sweet music
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October 21, 2008
October 18, 2008
Electoral Appeal
The electoral process awakens basic human traits that transcend geography and time. In Roland Barthes' mid-50's essay "Photography and Electoral Appeal," we are reminded that "electoral photography is... above all the acknowledgment of something deep and irrational co-extensive with politics. What is transmitted through the photograph of the candidate are not his plans, but his deep motives, all his family, mental, even erotic circumstances, all this style of life of which he is at one the product, the example and the bait." It seems clear that little has changed in the past few decades. Elections are about about motives, not plans, almost universally and certainly in the case of most western democracies. Our undeniable superficial approach to forming our own political views awkwardly unite us no matter where we stand. Maybe we should just celebrate this, even exploit it and have fun with it... as opposed to surrender to sentimentalism and anger. Life is just too short.
