How do you feel about Shepard Fairey?

[christthetiger]

it wack how commercial everything got.

from :

who can say no to the all mighty $?

to:


im not gonna front, i have a bunch of Obey...

thoughts>?

[the acid never lies]

Hardly a shocker, don't all things 'counter-cultural' get absorbed into the establishment?

[the acid never lies]

Wait, Shepherd who?

[the acid never lies]

Ah this clears things up a little:

The OBEY sticker campaign can be explained as an experiment in Phenomenology. Heidegger describes Phenomenology as “the process of letting things manifest themselves.” Phenomenology attempts to enable people to see clearly something that is right before their eyes but obscured; things that are so taken for granted that they are muted by abstract observation.

The FIRST AIM OF PHENOMENOLOGY is to reawaken a sense of wonder about one’s environment. The OBEY sticker attempts to stimulate curiosity and bring people to question both the sticker and their relationship with their surroundings. Because people are not used to seeing advertisements or propaganda for which the product or motive is not obvious, frequent and novel encounters with the sticker provoke thought and possible frustration, nevertheless revitalizing the viewer’s perception and attention to detail. The sticker has no meaning but exists only to cause people to react, to contemplate and search for meaning in the sticker. Because OBEY has no actual meaning, the various reactions and interpretations of those who view it reflect their personality and the nature of their sensibilities.

Many people who are familiar with the sticker find the image itself amusing, recognizing it as nonsensical, and are able to derive straightforward visual pleasure without burdening themselves with an explanation. The PARANOID OR CONSERVATIVE VIEWER however may be confused by the sticker’s persistent presence and condemn it as an underground cult with subversive intentions. Many stickers have been peeled down by people who were annoyed by them, considering them an eye sore and an act of petty vandalism, which is ironic considering the number of commercial graphic images everyone in American society is assaulted with daily.

Another phenomenon the sticker has brought to light is the trendy and CONSPICUOUSLY CONSUMPTIVE nature of many members of society. For those who have been surrounded by the sticker, its familiarity and cultural resonance is comforting and owning a sticker provides a souvenir or keepsake, a memento. People have often demanded the sticker merely because they have seen it everywhere and possessing a sticker provides a sense of belonging. The Giant sticker seems mostly to be embraced by those who are (or at least want to seem to be) rebellious. Even though these people may not know the meaning of the sticker, they enjoy its slightly disruptive underground quality and wish to contribute to the furthering of its humorous and absurd presence which seems to somehow be antiestablishment/societal convention. Giant stickers are both embraced and rejected, the reason behind which, upon examination reflects the psyche of the viewer. Whether the reaction be positive or negative, the stickers existence is worthy as long as it causes people to consider the details and meanings of their surroundings. In the name of fun and observation.

Shepard Fairey, 1990

[meer]

Hardly a shocker, don't all things 'counter-cultural' get absorbed into the establishment?

graffiti rarely does, as it's usually completely illegal.
it's pretty much a joke. getting a bunch of sheeple to pay to wear something that says 'OBEY' on it? hilarious.

[ST100]

I think it's cool that people rock his shit and have no clue what it is or who he is.

[upstateface]

Shepard Fairey isn't Graff he's street art.

[christthetiger]

^ word. i personally dont like it when something i considered to be underground at one time, to be so accessible to everyone. i remember how fun it was, back in the day to print hundreds of those andre stickers and plant em everywhere.

now some dude can go grab and obey shirt just cause it looks cool with his shoes.

but thats how i am with everything.

[gwa]

my wardrobe is predominatly obey garms. ive been a fan for years, same with 8. I've even bought the same hoody twice.

wouldn't say he's gone commercial, not that many people know about him

[djacroama]

I'd Obey her....

No idea what this thread is about though

[whitelight]

Personally, I see it as pop art. Looking at it this way, he ended up doing pretty well.

[magma]

Loved Obey... and he's done well for himself. I like it when people work out how to sell their art.

[stappard]

Loved Obey... and he's done well for himself. I like it when people work out how to sell their art.

I've got an Andre Obey poster getting dusty somewhere under my bed. The stuffs cool and it was good to see his Obama picture get a lot of support.

[christthetiger]

you guys are right. im glad he has done well and still kept it proper!