You may or may not have seen this wraparound on the LA Times leading up to the inauguration:
I think it’s arguable this was made to bring to mind, perhaps subconsciously, this famous image of God in the Sistine Chapel:
That’s offensive enough, of course – a medium that dares name itself as serious journalism stealing such a well-known symbol in order to get people to drop their skepticism with respect to Our Dear Leader, the Great and Powerful O? Most of the United States is Christian, and this would have a powerfully positive suggestive effect (mental soma) on them, quelling fears and stirring faith.
However, the image of Obama itself lends to another interpretation, I’d argue. Namely:
Which is, of course, the iconic display of fascism.
What’s your take?
bigliberty
I’m sure other politicians have used that exact same gesture in the past and no one has ever made either connection (Hitler or God) to them. Why that connection has to be made just because a black man ran for and became POTUS on a platform of hope and change seems rather nit-picky to me. As far as I’m concerned, if anyone should be compared to Hitler (or for thinking they’re God), it’s Bush and Cheney. Those two (with the help of Congress, or the indifference of Congress, take your pick) have done more to send this country on the road to the dark ages and feudalism than I care to think about.
I don’t know that Obama can bring about all the change we need, or that any politician can, for that matter, not with the system that’s in place right now. I’m willing to give him the benefit of doubt, for now, which I was never willing to give to Bush Jr after Bush Sr was in office (I don’t trust political dynasties, too much opportunity for corruption by power).
I’m skeptical of Obama simply because of the Chicago political background he has. And having lived in Illinois for almost 20 years of my life, I’ve heard/read/seen plenty of the backroom/illegal shit go on in Illinois/Chicago politics to be a bit cynical about someone who comes from that background when others say he wasn’t/isn’t affected/influenced by it. Whether that influence was for good or ill remains to be seen, but I won’t be surprised either way.
I’m not going to compare Obama and Hitler, not that I think that you are. However, many people forget where the word Nazi comes from. They were the National Socialist German Worker’s Party, and shortened it to Nazi.
That’s pretty much what he’s got – symbolism and rhetoric. He’s usually been photographed from below, and with added effects like Halos and sparkly stuff. He had that background that called to mind the Bethlehem star, he built that whole setup here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1050017/Obama-God-Democrats-build-temple-Barack.html complete with the mock plane – weird. http://ace.mu.nu/archives/257646.php http://media.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OWM0ZTE5Y2M5ZjkxZjY4OGRhNzBlNTAzNzllMmJiMzA
He basks in the adoration, and uses it, and definitely uses Messianic symbolism and other troubling elements. (Well, he also said that this was the moment the planet would begin to heal and the seas would lower.) Some of it is his and a lot of it is the media love affair with him as well as the adoring crowds. The whole thing gets surreal sometimes.
You saw the one on the Triumphal entry right? But that’s the doing of an artist who is cryptic about his intent: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=87040
Yes, bringing up the fascist iconography wasn’t an attempt to say that Obama *was* Hitler, as you noticed, Limor. It just shows the fine line between interpretations of body language and symbols – the LA Times was quick to jump on his body language as being like God reaching out to Adam in that classic work, but his body language could have easily been interpreted much, much differently.
Really what it does is point out the gross bias of a so-called “news” organization. They should leave implications about body language to mythicists and other hoarders of rubbish. It’s *not* journalism, it’s suggestion. I.e., propaganda.
all of the Obama-as-heavenly stuff that’s come out, Annie, is pure propaganda, plain and simple. I think people in this country have a hard time seeing propaganda for what it is, because we’re not used to it. They think, “Well, Obama’s different, so deifying him is okay because, well, he deserves it!” or somesuch rubbish.
It’s just propaganda. Suggestion. Persuasion. Implication. Propaganda.
You’re gonna love this one. http://newsbusters.org/comment/reply/27722#comment-form
Oh. my. god. Just no words. I realize it’s not a visual symbol, but wow. I think if the press were talking about me that way nonstop (in the face of 200 years of history) I’d be arrogant like he is too.