Our Generation’s Model Citizen

Posted by Qichen Zhang on January 7, 2010 at 10:24 pm

America always manages to keep things classy. We’re the only ones with NASCAR, velour track suits, and the Country Music Awards to keep us on the cutting edge of culture and refinement. But now there’s proof that our country looks the best. The photo of Mr. President at the Great Wall of China in November that’s been spreading around the internet recently is letting the rest of the world know that we don’t all wear shirts that say “jUiCy” on the chest. I think we can all agree that if there were a President’s edition of “America’s Next Top Model,” the land of the free would hands down be the last one standing at deliberations, with 100% of Tyra’s “smile with your eyes” approval.

obama_youth_09

"I'm just serving my constituents."

model-obama

Obama is the new black: A politically charged model at New York Fashion Week.

So what’s with all the fuss that the White House is making about Weatherproof shamelessly appropriating the AP photo of Obama to their advertising advantage? Sure, the executive dudes may have breached some sort of promotional taboo, being all sly about permissions yet not violating any intellectual property rights whatsoever. But does it really matter whether it’s a matter of business ethics? It’s entirely appropriate that after being elected by a disillusioned 18-to-25-year-old age bracket who became obsessed with his “Be the Change” ideal, his appeal would be advertised to this same demographic using a hypervisual, commercialized vanity that completely characterizes this image-conscious generation. Hello, isn’t it obvious? Obama knows who to prop. White House, I gotta call you out on this one. Just chillax. Holla back at you, O-boi!

So let’s be real for two seconds. Obama’s probably okay with his face being plastered at 32948729387-megapixel resolution in Times Square. More than okay. Flattered, even. After all, the man’s got the authoritative charm of Reagan in “The Hasty Heart” and the supple skin of a baby’s bottom. (Is it Nivea? Tell us your secret!) In any case, if I were a New Yorker, I’d say my commute around town definitely improved from the days of yore.

Photos courtesy of Entertainment Rundown and New York Daily News.
Related Posts with Thumbnails

Category: Editors, Qichen's Blog

Tagged: , , , , , , , ,

1 person likes this post.

5 Responses

  1. admin says:

    Dood, agreed. Also, there was recently that story of the White House freaking out about a PETA fur-free advert with Michelle Obama on it. Errrrr

    And true life: When I was 16 I actually owned a shirt that said “JUICY” on the front in glittery green letters. Naturally, it was from Korea, and I never could figure out why all the boys would chuckle at me when I passed by. FML
    - Alisha

  2. Qichen Zhang says:

    Aha. It’s OK, we’ve all been there.

  3. Ahh (btw this is really geeky) but whats the sourcelink for that second photo because… I think that’s Chanel Iman? She’s blasian and I have never seen her rock that hair before. Also, I think it’s photoshopped.

  4. admin says:

    Are you sure that’s Chanel? It doesn’t really look like her..
    -alisha

  5. Qichen Zhang says:

    Here: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/08/18/2008-08-18_barack_obama_offers_campaign_gear_from_i.html

    I don’t think it’s her. Although after Ingrid’s vehement blasian shoutout, I almost wish it were, lollers.

Leave a Reply

Procrastination Station

Image of the Day:


Videos of the Day:
Leverett does the 80's


fuckyeahcats


Unicorn After the Dentist. I repeat. UNICORN AFTER THE DENTIST.


Yay bipedalism!


This baby has better taste in music than you.


The Handsome Man's Club = Jimmy Kimmel's version of a final club



Noice Playlist of the Week #12: Back to the Grind

INTERNATIONAL TESTIMONIALS

"Jealous Ivy League students"
--The Daily Telegraph

"Harvard jerks"
--Neel Shah, Page Six, NY Post

"Controversial"
--Access Hollywood

"A big deal"
--NY Daily News

"Rival"
--Starpulse

"Harvard kids"
--Extra! TV

"Pathetic"
--Just Jared Jr.

"Scheming...totally out of line"
--Teen Vogue

"Gems...eagle-eyed"
--Dlisted

"Harvard geeks"
--LA Times

"Those people are assholes"
--Fark.com

"Good reason to be, well, crimson"
--People Magazine

"Nerd terror squad"
--Cityfile

"Nouveau riche scum"
--NowPublic

"Like, super brainy kids"
--Anything Hollywood

"Silly mountain to molehill"
--Gryffindor Gazette

"Wicked publication"
--The Harvard Crimson

"Zeitungsmacher"
--Die Presse


OTHER MENTIONS: Huffington Post, New York Magazine

Masthead

President, Editor In Chief, Alisha Ramos '12
Executive Editor, Liyun Jin '12
Features Director, Qichen Zhang '12
Voiceover Director, Sara Plana '12
Lifestyle Director, Henry Woodward-Fisher '12
The Dish Director, Charlotte Austin '11
Web Director, Ingrid Pierre '12
Associate Web Directors
Kathleen French '13
Graham Simpson '13
Director of Photography, Emily Xie '12
Associate Photographers
Nikki Anderson '10
Caroline Lowe '12
Sasha Mironov '13
Alex Savona '12
Grace Sun '12
Colin Teo '12
Staff Writers
Suzanna Bobadilla '13
Crystal Coser '12
Philip Gingerich '13
Kathleen French '13
Liyun Jin '12
John Paul Jones '12
Stephanie O'Connell '13
Molly O'Donnell '12
Ingrid Pierre '12
Ricardo Garcia-Rojas '13
Dustin Poore '12
Bella Wang '12
Web Editors
Bonnie Cao '12
New Initiatives Director, Simone Zhang '12
Design Director, Melissa Wong '12
Social Director, Katie McNicol '12
Co-Directors of Business Operations, Margarita Krivitski '11, Brian Shen '11
Compbabies
SPRING COMP 2010 will commence Feb 15! Email us for more info.