book's Cover

Many people have already seen this video of Romney remarking about how 47% of people are already behind Obama because they depend upon the government.

The above picture is from the New York Times. Its interesting because it presents him as if he is frantically defending himself from some impending disaster. They easily could have chosen some other photo (lord knows, Fox News probably did) but they didn't.

Just imagine these being at the top:

Allelujah

The above video, an Obama ad called "Gloria's Letter: 'Dear Mr. President'," is interesting because it never mentions Obama's name. She never says "Thank you President Obama." She says "Thank you Mr. President." This simple distinction makes quite a difference, because it presents Obama as the President, our President, and her story, thanking him, makes him seem so close and personal, as if he is just a phone call away. It doesn't show him as a candidate (someone who will help us) but as some one who has helped us, and someone who will continue to help us. In fact her letter is akin to a prayer of thnks to a God that cannot be seen, because not once do they show Obama's face.

Rack 'Em Up

This video from the Gregory Brothers and NY Times [http://nyti.ms/RXWjmw] depicts an idea that I'm sure almost all people have thought of before: that politics is just a game where politicians try to say the right things to set people on their side. What they actually think is irrelevant, even when they become President.

A huge part of this game is how they are represented visually. Whether its in a political cartoon....


...or in an offical photo...



...the images of them can be extremely helpful or damaging. And that's what we've been studying in the Visual Culture of Politics class, A-H 360.

Happy Wife, Happy Life

I know I said in my last post that I would talk about the Republican's trouble's in creating a new image, but for now I'll put that off, and focus on the success of the Democrats in creating Obama's image.

Today, I watched Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention, and I found it not only amazing (regardless of your political affiliation) but also intriguing. Towards the beginning of the speech, they hovered on an angle that isn't normally used (shown below) for 15 entire seconds. It's a view from behind, and it's important because she doesn't hold an elected political post, yet she still faces the nation.

She's a normal woman, a mom with two girls. And through her amazing speaking skills, her conversational yet eloquent style, they can not only convince the nation that Obama is an amiable and hard-working, loving husband, but also that Obama is normal. I wouldn't say that Obama is weird, in any sense of the word, but I think we can all agree he isn't normal--he's the president of the United States of America. Through the words of Michelle Obama, and her touching stories of his humble beginnings, Obama has friendliness about him, a sense of connection with the people, without even saying a word.

A Belated Bush Blog

[See the GOP Convention's photostream here.]

I had the idea for this particular blog about a week ago, but I've been so busy, traveling over the weekend and doing general school stuff that I forgot to actually write it up. The idea isn't necessarily too different or special, but I do find it quite interesting.

Napoleon Bonaparte created his own childhood and his own history through the use of paintings, making himself into what he needed to be in order to take control of France. I've been following the political movements of the Grand 'Ol Party for a while, and I've noticed that they're trying to do the same.

George W. Bush is an outcast among the Republicans, not because of anything he necessarily did or didn't do (though that is a factor), but more because of what he represents. During his time as President, he reached the highest approval rating ever, but he ended his Presidency at a very low level. He's untouchable because the Republicans want to rewrite the last 12 years.

The only picture of him on their Flickr is the one above, in celebration of his birthday. He isn't presented as a president, he's presented as a normal guy, whereas President Reagan is presented as a hero, still wearing a suit.



Even George's father, George H. W, Bush, is presented heroically.

Though they may be successfully erasing the past, it does seem that the new crop of Republican's are having trouble finding an image. (There's some food for thought). I find this topic very interesting, and I'll move into this second part of the issue in my next post.