Danny "Dandiggity" Le is a modern day connoisseur for all things analog, digital, and beautiful. Known to many as a "jack-of-all-trades" he has dipped his hands in every creative pool the South Bay has to offer. From poetry jams and art galleries, eclectic parties and the evolving street dance scene Diggity is constantly documenting, collaborating, and networking within these expanding subcultures 24/7. A graduate of San Jose State University's English and Comparative Literature program he plans is to become a teacher and shape a new generation of renaissance men and women. He currently resides in San Jose, CA finishing his first collection of poetic works. Danny represents PLSTK, who iDR has worked with on the Sound Stackin party.
Do you think there is a definite look and feel of each party. A Democratic campaign looks vastly different than a Republican campaign, yes...no, and why? What are the similarities and/or differences?
What makes a Democratic campaign drastically different from a Republican campaign is the targeted demographic they intend to attract towards their cause. For example Democrats often target people of color, people who live alternative lifestyles, and citizens disillusioned by the current party in office. These people usually come from low to middle income families and live within communities that desperately need help economically in order to repair their surrounding infrastructure. It is not surprising that many artist and musicians are currently backing candidate Obama in his presidential election. People like Ludacris, TI$A from Sa-Ra, Shepard Fairey, Common and many other street artist have been vocal about their endorsement for the senator. The Democratic Party often poises themselves as a voice of change for communities that are not majority white. Thus they are appealing to those who come from immigrant, impoverish, and socially ignored backgrounds. Compared to the Republican model which is highly conservative in its ideals and outward appearance, the Democratic Party looks inviting to any motley crew or upstanding citizen in retrospect.
We are hearing a lot about change. Change is a buzz word that parallels in both parties. How would you graphically present change? Would you have different solutions for either candidate, and why?
Change itself is constant. There is never any moment in time that "change" is not occurring. The change these political parties are looking to introduce in their campaigns is meant to fix what the current or previous president, senators, and chief staff couldn't do during their time in office. Often the need for change arises because of the political actions made by the current president. These actions may have caused the nation serious hurt on a domestic and international scale. The voice of the people wanting change are varied all over the board. The voice of todays youth and adults are different from those 30 years prior. They are adept at using computers and electronics the "boomer generation" could not have fathomed in their time. These individuals have instant access to information globally with a few quick keystrokes and mouse clicks. This is a futuristic generation that is quickly catching up with Star Trek fantasy. I would represent this change by taking a sample of the voters and showcasing them in their daily garb. I would use full bodied pictures of mostly young adults for this type of visual campaign, whether as posters or print ads. Visually seeing real voters who look like them on printed ads would help incite these young people to vote if not leave a subliminal imprint on their minds.
Who do you think you could actually have a drink with? Which of the two would you like to get to know better on a genuine level?
I would probably enjoy having a ice cold drink with Senator Obama. With political affiliations aside I think having a deep discussion about how race and his beliefs about community would be quite interesting. As a person of color myself I would rather hear what Senator Obama has to say about how he grew up in this country we live in. What he was influenced by as a kid (artist, musicians, cultures) and his thoughts on todays youth. All in all, I would like to just know the man on a personal level because he's human too.
Lets take a look at McCain and Obama as individuals. Does either present himself to be the next president. What is it that we look for in a President as in attributes? How does that translate into graphics?
When the Democratic election was concluded I thought either Clinton or Obama would have been an image of "change" in this history of the United States. The first female and black presidential candidates ever to appear and within the same year. Obama though draws people in because of his background and skin color. America is a country built on the back of slaves and immigrants. Yet it has also been a country that is plagued by its racism and xenophobic tendencies. Obama is the image of a change in the right direction, visually. Now whether this change comes or not seeing a person that is not old and white become president is for lack of better words, refreshing.
When watching McCains "Heros" video he uses a smokey graphic throughout the video...what are you thoughts on this?
The symbolism of the smoke has several meanings. It gives his message an ethereal feeling. With the montage of "heroes" and words displayed on the screen the smoke gives the whole video a nostalgic quality. Nostalgia is being used with the colors within the video. Behind the smoke colors wisps of red and yellow present a calming effect to the smoke. This effect works well when paired with the social message behind the video. It makes you absorb the message before you realize it is an endorsement for McCain. It becomes a quintessential message of American values.
The Obama and Obey poster has been circulating the net for some time. What is your overall sentiment on this poster? The poster may resemble a bit of the Constructivism movement, why do you think Obey might have chose this movement and this direction?
The strong imagery presented by Fairey with the Obama posters follows the Constructivism movement in a similar fashion. Fairey work thus far has been an experiment into phenomenology, the idea that imagery can invoke a feeling or emotion from someone. Even if the imagery itself has no relation to the subject viewing it. The person questions the image and the context of its surroundings and eventually also on the grounds onhow they are affected by it. Whoever is in Obama's advertising team knew what they were doing when they hired Shepard Fairey. The imagery of Senator Obama is stark and dynamic and in true Constructivism fashion the use of geometric shapes and bright colors pops from the poster and into the eyes and mind of the viewer. Fairey isn't a stranger to communist art and imagery. By taking elements that have made propaganda art work he has fashioned Obama into a vision of the future. Adding the word "Progress" is just like an arrow for those lost images meaning.
Click here to find out more about the Constructivism Movement
What do you think their logos are suggesting? Please give your overall thoughts.
McCain's logo is very simple in presentation. The single star possibly represents McCain. And from what I can tell it's a military star often found on the regalia of officers. McCain has been a solider and P.O.W. His symbol suggests his affiliation with his military background. Something I'm sure appeals to patriots and Americans all around. If you like stuff like that. The subtitle flag imagery in the background is a reminder of the values and loyalty of McCain to this country.
Obama's logo has many elements and meanings within its simple imagery. The use of a "O" I felt was smart as it allowed the creation of a sun like image rising from the foreground that is colored like the American flag. The logo could be interpreted as a "new day" or "new beginning" for America. Compared to McCain's logo, Obama's is more fresh and clean looking. It incorporates the flag imagery within the design itself. Not like McCain's logo which uses the flag as a background. McCain's logo looks amateurish in construction while Obama's is clean and smart.
Thanks Dan for participating! Im sure we’ll see more of you and your work in the future. Be on the look out for the next contributor on our Politics in the Pressroom Presidential coverage….
