2 Responses to That’s Just So Mean! (Ma Ying-jeou Edition)

1. Colin Green says:

   January 18, 2012 at 6:31 am

   It’s actually not as bad as it looks. That image was pretty prevalent in local coverage to connote triumphant victory. Cultural context is key.

   For months, the majority of the political advertising over here (in the R.O.C.) almost implied that the depicted candidates from either party would beat you up if you didn’t vote for them.

   Exhibit: http://www.newstimes.com/mediaManager/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=1937981&width=628&height=471

   The image on the party-propagated poster linked above was mass-produced onto banners and billboards all over Taiwan, including one on the corner downstairs from my apartment.

   Teeth bared, muscles tensed, fists up, and this one’s on the kinder/gentler side of the iconography.

   Reply
   • Campaign Outsider says:

     January 18, 2012 at 1:48 pm

     Thanks, Colin. Interesting stuff.

     Reply