The New Yorker thinks this cover depicting Obama as bin Laden, is funny. I think it is in very poor taste and that it can be very misleading unless you read the article, which I haven't at this point. What do the Citizens think? The good news, most voters don't read the New Yorker. But if the cover becomes the story, it will get wide attention that could plant powerfully misleading visuals in people's minds. Shame on the New Yorker.
July 15, 2008: Update
Here is a transcript of an interview done with the editor of the New Yorker David Remnick, where he explains his decision to publish the cover.
The various little mythical themes in that cover are only going to get more traction from something like this. Even as ostensible satire, this will only provide more grist for the right's crazy mill.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to have been a fly on the wall in the editorial meetings that led to this doozy.
It's amazing what people will do to sell magazines these days. Disgusting.
ReplyDeleteAt least the lips are small.
ReplyDelete"At least the lips are small."
ReplyDeleteNo kidding! Remember what they did to Ford down in Tennessee? It was "Mandingo For Congress and Ravishing Southern White Womanhood" if you listened to the right win ads down there.