There is nothing radical about Shepard Fairey. There is nothing guerilla about Shepard Fairey. His “Obey” campaign is nothing more than a marketing scheme.
Greg Cook points out in his article, “His work is rife with self-promotional logos.” Self-promotional logos are fantastic when you are cleverly promoting your brand to the masses. Have you noticed that the “propaganda” imagery Fairey posts on walls is mirrored by his clothing line? See an image on a wall, go to your nearest “urban” shop, take out your wallet, and buy, buy, buy! This reduces his “street art” to nothing more than advertising. What is the difference between looking at a billboard and looking at a legally obtained permission-granted “Obey” wheat-pasted wall? Nothing.
Christine Moore
Somerville
Who you calling nasty?
Your recent interview with Joan Baez contained the following exchange:
Daniel Brockman: “ . . . my burning question is what she thinks of the upcoming presidential election.”
Baez: “Deciding to support a presidential candidate is uncomfortable for me,” she says, “because to me, the office of the presidency still has so many nasty things attached to it — like the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marines.”
For years, the Boston Phoenix has been a constant source of amusement for the foolishness within it, but with the sheer jaw-dropping ignorance of Baez’s above comment, I could only shake my head in amazement.
For all her years and experience, how can Baez be so ignorant? To assist her, I would recommend that she spend a day “in the shoes” of any one of the brave men and women of our armed forces, who protect the citizens of this great nation around the globe 24/7. I think this experience would change her opinion of our “nasty” services very quickly.
S.F. Pitingolo
Arlington
Correction
In the article “They Who Smelt It, Dealt It”, the writer incorrectly referred to the Mass Art Iron Corps as the Iron Guild, which is no longer explicitly associated with Mass Art. The writer also incorrectly identified Matthew Hincman (of the Iron Corp) as Matt Stone (of the Iron Guild), and neglected to mention that Hincman did in fact ask the audience to step back when the Iron Corp poured hot metal on the wet stump.
Texts of the week
Recently, we rounded-up our list of the 25 most frightening conservative public figures, and asked whom you thought should have been included. Here’s what some of our readers had to say.
You forgot the dragon-lady and author of ‘How to Deal With a Liberal,’ Ann Coulter.
MITT ROMNEY
Pat Buchanan
jay severin
anyone who has accidently found thier radio dial on wtkk can attest that Jay Severin is the biggest nut in the Boston media
