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It’s IdentityPoli-palooza!

From a comment at Willamette Week, in response to their editorial endorsing O! :

I attended Sunday’s big Obama-rama in Waterfront Park. Had a fine time.

However – I was competely offended when I saw several different men in line wearing t-shirts that said “Bros before Hoes” with photos of B & H.

Dude – way to lose my vote !

protein wisdom offers an unsolicited response: “Dude. Pick a card, any card…”

Then, of course, there’s this — which originally appeared as an “[a]ctual illustration accompanying Willamette Week’s endorsement (via) of Barack Obama (which includes references to both “dare we say it?—hope” and “yes, we’ll say it—change”):

O!

What bothers me most is not the gauzy, heavenly light — or even the sweaty, muscled chest and Fred Williamson-like Black Caesar bling. No, what really irks me, as a connoisseur of such cultish kitsch, is that the artist neglected to paint it directly on black velvet.

And of course, no tiger. Which leaves the unicorn hanging out there as a yin without its yang — and leaves Obamessiah as the Christ of the Lamb but not of the Lion.

— And that just ain’t gonna get my people’s warrior afro all a-tingling. If you feel me…

(h/t Rick Moran)

141 Replies to “It’s IdentityPoli-palooza!”

  1. MayBee says:

    No, what really irks me, as a connoisseur of such cultish kitsch, is that the artist neglected to paint it directly on black velvet.

    Ha ha ha ha ha!
    You’re the best.

  2. SarahW says:

    The lion is in his pants! You are two seconds away from a powerful crack of your spine from a pants lion!

    Or else the pez-dispenser of lightning bolt fury will be upon you. It’s nice and personalized iwth a “B” on it. Probably set him back.

  3. Jeff G. says:

    The roses, they spring from his loins like so much heavenly manna!

  4. Slartibartfast says:

    Ah, but there is a unicorn. So kitsch preserved!

  5. Mikey NTH says:

    And really, what’s with the bridge? Just doesn’t fit the motif.

  6. SarahW says:

    I think it goes to the future or something.

  7. JD says:

    C’mon. Serr8 photoshopped that. Cannot be real.

  8. SarahW says:

    Or is uniting stuff

  9. Jeff G. says:

    RELEASE YOUR HEAVENLY MEMBER FROM THE RESTRAINTS OF ITS WHITE POLYESTER JUMP SUIT!

    B.O as Bee Gee.

  10. SarahW says:

    That is SOOO real. I have the big version.

  11. MayBee says:

    I think the bridge is lifted from this.

  12. dre says:

    How’s come The Community Organizer has a remote in his hand? or is it a phaser?

  13. Zelda says:

    I feel embarrassed to have seen it.

  14. SarahW says:

    Of course, the pic is all a hipster joke, according to the artist, Lukas Ketner. Here’s his explanation for it.

    All the same, I think it was sincerely download by a few of the faithful. No science done, that’s just a hunch.

  15. Ric Locke says:

    dre, that’s the Holy Cell Phone of Antioch.

    Regards,
    Ric

  16. SarahW says:

    Huh, link is not working;, it’s still googleable, though . I’ll post the published correspondence there:

    I couldn’t figure out what this portrait was about, so I wrote the artist, Lukas Ketner, to find out. Here’s what he wrote:
    ———-

    Hello Jill,

    The illustration in question is meant to be a humorous depiction of Portland’s (and perhaps much of Oregon’s) democratic population’s preference of Obama over Clinton. The picture makes the joke that Portland is in love with Obama, hence the harlequin romance novel treatment. Originally we were going to do a similar cover with Obama making out with Portlandia (a Lady Liberty-style statue that has oft represented our fair city in local cartoons), but we felt that it wouldn’t read as well outside of Portland.

    I’m glad it rendered at least a giggle, and thanks for your interest in my work

    Thanks,
    Lukas

  17. Jeff G. says:

    Oh, I know it’s supposed to be a hipster joke. Which is why the lack of true hipsterism is what irked me.

    Velvet, people. Velvet.

    And tigers.

  18. Jeff G. says:

    And like I pointed out in the original post, Willamette Week used it as its illustration initially, perhaps unaware of the irony.

    Plus, I’ve got a fiddy says Andrew Sullivan is using this as his screen saver.

  19. SarahW says:

    He said he hated it but I think not.

  20. dre says:

    I hope O! uses a good deodorant.

  21. SarahW says:

    Ketner is their regular guy for illustrations, so I think they were savoring the ambiguity. I’m suspicious that way.

  22. SarahW says:

    I think a tiger riding the Unicorn would have been a nice touch.

  23. Slartibartfast says:

    I think the bridge is lifted from this.

    Oh, barf. But: hold me, while I’m barfing, ok?

  24. Sean M. says:

    Shouldn’t he be walking on the water?

    I’m just saying, is all.

  25. happyfeet says:

    That’s not someone I want in charge I don’t think. He looks like he’s on drugs.

  26. dre says:

    Do we really want to elect someone who hangs out with the homeless underneath the bridge? I’m just askin’

  27. Mikey NTH says:

    Oh, it’s from Portland. I was wondering, because the bridge sort of looks like the Firth of Forth railway bridge and that’s in Scotland, which sort of makes sense with the unicorn, but not much else.

  28. McGehee says:

    What this needs is a Photoshop.

  29. MayBee says:

    That’s not someone I want in charge I don’t think. He looks like he’s on drugs.

    He looks like he just raped a white woman.

  30. happyfeet says:

    He does kind of have that glow.

  31. Rob Crawford says:

    I’m not sure it’s a unicorn. Probably just a white horse for their strong man to ride.

  32. Ric Locke says:

    Ah. Portland, so that’s the Steel Bridge. NE corner of the city, leads out to the high-class suburbs.

    So the poster recalls this. It’s a genre.

    Regards,
    Ric

  33. kelly says:

    Talk about Blaxploitation.

  34. Karl says:

    Plus, I’ve got a fiddy says Andrew Sullivan is using this as his screen saver.

    IIRC, Excitable Andy thought it over-the-top, but didn’t get the artist’s joke or the blackness of his own kettle.

  35. nishizonoshinji says:

    aww, u guyz just jealous.
    Dr. Yes has the 411.
    Reading that elitist book by Fareed, lookin like he jus stepped out of the pages of GQ.

  36. dre says:

    “Probably just a white horse for their strong man to ride.”
    Why is the horse attached to his elbow?

  37. nishizonoshinji says:

    JFK redux.

  38. Jeff G. says:

    Just a quick note:

    Jill Miller Zimon wrote to let me know that she tried posting the url to the artist explanation here. I don’t know why WP isn’t letting those addresses through, but I let her know that Sarah had already posted the exchange, and that we were aware of the intended irony.

    None of which changes the fact that this thing was begging to be painted on velvet.

    And it needed a tiger.

  39. dre says:

    I wonder what it looks like lit by a black light?

  40. Karl says:

    running for president of the US?
    walk around brandishing copy of The Post-American World!
    lulz

  41. Lisa says:

    He looks hot. But the unicorn kills it. It should be a black panther – eating the white unicorn. Our national anxiety on canvas.

  42. Dan Collins says:

    The unicorn means Silky Pony for VP.

  43. McGehee says:

    Unicorns are drawn to virgins, after all. Panther don’t like the competition.

  44. nishizonoshinji says:

    Karl, have u read that book?
    its actually pretty hopeful for America, in SES terms.
    However, Zakariah is both an intellectual and a SES elistist.
    Don’t be fooled by that Mumbal immigrant thingy….he was raised in an upperclass family.
    The closest he got to the third world was flyin over it inna jet, or lookin out the window of a lux train car.

    Still, JFK was an elite, wasn’t he? Don’t we pick elites to run our governments in general?

  45. McGehee says:

    The unicorn means Silky Pony for VP.

    I don’t think so. “Follow the bunny.”

  46. Karl says:

    don’t need to read the book to know what the visual cortex takes from the photo
    lulz

  47. Rob Crawford says:

    Shut up, nishidiot.

  48. JD says:

    JFK redux.

    Without the rational political positions.

  49. Jeff G. says:

    It should be a black panther – eating the white unicorn. Our national anxiety on canvas.

    That word, “our.” I’m not sure that means what you think it means.

  50. nishizonoshinji says:

    hmmm…what does the visual cortex take from that photo?
    young, slim, symmetrical, attractive, energetic, purposeful, welldressed, healthy….
    btw, have to go to the neo-cortex to read the title, Karl.
    ;)

  51. Rob Crawford says:

    hmmm…what does the visual cortex take from that photo?

    “He’s like a dark, emaciated Elvis. Without the talent!”

  52. scooter (not libby) says:

    Actually, I bet he could put the hurt on a cover of “In the Ghetto” – but in a good way.

  53. nishizonoshinji says:

    not the photo, Rob, but the painting does evoke that….white turned up polyester collar and red roses just screams elvis.
    was the artist going for that elvis theme too?

  54. dre says:

    Do you think YMCA would be the sound track for this painting? It has that late 70s vibe.

  55. It’s believable. That’s why it’s funny.

    Personally, when I saw this I thought, “Well, that’s another shark jumped.”

  56. Rob Crawford says:

    Do you think YMCA would be the sound track for this painting?

    I’m thinking something gayer. Something a LOT gayer.

    Klaus Nomi-level gay.

  57. scooter (not libby) says:

    Right Said Fred? Because he’s definitely Too Sexy For His Shirt.

  58. Lisa says:

    Who are these people who paint this kind of shit? Its frigging weird. I am certain it makes him nervous. A person who would paint a picture like this is also certain to put a bullet in him when he does something they don’t like (like refuse to play ‘Misty’ for them or something).

  59. Lisa says:

    #59: LMAO!

  60. A fine scotch says:

    Okay,

    This thing has eaten my comment twice now, so no link:

    Rob,

    “If You Could Read My Mind” the Starz on 54 version from the Studio 54 soundtrack? That gay?

  61. nishizonoshinji says:

    #60
    lisa its satire…read upthread.

  62. Rob Crawford says:

    “If You Could Read My Mind” the Starz on 54 version from the Studio 54 soundtrack? That gay?

    Gayer.

  63. Pablo says:

    West End Girls kind of gay.

  64. MayBee says:

    The only popular song that could accompany this portrait is “Wind Beneath My Wings”.
    The perfect accompaniment, however, would be a .gif of synthesized Yani.

  65. Carin- says:

    Boy George’s Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?

  66. Dan Collins says:

    That picture reminds me of this.

  67. MayBee says:

    not .gif
    midi

    I don’t know what I’m talking about.

  68. dre says:

    O! really should be sporting some gold in that picture.

  69. MayBee says:

    Here you go.
    One Man’s Dream by Yanni.

  70. MayBee says:

    It ate my link!
    WP has some taste.

  71. A fine scotch says:

    Gayer than drag-queen looking singers doing a disco remix of a Gordon Lightfoot song?

    [scratching head…]

    And, Dan C., I love that song and that band (NTTAWWT) and I say that as a guy who celebrated his 3 year anniversary yesterday and has a 17 day old baby.

  72. JD says:

    Satire and parody only work when one believes it could happen. I bet it would not take long to find some serious depictions that are every bit as funny as this one. Take the one the other day where Jugdish was praying to Baracky.

  73. he’s dead sekseh! but who wants roses in their hoo-ha?

  74. MayBee says:

    Maggie, you’re right!
    He has Balls of Rose.

  75. dicentra says:

    Afs:

    Congrats on the bebeh. Ask your doctor for Provigil, the anti-narcolepsy drug. It works wonders on the sleep-deprived mind.

  76. JD says:

    More ghey than a convention of all of the gleeeeeeeeens, the Cabana Boyz, Excitable Andy, Ellen DeGeneres, George Michael, Elton John, Boy George, and the fan club of La Cage Au Faux.

  77. Karl says:

    maggie,

    That’s a kinda thorny question.

  78. dicentra says:

    I was competely [sic] offended when I saw several different men in line wearing t-shirts that said “Bros before Hoes” with photos of B & H.

    OK, let me make sure I get this right: “B & H” refers to Bill and Hill, so the guys are ostensibly saying they’re going for Barack over Hillary because he’s a guy and she’s a “ho.” Wouldn’t a picture of Barack be more appropriate in this context?

    Also, why didn’t the writer of the post appreciate the cheap boosterism for her candidate? Why would the tee-shirt philosophical musings of Barack fans cause her to not vote for the candidate who had nothing to do with the slogan?

    These lefties have me all confuzzled.

  79. Jeff G. says:

    I think the B stands for Barack.

  80. Old Dad says:

    C’mon people. Where’s your compassion?

    If you’d just been buggered by a unicorn in the Willamett, you’d look like that, too; and you’d be blowing roses out your keister. It’s well documented. Just google unicorn buggery.

  81. Just google unicorn buggery

    um…no. just no.

  82. kelly says:

    His mien sure looks post coital. Whether by a randy unicorn or not, I cannot say.

  83. A fine scotch says:

    dicentra,

    Thanks! Baby Madelynn and mom are doing great. I’d post her (Madelynn’s) web page but apparently Word Press doesn’t like web links.

    You can try MadelynnWalker-dot-googlepages-dot-com.

    And thanks for the heads up on Provigil. Madelynn does a pretty good job of sleeping for at least 3 hours in a row. Advice from “The Happiest Baby on the Block” has also been incredibly helpful for getting her calmed down.

  84. but f*ckin’ a unicorn? old, but hilarious.

  85. MayBee says:

    AFS- you are indeed a virile man.
    Congratulations on your baby! Babies!!!!

  86. A fine scotch says:

    MayBee,

    I never realized my virility was in doubt!

    Thanks for your congratulations. All well wishes are deeply appreciated.

  87. Dave S. says:

    Whuzzat in his hand? A McDonald’s gift certificate?

  88. JD says:

    AFS – Congrats from my and my little Madeline Grace. Sounds like you are doing well. 3 hours and a burst of screaming is par for the course for us.

  89. A fine scotch says:

    JD,

    Wow, we almost went with Grace as a middle name (went with Ann to honor Grandma). Congrats to you.

    3 hours and burst of screaming is far too familiar. And, I’ve volunteered to change her and bring her to Mom for feedings during the night. Not my brightest idea. Seriously, I don’t know what we would’ve done without that Happiest Baby book.

    Aren’t they supposed to sleep through the night at some point?

  90. rockindoug says:

    Comment by dre on 5/22 @ 11:38 am #
    I wonder what it looks like lit by a black light?

    An empty white shirt?

    And does that make the black light racist, or can a black light ever be considered racist?

    I denounce myself.

  91. A fine scotch says:

    And, have we figured out a song gay enough for that picture yet?

    What about Butters’ version of Samwell’s “What, What (In the Butt)”?

  92. MayBee says:

    AFS- I said that because of this: And, Dan C., I love that song and that band (NTTAWWT) and I say that as a guy who celebrated his 3 year anniversary yesterday and has a 17 day old baby.
    Which seemed to have a tinge of a request for virility validation.

    Sorry. I was just being goofy.

  93. A fine scotch says:

    Oh! I forgot about the first part of that sentence.

    Yeah, I would’ve questioned my virility too.

  94. JD says:

    AFS – I think when they turn 3, or somewhere around there. We are 6 weeks out, and got 4 hours between feedings once. Once.

    People often say they slept like a baby to describe a good nights sleep. Methinks they have never been around a newborn.

  95. ginsocal says:

    It’s a campaign contribution. From the Hamburgler. They used to be business partners back in the day, but Barry haad to give him the pimp hand when he decided to run for prez.

  96. Lisa says:

    Nishi: Oh!

  97. Pablo says:

    Shouldn’t thor be here?

  98. JD says:

    Lisa – Was that a nishigasm?

  99. Jeff G. says:

    Had I captioned this, I think I’d have gone with, “They call me MISTER Gibb.”

    You’re welcome.

  100. Mikey NTH says:

    #100 Pablo: He’s probably copying the picture for his desk top and downloading it to a jump-drive so he can have posters of it made for his shrine (with vanilla-almond scented votive candles).

  101. kelly says:

    vanilla-almond

    HALF-RACIST!!!11!1!

  102. Lisa says:

    #101: Ha ha!

    No, though.

  103. memomachine says:

    Hmmmm

    @ Jeff G.

    What really bothers me is that picture of Obama has him taking off his pants!

    That “B” in his right hand is a *belt buckle*!

    I’m totally creeped out.

  104. dre says:

    I think the Barney song might work.

  105. N. O'Brain says:

    “#Comment by dre on 5/22 @ 11:38 am #

    I wonder what it looks like lit by a black light?”

    It’d fucking glow!

  106. BuddyPC says:

    50. Comment by JD on 5/22 @ 12:01 pm #

    JFK redux.

    Without the rational political positions.

    Or the keen wit, brass balls, and hot chicks.

  107. Dan Collins says:

    A fine scotch, I like the song and the band, too. That doesn’t mean they’re not kinda ghey, though.

  108. Lisa says:

    I think the picture should go with something by Keith Sweat. Really, anything would do. Perhaps “Don’t Stop Your Love” or “Make It Last Forever”. But not “Something Just Ain’t Right”.

  109. MayBee says:

    How about something by R Kelly.
    I suggest his latest: “That Ain’t my Torso (I have a mole)”

  110. Lisa says:

    #113: LMAO! Maybee you are too cool.

  111. Pablo says:

    Is it just me, or does this need more ears?

  112. MayBee says:

    Lisa- xoxoxo
    OK, I’ve got to work out

  113. The Lost Dog says:

    This picture is super! Even better to know that it’s satire.

    And OT, but –

    McCain just DICK SLAPPED the Big O!. Maybe he is finally growing some balls.

    And as usual, the left just “doesn’t understand” why McCain would be so snippy about another Big O! intentional distortion of the truth.

  114. Sdferr says:

    White shell Black stone
    Barack plays go
    Winners Loser

  115. It’s Pootie Tang!

    See, my damie, Pootie Tang don’t wa-da-tah to the shama cow… ’cause thats a cama cama leepa-chaiii, dig?

  116. Rusty says:

    Hey! That’s the done by the same guy that does the Kim Il Jong posters.

  117. McGehee says:

    McCain just DICK SLAPPED the Big O!. Maybe he is finally growing some balls.

    Apparently they get huge at that age.

    I would be so looking forward to my ’70s if I could be sure I’d still be able to walk.

  118. Mikey NTH says:

    TLD – I don’t think anyone has ever thought that McCain didn’t have a pair with more brass than a cathedral has bells. Up until now there has been no reason for him to get involved in the Democrat’s knife-fight. But now, Sen. Obama feels secure enough to ignore Sen. Clinton, and Sen. McCain is letting him know that the free-ride is over. IIRC, Sen. Obama already got on Sen. McCain’s bad side when he took back his word to support some legislation. A bad, bad thing for a newbie senator to do to a more senior senator, especially one who takes that whole ‘I gave my word’ thing seriously. There was a letter that was quite polite, but under the surface was very, very chilling.

    I’ve never been a senator, but in the field I work in I see the same attorneys everyday. A reputation for playing games in that environment hinders you. I can’t imagine a small body (100 members) like the US senate doesn’t have the same protocols. Don’t screw too hard with the others because they will be back, and they will remember, especially the Big Dogs like McCain, or Byrd. Sen. Obama made a rookie mistake with Sen. McCain and that is going to haunt him. Seriously, when a senator refers to another as his ‘esteemed colleague’ or as his ‘friend’ they mean what the normal definitions of those words mean? I believe ‘frank discussions’ in diplomatic terms, means ‘they exchanged personal insults about each other’s lineage, parentage, morals, behavior, and likely spiritual destination’.

  119. […] Protein Wisdom – It’s IdentityPoli-palooza! […]

  120. alppuccino says:

    I’m filling in for thor tonight:

    When a 10′ version of this historical rendering is hanging in the entry way of the White House, y’all will be laughing out the other side of your sleeves.

  121. Rusty says:

    Doh!

  122. Mikey NTH says:

    When a 10′ version of this historical rendering is hanging in the entry way of the White House, y’all will be laughing out the other side of your sleeves.

    Obama Rising From The Waves? It looks like it should be sold in a Cracker Barrel (the restaurant attached to a gift shop) or whatever is the equivalent for the average Blue State yuppie.

    Think of it as the upscale saint’s candle for the non-Catholic.

  123. Gray says:

    whatever is the equivalent for the average Blue State yuppie.

    That would be the guilty pleasure of the “head shop”–where it would, in fact, fit perfectly.

  124. section9 says:

    I’m sorry. This just screams “gay porn”.

    On the other hand, this is the kind of bad medicine one finds on a “Princess Diana Commemorative Serving Plate”, so there you have it.

  125. Merovign says:

    I got here late, so let me just say – there’s a new ipecac in town!

  126. alppuccino says:

    You know, there’s probably a Chevy Van somewhere whose side panels would welcome this image to go along with its shag carpet on the dashboard.

  127. datadave says:

    jeesh, McCain calls me his ‘friend’ every time he’s on the radio. I feel his care and warmth.

    (like Napalm falling on the ‘VC’)

  128. Lisa says:

    #128: Ha ha! So true.

  129. PCachu says:

    #130: So, they’ll use it to summon The O! in times of crisis, just like on the cell phone commercial? Groovy.

    “WwwwwwWIZARD!!”

  130. retro says:

    Hey! That can’t be nObama – his ears aren’t sticking out far enough!

  131. Lisa says:

    #133: LMAO!!!!

  132. Lisa says:

    #34: Shut’cho mouth.

  133. B Moe says:

    Jez talkin bout Obama.

  134. JD says:

    Baracky most certainly does not have sugartits.

  135. Spies, Brigands, and Pirates - unrelenting mouth-breather apprentice says:

    Well, JD, you can’t really tell from that picture.

    Maybe there’ll be a followup piece with him completely shirtless and oiled up.

  136. JD says:

    Spies – That is wrong on so many levels. Not as disgusting as that Rosie pic with the hairy back cornholing Michael Moore with a rubber donger, but close. I denounce you.

  137. tip says:

    SarahBell ( ) wrote:

Comments are closed.