The Artist Formerly Known as Dissident: Artists have a duty to dissent—even against Obama

The Artist Formerly Known as Dissident: Artists have a duty to dissent—even against Obama - Reason Magazine: "'The only thing missing is a noose.' Philip Kennicott of The Washington Post stated, 'So why the anonymity? Perhaps because the poster is ultimately a racially charged image.' Bedlam magazine, the first to comment on the poster back in April, argued, 'The Joker white-face imposed on Obama's visage has a sort of malicious, racist, Jim Crow quality to it.' Why would any artist who hopes to have (or keep) a career create images that criticize the president when both journalists and art reviewers make such irrational comments? To give some perspective, remember that the 'noose' comment came from a publication that once presented a cover image of George W. Bush as a bloodthirsty vampire."