2/7 Response

Two things I wanted to respond to. First I thought everybody who presented their historical perspectives today in class did a great job. It seems like everyone really got into this assignment and did lots of good research and learned a lot. So applause goes round to everybody, even the ones (like me) who will go next week because I know they will all be good, too.
Secondly, I wanted to respond to the new Rolling Stone cover with Kanye West being represented as Jesus. I found the covver to be a really good example of content driven pop culture design. This is what people want when they design, isn't it. For people to talk about it and be interested in it. Lots of people, including us, or saying, "Hey, did you see the new Rolling Stone cover." It has to be selling off the racks, and isn't this what the business is all about. Rolling Stone has always pushed the boundaries with covers. This shouldn't come as a surprise. I liked it a lot. Kanye makes music all the time with relegious undertones. His song "Jesus Walks" was all over the radio last year and I even think he performed the song at the Grammies, if not some other awards show. Many of his songs are marked by controversial lyrics, and a lot of what comes out of his mouth is controversial too (see Katrina and George Bush statements). What better cover to have than one like this for this man. I wouldn't even be surprised if the cover was his idea.