Comments on: the New Yorker Cover: obama, satire, and the PC Police http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/ breathless punditry and one-breath poetry with David Giacalone Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:58:52 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: David Giacalone http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/comment-page-1/#comment-185061 David Giacalone Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:21:01 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/#comment-185061 Fernando, Thanks for taking the time to Comment. It seems to me that Kevin Bryant's childish "sarcasm" lends credence to the New Yorker cover -- as in, "see, there are pinheads and haters twisting the facts about Obama and playing off of the prejudice of other haters and pinheads." Using your reasoning, no painter should have ever done a crucifixion scene of Jesus, because a psychopath might decide it condoned crucifixion and then nail someone to a cross. Columnist Monica Guzman was correct to suggest that censoring the cover to avoid its misinterpretation or mis-use "risks a dumbing down of our more complex messages" and "would be ceding too much ground to fools." Fernando, Thanks for taking the time to Comment. It seems to me that Kevin Bryant’s childish “sarcasm” lends credence to the New Yorker cover — as in, “see, there are pinheads and haters twisting the facts about Obama and playing off of the prejudice of other haters and pinheads.”

Using your reasoning, no painter should have ever done a crucifixion scene of Jesus, because a psychopath might decide it condoned crucifixion and then nail someone to a cross. Columnist Monica Guzman was correct to suggest that censoring the cover to avoid its misinterpretation or mis-use “risks a dumbing down of our more complex messages” and “would be ceding too much ground to fools.”

]]> By: Fernando http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/comment-page-1/#comment-185055 Fernando Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:33:56 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/#comment-185055 I just read some of your comments and I wanted to add this... I can appreciate clever satire but the problem I have with the New Yorker cover is that it lends precedence and legitimacy to anyone who wants to use similar imagery to spread racist, hateful, and untruthful propaganda. For example, a South Carolina state senator uses "sarcasm" as his excuse for this blog posting: http://kevinbryant.com/2008/07/18/vacation-and-funny-picture/ [it's a blog post with an image of bin Laden and Obama (in that infamous headdress photo) accompanied by this caption, "The difference between Obama and Osama is just a little 'BS'"] I imagine the intent of that particular image is not the same as that of the New Yorker's image. But when asked about the appropriateness of the image by a Huffington Post reporter he replies "You know, blogs are for satire and whatnot and, um, that's why it's up. It's similar to the New Yorker picture." Similar? Really? Well, I'm sure we'll be seeing plenty more of this brand of "satire", with its authors pointing to the New Yorker for credence. I just read some of your comments and I wanted to add this… I can appreciate clever satire but the problem I have with the New Yorker cover is that it lends precedence and legitimacy to anyone who wants to use similar imagery to spread racist, hateful, and untruthful propaganda. For example, a South Carolina state senator uses “sarcasm” as his excuse for this blog posting:

http://kevinbryant.com/2008/07/18/vacation-and-funny-picture/

[it's a blog post with an image of bin Laden and Obama (in that infamous headdress photo) accompanied by this caption, "The difference between Obama and Osama is just a little 'BS'"]

I imagine the intent of that particular image is not the same as that of the New Yorker’s image. But when asked about the appropriateness of the image by a Huffington Post reporter he replies “You know, blogs are for satire and whatnot and, um, that’s why it’s up. It’s similar to the New Yorker picture.”

Similar? Really? Well, I’m sure we’ll be seeing plenty more of this brand of “satire”, with its authors pointing to the New Yorker for credence.

]]> By: Whisper | Blawg Review #169 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/comment-page-1/#comment-185035 Whisper | Blawg Review #169 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:34:14 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/#comment-185035 [...] Professor Frank Pasquale at Concurring Opinions points to The Best Commentary on that Idiotic New Yorker Cover. . . and, pointing further, also check out this commentary by David Giacalone on the New Yorker Cover: obama, satire, and the PC Police. [...] [...] Professor Frank Pasquale at Concurring Opinions points to The Best Commentary on that Idiotic New Yorker Cover. . . and, pointing further, also check out this commentary by David Giacalone on the New Yorker Cover: obama, satire, and the PC Police. [...]

]]> By: Malloy http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/comment-page-1/#comment-184491 Malloy Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:57:53 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/ethicalesq/2008/07/15/the-new-yorker-cover-obama-satire-and-the-pc-police/#comment-184491 The only reason that this Mr. & Mrs. Obama satire DOES have impact — and may very likely spread — is because like all good satire, or good humor for that matter, there’s more than a germ of truth in it. Otherwise, the satire would utterly roll off the Obamoids’ backs, having no impact. The only reason that this Mr. & Mrs. Obama satire DOES have impact — and may very likely spread — is because like all good satire, or good humor for that matter, there’s more than a germ of truth in it. Otherwise, the satire would utterly roll off the Obamoids’ backs, having no impact.

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