Happy Design Things: Media Portrayals of Political Figures.

In 1968, Esquire magazine ran an issue with the cover depicting Richard Nixon having his makeup put on. The copy read, “Nixon’s last chance (This time he’d better look right!).” This of course, is in reference to the 1960s election vs. JFK, where Nixon’s appearance on television was his downfall.

The stock photo of Nixon has to been altered to appear like he is having his makeup put on for a television appearance. The brushes were even colored pink to further emasculate him. This is only one of the gender reversal covers that the magazine has run. Even without copy, this photo creates a visual statement undermining his credibility as a political figure.

This is not the first time a parody has been made of a political figure, and it certainly is not the last. These images send messages to the public - especially voters - about the subject's campaign and image. People may end up not taking the figure represented as seriously as they should. These images could also sway voters' opinions of candidates.

I just thought this was funny.

During the most recent presidential election in 2008, the prominent political candidates were under brutal fire from the media in regards to political parodies and cartoons. These spoofs were designed to satirize political figures in order to make social and political points. While some parodies seem like sarcastic attacks on the political figure, many are done with respect and appreciation for the subject.

One more controversial example would be the cover of July 21, 2008, edition of The New Yorker magazine. The cover features caricatures of, at the time, Sen. Barak Obama and wife Michelle, in the white house. Barak is dressed in traditional Muslim garb while Michelle pictures with an afro and a gun slung over her shoulder. The couple is “fist-bumping” while an American flag burns in the fireplace under a painting of Osama Bin Laden. The New Yorker intended the cover to be a satire on Barak’s patriotism.

Personally I think this cover is very distasteful on the part of The New Yorker. Their cartoons are usually witty and ironic, not slanderous. Both political parties are reported as having found the magazine cover very offensive and inappropriate.

In August 2008, Vanity Fair magazine created a cover featuring Sen. John McCain using a walker and “fist-bumping” his wife Cindy while the Constitution burns in the fireplace under a portrait of President Bush, as a spoof on the highly controversial cover The New Yorker unveiled the previous month. This cover was not the official cover of that month's issue.

These covers have no additional copy and are therefore, left for interpretation by the viewer, even though, I think most people will agree that the images of these political figures are being undermined. I find a lot of these spoofs unnecessary.

I believe that these covers are much harsher than the 1968 Nixon cover. Although, it may have been controversial at the time, the Nixon cover has nothing on the brutality of today’s political parodies.

Design-wise, all three designs are similar in using lighter shades of colors in the image. Placement on the page is different as well as the fact that the newer images are illustrated, whereas the Nixon image is a photograph.

These images are about visual associations of political figures, however, if you enjoy verbal and visual associations of political figures, check out Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as Sarah Palin and Hilary Clinton.