S e m i O b a m a

Obama in China

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Semi-O wakes from its slumber to post this fascinating story on Obamania in China:

Watch CBS News Videos Online

Sherpard Fairey on Obama art

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:30:00 +0000

New York magazine writes about Fairey's new book.

The Weekly Rader Grades Obama's Speech to the U.N.

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 16:39:00 +0000

Click on me to visit The Weekly Rader's evaluation of Mr. Obama's speech.

Obama Beer

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 03:40:00 +0000

Obama Beer

After about a month hiatus, SemiO is back with a good, solid summer post.

Obama beer!

Brewed here in the Bay Area by Half Moon Bay, the Mavericks Obama Ale is only $3.75 per bottle.

We're a bit surprised that a "maverick" beer represents the president in a coat and tie on its label. Seems a more relaxed, even tipsy, Obama might be more appropriate.

Feel free to post your own suggestions for a new Obama beer label. Obama on a Clydesdale? A big beer can dropping on John McCain?

On Obama reading mainstream magazines

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Another note showing that the president reads journalism as a source of information for policy decisions. One of the basic functions of journalism is to gather information, make sense of it, and present it to the reader. Day-to-day that's what the majority of journalists do.

New York Times on Obama image

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Sat, 30 May 2009 22:38:00 +0000

Check it out here.

Obama Tours San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:24:00 +0000

While President Obama was speaking to the nation about closing Guantanamo, he was also touring San Francisco via cable cars and the back of conversion vans.

He's a versatile guy, that Obama . . .

Okay, so granted, the president may actually be able to inhabit many spheres at once, but even he is subject to the laws of physics. If you're wondering how he can be in two places at once, it may be obvious now that the other Obama--the one speaking to reporters in D.C.--is made entirely of wax. The real one was here in San Francisco getting his groove on in the Haight.

He was a little hung over Tuesday morning (above), but his handlers took pretty good care of him.

In truth, the wax Obama was the one here in the Bay Area. It is part of a large scale wax figure exhibit in which the wax Obama kicks the wax Barry Bond's ass. Rumor has it both will be dressed up as lucha libres and on display in front of AT&T Park.

Obama as Spock?

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:44:00 +0000

See John Dickerson's take on Obama's idea of empathy....

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 08 May 2009 02:38:00 +0000

Last Sunday's cover of The New York Times Magazine featured a contemplative image of President Obama. We know he is deep in thought because of his posture.

To indicate thought, one must have some part of the hand pressed against the face, or, preferably the head. Think of Rodin's The Thinker.

Think also of Walter Benjamin. No one's author photos are more about thought than his. In fact, in one of the photos, he seems to be in pain he's thinking so hard.

So, the semiotics of this cover place Obama in the line of people who have been known to be driven more by thought than anger, more by reflection than reaction. The Benjamin photo on the right makes him look like he's debating about which wedge of cheese to put on his cracker, whereas the image of Obama creates an aura of deep thought. It takes his entire left hand to hold up his head there are so many ideas in there.

What does this mean? Well, it may tell us more about Obama than the cover itself. That is, it tells us what we think about Obama. We replicate what we already believe.

I believe I like this cover. It wavers between illustration and photorealism. Its color palette is almost washed out, and that flatness contrasts against the depth of Obama's visage. The effect is essentially positive.

Ultimately, this cover evokes a dignified, reflective, intelligent president, who may or may not be thinking about his post move.

Is There Ever Enough Cowbell?

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Racialicious on the Chia Obama

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:29:00 +0000

I hadn't seen this, but Racilicious breaks it down.

Jon Stewart and the Hope Poster

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:14:00 +0000

Jon Stewart uses a bit of Barack Obama symbolism in his take on the right's tyranny watch.

The HBO President

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:42:00 +0000

Politico and New York magazine's excellent Daily Intel have rundowns of Barack Obama and his family's television habits.

His love for The Wire and television sports is already well-known--he mentioned The Wire as his favorite show a few times on the campaign trail, and he was featured on ESPN on a Barackatology segment, where he picked the NCAA tournament. (For the record, he picked a lot of chalk, and of course, he ended up picking the champion, North Carolina.)

Two shows are signaled out by the two articles: Entourage and Gossip Girl. For the uninitiated, Entourage is about a movie star who bring three of his friends, one of them himself a former star, to California with him as he tries to make it big. The show is based loosely on Mark Wahlberg's life and the agent is based on Ari Emanuel, the brother of Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

But the familial relationship is not why Obama watches the show--like everyone else, it has to be the fantasy aspect of an existence lived by a different set of rules and standards. Though the show has legitimate drama and tension, the underlying message to me is the fantasy of American men living in a world of work and play without female guidance or less sinisterly, the positive but complicated nature of male friendship. Of course, it's about the glamour of Hollywood too.

There might be some parallels between life in the White House, though it's not exclusively a male-oriented world, and gritty details of running government seems essentially less romantic.

Gossip Girl is at its essence about class, and the difficulties class relationships cause among a relatively undifferentiated group of privileged prep school students. And it's about the essential seriousness of high school, and of course, adults watching it see the parallels between it and their own complicated lives, which remind them of high school.

There might be some parallels between life in the White House, though it's not exclusively a male-oriented world, and gritty details of running government seems essentially less romantic. The fact that Obama loves Entourage is just another piece of evidence that confirms his essential masculinity. Combine that with at least a reference to Gossip Girl, also shows his desire to keep up with pop culture.

Though their popularity exclude them from true cult status, the fervent nature of followers of Gossip Girl--New York spends many column inches each week confirming its authenticity--and Entourage point to popular culture watchers--count our president among them--that at least knowing about the shows is crucial.

--J.S.

The Topps Trading Cards

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Last week, I purchased my first pack of the "Inaugural Edition President Obama" Topps trading cards. It was a big day. Within five minutes I had purchased both a gigantic burrito and a slim but exciting sleeve of Obama Topps.

At $2.00 for 6 cards and a sticker, it was no great deal--my burrito was only a dollar more--but the cards have zero fat grams and are more friendly to animals.

I had high hopes for the cards.

I imagined a photo of Obama dunking over Dick Cheney; perhaps one of him making a long downfield pass to Joe Biden; I was especially looking forward to the one of Obama and Hillary doing the high-five after that wicked alley-oop ESPN keeps running on the highlight reels.

Instead, I got cards in which there were a lot of ties.

A red tie, a blue tie, more red ties. And blazers. Who puts a guy wearing a tie and a blazer on a trading card? Instead of calling these "trading cards," I propose Topps change the name to "trading favors cards," since that's what most of my scenes seem to be about.

There appear to be 90 different cards in all and 18 stickers. That seems hard to believe. Are there really 90 different images of Mr. Obama talking to other people? Topps gets points for the attempt to make "Pioneer at Harvard Law" edgy with the black and white photo of Obama in the turtleneck and leather jacket. But, those points get taken away by the half-witted "Cool Running Mates" tag.

My goal is not simply to collect all 90 cards but to rank the lamest of 90. Sure, sure, I'll also be happy to write about the "best" Obama cards, but unless Topps includes images from SemiObama, I'm not convinced we're going to learn much.

My nomination for the lamest card from this set is the "Ready for Prime Time" action shot of President Obama and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Could anything be less actiony than two heads of state in suits and ties strolling through an English garden?

---D.R.

More on Obama as Icon

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:20:00 +0000

Off an on throughout era Obama, we've been talking about Barack Obama as an icon. As we've said here and elsewhere, Obama's ubiquitous image and the places that image appears, makes him more than a celebrity. His visage--and the fact that we can use "visage" rather than face--connotes reverence, hope, and transformation.

Take a look at the objects below: coins, plates--even stained glass. Notice how Obama's face has replaced the traditional icon.

In addition to coins and plates and stained glass, there are even images of Obama as an actual icon (see above).

What this means is that people are locating in Obama's image the emotional and psychological qualities normally reserved for religious figures like saints. To be sure, this helped him win the election. But, the downside is that we have high expectations of saints--even higher for deities. What happens when Mr. Obama cannot answer prayers?

---D.R.

Roundup on Obama in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:10:00 +0000

The Guardian's Jonathan Freedland on Obama's first press conference in Europe as president.

The New York Times on the symbolic nature of Obama's trip to Europe seen through 10 Downing Street.

Christi Parsons on the wordplay involved with British/American relations.

A short piece on why the president won't weigh in on European football, er, soccer, er, football.

The Los Angeles Times on Obama's promise to listen and lead.

The Wall Street Journal on the basic challenges that Obama will face with Europe.

The Telegraph's (London) Philip Sherwell on the problems that Obama might face in Europe.

More Obama and Basketball

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:08:00 +0000

I think this says more about the media than it does about Barack Obama, but yet another prediction has come from our president: Lakers v. Cavs in the NBA final.

CJR analyzes the Professor Obama meme

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:13:00 +0000

and finds it derogatory.

What a President Does

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:13:00 +0000

President Obama is the leader of the United States. That much is certain, despite the protestations of some.

But what is less clear is what it means to be president. Or in this case, to lead.

Looking at the Oxford English Dictionary's definitions (subscription required) for lead is somewhat instructive. The first definition is "To bring or take (a person or animal) to a place" is the most direct and literal/physical meaning.

The second definition is the one I find most intriguing--"to accompany and show the way to: to conduct, guide, esp. to direct or guide by going on in advance; to cause to follow in one's path."

This one and the fifth are the most relevant to the actions of a president outside of war (which is covered in the fourth definition). The fifth reads: "To guide with reference to action or opinion; to bring by persuasion or counsel to or into a condition; to conduct by argument or representation to a conclusion; to induce to do something."

Looking at the Oxford almost always surprises me, because it often reveals telling subtleties of language. In this case, the definition that focuses on accompaniment and showing--that leading is as much an act of being as it is showing. It's clear that part of Obama's mission is convince the country that improvement is on the way both through direct persuasion*, as highlighted in the fifth definition, and through his calmness.

In other words, leading is more than decision and speech making; it is indirect and subtle.

--J.S.

*This whole section focuses on the things the Obama administration is doing and has done.

Oba-Mart

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Last week, I was in the Oakland Wal-Mart and came across a most unlikely sight--an entire display of framed photos of Barack Obama. As some scholars have noted, Wal-Mart has become the one place in America where people of all races and classes interact rather seamlessly, leading to the compelling argument that the large box store has become America's new commons.

This is certainly the case in Oakland, where a staggering cross-section of the Bay Area's population comes for iPods, diapers, Oakland Raiders gear, and huge packages of toilet paper. So, it should not have come as such a surprise that this wall of Obama images fronted the main isle from the entrance of the store to the electronics.

After all, Wal-Mart markets itself as a patriotic place. It appeals to blue-collar, traditional family values, and these images of Obama position him in that light. Obama not for the edgy indy crowd (a la Shephard Faiery) but mainstream Obama, mass-market Obama, populist Obama, non-threatening Obama, American Obama.

Indeed, as I was standing in the aisle, taking these photographs, a woman stopped on her way out to scold me: "That's cheating," she said. "You can't just take pictures. You have to buy them. I'm sure he can use the money." We joked about this for a while and chatted on our way out of the store, when something very interesting happened.

Both of us were carrying small bags--we had made minor purchases in the electronics department--however, when we approached the security guard at the exit she got stopped, while I walked on through with no questions whatsoever. Why did she have her bag and receipt checked? Well, she was African American, and I am not; so perhaps that provides an answer.

During the campaign, it was not uncommon to hear complaints that if Obama got elected "blacks" would "take over" or "think they would be entitled to everything." At this Wal-Mart, in Oakland, that proved not to be the case.

The most troubling detail of all? The security guard was African American.

---D.R.

Inevitable

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:15:00 +0000

We're on Twitter.

President Obama's NCAA Tournament Picks

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:47:00 +0000

Today at Noon, ESPN released President Obama's completed bracket for the 2009 NCAA Men's basketball championship.

Of course, the one question on everyone's mind is: Does he have Binghamton going all the way?

Spoiler alert!

He does not. The president picks the University of North Carolina and its weepy coach over the Louisville Cardinals and their coach, Rick Pitino, who has never cried in his life.

His other final four teams, Pittsburgh and Memphis are no big shockers. In fact, the President has no real upsets in his bracket, though he does pick VCU to upend UCLA in the opening round.

On Trash Talking

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:16:00 +0000

This image, part of a larger article about Barack Obama's attendance at a recent Wizards-Bulls game, seems to be unprecedented in its metaness.

In the image, Miles Rawls, wearing a Barack Obama shirt, "trash-talked" with President Obama during the game. Trash talking is a noted aspect of basketball culture, one whose best practitioners are celebrated within the basketball community, although the practice is much more celebrated among players than fans, for the obvious reason that fans don't always attend each other's arenas.

In fact, among true rivalries, such trash talking can be dangerous for an opposing fan. So the exchange between Rawls and Obama is unique in the comfort Obama felt in trash-talking in the other person's arena.

But there is also comfort in Rawls trash talking the president of the United States. Perhaps wearing his image made him more comfortable, Obama's personality, or both.

--J.S.

Imagine If Barack Obama Was Losing His Hair

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 23:01:00 +0000

As New York's Vulture column snarkily notes, the story about Barack Obama turning grey is back. We'll let them talk about the coverage. We have a more basic question--what does it mean that our president is getting grey hair?

If you believe television's vanity commercials, greyness=oldness, the most visual example is here, as a dyed-up heroes Walt Frazier and Keith Hernandez "rescue" Emmitt Smith from the "Running Back Rest Home" by dye-ing his goatee. That's friendship!

But out of tv-land, the message grey sends is a little more subtle.

*It signifies stress. The Times headlines its story: "For Young President, Flecks of Grey," suggesting that young is a contrast to grey. It makes the stress comparison more specifically here:

For a guy who prides himself on projecting a stress-free demeanor, the changes above his temples are speckled evidence that perhaps the psychological and physical strains of the job — never mind the long process of winning it — are in fact taking something of a toll. (Experts say stress can contribute to whitening locks.)

*It signifies gravitas. As the Washington Post headline notes, "Obama's Wearing His Grays as Distinguished Look of the Presidency"

*And it does so by tying those two things to age. Essentially, the message is that whatever is happening--stress or age--that Obama's image in no way suffers from this change. Either he's taking the job seriously or getting older, both of which compliment his efforts as president.

As always, this coverage reveals as much if not more about the coverage than it does about Obama. The interviews with his barber suggest the lengths reporters will go to read and interpret anything having to do with Obama.

Just imagine if he was going bald!

--J.S.

New Recovery Logo: A Brief Semiotic Rundown

noreply@blogger.com (SemiObama) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:15:00 +0000

Via Talking Points Memo.

Here is the new logo for projects being funded by the stimulus bill. As is true with product launches and political campaigns, recovery campaigns need symbols, as the President said in remarks today.

These emblems are symbols of our commitment to you, the American people -- a commitment to investing your tax dollars wisely, to put Americans to work doing the work that needs to be done," Obama said. "So when you see them on projects that your tax dollars made possible, let it be a reminder that our government -- your government -- is doing its part to put the economy back on the road of recovery.

I like the logo's inherent retroness, built on the notion that it's speaking in images, save for the website address, which also serves a tag for government involvement. My impression is that signs have taken a turn for the textual over the past few decades, so this feels like a throwback. At the same time, it does not feel anchored in a particular time period, so it does not feel entirely nostalgic.

The bottom left hand corner suggests a plant, and the right has gears, with either a plus or a cross in the center (adding or aiding--you make the call.) The plant presumably means green energy, but it could also mean just growth in general. The gears suggest working together toward a larger purpose.

I don't like the top half of the logo; the balance between the patriotic stars and "recovery.gov" seems off, even if that construction is intentional. The logo seems to want to forego the "recovery.gov"; it seems like a compromise.

These individual components are surrounded by a circle, which suggests a wholeness and completion. Or perhaps smoothness and ease. Or maybe it's just a circle!

GreenSooner at Kos has a brief history of recovery logos.

--J.S.