OBEY

MANIFESTO

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

Estampas tragicómicas

Del Astillero de Julio Hernández López:

"Estampas tragicómicas ante el primer problema social que ha de enfrentar el gobierno del gran caldero: un bajito marca el alto a una inflación que hace aparecer en los labios morelianos la palabra devaluación; y la urgencia de parecer presto, raudo, ejecutivo, lleva al presuntamente nada populista Felipe de Jesús a dar órdenes como esa de "no me importa que traigan el maíz de lugares a miles de kilómetros de distancia": nuevo echeverrismo de asustada derecha que cree posible acarrear en redilas aéreas los insumos que cumplan la orden imperial que no acepta razones en contra."

Y sobre el fabricante de encuestas patito y la mafia demoscópica, Hernández López comenta:

"El crimen (demoscópico) siempre paga: Guillermo Valdés Castellanos era director de GEA-ISA, una de las empresas encuestadoras que creó las condiciones para aparentar que Felipe Calderón de pronto tomaba una impensable delantera en la campaña presidencial pasada. Imparcial, objetivo, neutral, equitativo e independiente, Valdés fue uno de los proveedores de material para que comentaristas y opinantes mediáticos tejieran la historia de que López Obrador había sido insólitamente desplazado de las preferencias electorales para dar paso al milagroso Niño Azul de Morelia. Esos comentaristas y opinantes alzaban las cejas y mostraban extrañeza de que se dudara de trabajos tan serios y profesionales como los de, por ejemplo, GEA-ISA. Hombre, si las encuestas de opinión (o, cuando menos, los resultados oficialmente dados a conocer) decían cosas distintas a lo que la realidad no encuestada mostraba, pues problema de esa realidad sería. El fraude electoral, se ha insistido aquí, tuvo ingredientes demoscópicos, mediáticos, cibernéticos y de mapachería tradicional. Pues bien, ese director de GEA-ISA ha tomado posesión ya como titular del Centro de Investigación y Seguridad Nacional (Cisen) y, desde allí aportará información y sugerirá estrategias políticas para la consolidación del personaje al que sirvió desde la casa encuestadora del sexenio, casa que no sólo ha producido a un jefe de espionaje sino, también, a un director de Pemex, pues GEA-ISA es propiedad de Jesús Reyes Heroles González Garza. Está a la vista el círculo ferpecto (perdón se pide a Alex de la Iglesia por usar una parte del título de su película): las encuestas fabrican una percepción que abre paso a la imposición de un poder fraudulento que luego premia a los falseadores originales (y ya no agregó esta columna el punto clave de la relación subordinada del presidente del IFE respecto a JRHGG)... "