Shannon Greenbaum

137H

Unit 2 Assignment

11 October 2013

Red White and Blue HOPE

Copyright infringements aside, the iconic “HOPE” poster of Barak Obama became an overnight sensation hours after its first printing. The image, which every politically interested person has seen, quickly morphed from a simple sketch, to a viral sensation and one of the Obama 2008 campaign’s most popular propaganda. How was a poster with only the emblazoned head of Obama thoughtfully looking off into the distance and one word emblazoned at the bottom able to create such a stir in a society that is known for its appreciation of details and that is constantly bombarded with political campaign slogans? Simple. The posters color scheme,  use of certain styling techniques, a simple one word logo was able to convey the rhetorical appeal President Obama to a skeptical audience.

The style of Obama’s “HOPE” poster is a peek into modern culture that artists have been trying to emulate for years. In todays fast pace society, simplicity is ingenuity. The particular style of the “HOPE” poster encompasses everything from color scheme to facial expression and posture. A good advertisement is one that conveys an entire message in one glance. In the “skater” image of Obama, he is printed only in red, white and blue, almost color scheme and block shadowing meant for a comic strip. Fairley’s three color scheme used in the poster, manage to draw the attention of the audience as well as convey a form of bipartisan government with only a single glace at the poster. By mixing red (the color traditionally used to represent the Republican Party) and blue (the color traditionally used to represent the Democratic party) Fairley manages to allude to a president that will be willing to overcome stereotypes and cross party divides.  The white in the poster also gives it the traditional “American” appeal by using the nation’s colors of red, white and blue.  After the Obama campaign faced harsh criticism for Obama appearing “un-American” by the initial absence of an American flag on his lapel, and his supposed falsified birth certificate, the poster seemed to be a depiction of “100 percent Americanism.”

With racial profiling also proving to be a hot topic in the 2008 election, the color scheme of the “HOPE” poster, also seems shifts the focus away from skin color and back to real American values. The color of skin should not be playing a huge part of any election as long as American ideals, represented by the red, white and blue are displayed in both candidates.

Along with the poster’s color scheme, the stance and facial expression of Obama also was used to persuade the audience of his leadership and comically take a swipe at some of his critics. Seemingly modeled after a poster of Lenin, the poster takes a comical jab at critics who suggested that Obama was a socialist intent on pushing socialist policies through the US government. Although playful and clever, this subtle hint at opponents was overlooked and was part of an ineffective rhetoric as it only was overlooked and seen not as a joke but as a representation of a socialist Obama.

The three quarter head shot of Obama is similar to that seen with Lincoln on the five dollar bill and with another similar poster that was made for the Kennedy presidential campaign. Also similar, is Fairely’s use of hatching. Hatching, a technique which is basically composed of tiny lines that are used to add detail, is used in the “HOPE” poster to dispel Obama’s inexperience. By using the hatching on the outer border of the face, Fairley adds depth to the image with also seem to depict a depth in Obama’s experience with politics. No more is he a fresh faced newbie but an experienced and somewhat aged politician.

Although Fairley’s artistic devises are important in delivering the rhetoric associated with the “HOPE” poster, Obama’s posture and facial expression also factor in.  With Obama’s posture mirroring famous and popular politicians and presidents, the message is that Obama will only continue to achieve what those two great men did. Obama’s uplifted expression pensively gazing off into the distance seems to exclude leadership and a strength that would be necessary to lead the United States.

Although not an original design, Obama’s sunset pin logo that was incorporated into the poster, is also used to convince the audience of Obama’s electability. A sunset is a symbol typically viewed with a new beginning or a new start. After a turbulent and unpopular end to the Bush administration, both candidates in the 2008 election sought to be recognized as bringing a breath of fresh air into the government. Obama’s campaign effectively communicated that message with the slogan “Change You Can Believe In” as well as the use of the sunset symbol. In the shape of a circle, or an “O”, the symbol ads more Obama appeal to the already overflowing poster.

Finally, once again drawing on the idea that simplicity is ingenuity, Fairley was able to channel the entire meaning of the Obama campaign behind one word, “HOPE.” Of course, by using only one word, Fairley also leaves a little of the rhetorical interpretation up to his intended audience. Is the audience supposed to believe that Obama is the hope that we have been waiting for or that the audience is supposed to be hoping for something in particular. By making the audience think about the meaning of the one word logo, Fairley effectively made his advertisement stay in the mind of its’ audience. By using once word easily emblazoned across the bottom of the poster, HOPE also became interchangeable with words like “PROGESS” and “CHANGE” that was also expected to influence voters.

By using styling techniques such as color scheme, hatching and body positioning, Fairley was able to effectively able to downplay most criticism to Obama’s campaign and market Obama as a seasoned leader whose American values made him ready to be the next President of the United States. By using a simple, interchangeable one word logo, Fairley also was able to make the audience think about the Obama campaign’s message and make it more marketable. By combining all of these techniques in one modern day poster, the “HOPE” poster became one of the greatest rhetorical campaign advertisement to date.

This weeks RCL assignment was tricky. Although I could stick with my previous topic of Mike the Mailman and his use of rhetoric convincing people to use the postal service, I feel like that is still a little bit of a stretch to make. That being said, I now have to look for a brand new topic. Oh bother.

After pondering and pondering, my political science test eventually gave me some inspiration. The Obama campaign poster from his original campaign. This image of Obama in red and blue has so many rhetorical significances that would convince people to vote for him. The red and blue could symbolize him coming across party lines in an attempt to unionize the government.  His facial expression, with the stern look of a determined individual and the creases in his face implying wisdom, could also be used to influence voters.  The sunrise campaign slogan on his lapel symbolizes a new beginning and an end to the Bush administration’s unpopular policies. The large lettering “HOPE” at the bottom of the page is the main focus. For millions of Americans who had lost faith in the Bush administration and its ability to represent the public, the Obama campaign was the hope for a new beginning.

Those are only some of my ideas! I am sure that after more in-depth analysis and some research and I can come up with many more significances for the Obama poster.

So basically, we all rock at giving speeches. At least for the most part! I know, personally, there was a lot I could have done differently to improve. Trying to find practice time would have been one crucial key. Although I practiced, I think a little more time could have been helpful. Going first was also really nerve-wracking! My hands would not stop shaking. Instead of my piece of paper with my outline and a rough copy of my speech, notecards would have probably been better. I am glad I decided to include my movie clip and also liked the conclusion of my speech. I wish I had spoken with a little more clarity, but I still feel that I got that majority of the main point of my speech across: GO VISIT MIKE THE MAILMAN. HE IS AWESOME. Oh, and he is also civically involved.  Kidding. But really, he is pretty cool.

I feel like our class in general did a great job with the speeches. Some people tried to convince the class of civic duties more than describe, but overall we all did a great job of describing our interview or civic artifact. There were, however, also a lot of “umms” and “uhhhhs” which I feel just has to do with practice time.

I thought the class really did a good job with introductions and conclusions. I especially liked Matt’s introduction about how his awesome uncle was “civically involved” by agreeing to do an interview at last minute. It was hilarious! A quote summing up an interview was a fantastic way to finish up a speech (as seen on day 1).  I think the class also did a great job with time management. Having a clock there definitely helped (and the knowledge that we had a “grace minute”).

Great job with your speeches everyone!

Unit 1 Assignment / RCL Blog Post

Assignment: During the interview, discuss the activities in which they are involved outside of work and home, what they think being a good citizen means, how they divide private and public life, and relevant commitments, attitudes, and beliefs. Use the interview as the basis of a three- to four-minute speech you design and then deliver to the class about your interviewee’s civic life based on RCL course material and discussions in Unit One. After a brief sketch of your interviewee’s civic “profile” (perhaps aided by an image or a very brief sound clip), you will want to draw on concepts raised in class discussion and materials to explain how the interviewee approaches civic life, what civic opportunities he or she notices and/or seizes, and what ideologies and/or civic commonplaces can be detected in the interviewee’s reflections.

Objective: Interview Mike the Mailman about his civic involvement, and his (or the US post system’s) use of rhetoric in the office.

Purpose: To familiarize myself with Penn State employees and to learn more about the job of being post master. I have always been curious about this particular job and think it would be a good opportunity.

Technology used: Clips from the following CBS video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbFHhX5Cduk

Selection of Interview Questions and Responses:

1. Do you like your job and how has it changed your life?

“Absolutely. I love my job. I don’t really consider it a job. It didn’t really change my life, but what it did do is give me a perspective on international students; how hard it must be for them.”

(When asked what had changed his life) “My daughters changed my life.”

2. By being a head postmaster, do you consider yourself a good citizen?

“I’m a window clerk! I consider myself a good citizen. I try to do the right things. I like apple pie, Chevrolets and I play poker. Can’t get any more American than that, and I consider being American being a good citizen.”

3. Do you think you have positively influenced the lives of others?

“I have been told I have. In fact, I can remember when I went to Boston and a group of twenty people recognized me when I came out of a restaurant with my daughter.  I seemed to have influenced their lives. I’m happy I could do that much.”

4. What do you do outside of work that qualifies you as a good citizen?

I vote, and I took my daughters to vote. It’s important to do that because so many things go on and voting makes you feel part of the country. I also do a lot of volunteering. I have been involved with a “Kiss the Pig” contest (I always kiss the pig).  I am also involved in lots of Penn State club sponsored events and Special Olympics. Outside of that? Well, let me tell you a story. Yesterday, by wife and I were walking on the track, and we spotted a man with three kids trying to balance an armful of bags. My wife and I went over and helped with the kids. Random act of kindness. That is what a good citizen does.”

5. Do you think that the post service needs to use more rhetoric for people to use the mailing system?

“Absolutely. Mail employees need to make people feel happy when they come here. They need to be happy and have more compassion! You need to make it enjoyable. For everyone!!”

6. Are there other civic opportunities you wish you could be a part of?

“I feel like through the years I have done a good job of being civically involved. There is nothing I really wish to do. I am an even guy. I am happy with the things I am doing. I am happy where I am.  I feel like I am doing the best of my ability.”

*As I thanked Mike the Mailman for his time, he seemed puzzled. “You aren’t going to ask about my favorite kind of cookie or pie?” Curious, I asked. “Coconut pie and raisin filled cookies. My favorite. Feel free to stop by with them anytime. But NO CHOCOLATE.”