Comments on: You Are/I Am

You Are/I Am

modernsquid — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 07:54:14 -0800

You are beautiful. is a project that reminds me of this. (previously discussed here.) Be sure to check out the postcards and books. I've signed up to participate.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:22:58 -0800

Can you please explain this? What the hell is it? I clicked on a few links and got some photos that aren't especially informative or compelling.

By: u.n. owen

u.n. owen — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:24:08 -0800

Okay, I was just going to ask if I was really dumb. I don't get it.

By: modernsquid

modernsquid — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:31:42 -0800

Click on the pic for their statement. I just thought it was a good idea that produced some good work.

By: Mayor Curley

Mayor Curley — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:41:49 -0800

You Are Beautiful uses the medium of advertising and commercialization to spread a positive message. Graffiti artists-- is there anything they don't know?

By: Simon!

Simon! — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:50:04 -0800

It's just Obey Giant, but instead of being weird for weird's sake, it's being nice for nice's sake.. I like it.

By: iconomy

iconomy — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:54:07 -0800

Mmm I love the 'sneak peek' at the books. I'd really like to try to make a book like that. The postcards are great as well - there's one that looks like it was drawn by Tim Biskup, a favorite pop artist of mine.

By: Swampjazz!

Swampjazz! — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 08:58:46 -0800

These guys are working out of my neighborhood, so it's been interesting to see all of this go down firsthand. I think it's been a mixed success artistically, but it's hard to argue with their intentions, and as far as I can tell they're working with essentially total anonymity, which is noble, in my opinion. why is any semi-viral street art project "just obey giant"?

By: kamylyon

kamylyon — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 09:18:22 -0800

y'know, it's nice to hear it from someone else, but I personally don't need advertising to tell me that I'm beautiful.

By: LavaLady

LavaLady — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 09:27:02 -0800

I think I get it. Before I even read the statement I had my SASE filled out. Can't wait for the postcards. It struck me very deep, although I can't say why. Maybe I can. The sentiment is very positive, but not treacly. It made me feel good. For the price of a stamp I can pass it along. Not bad.

By: fandango_matt

fandango_matt — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 10:29:06 -0800

Obey Giant is everywhere in the City, and has been for a long time. I feel like I should understand it by now. But I don't. Please to explain.

By: superfem

superfem — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 10:29:27 -0800

Thank you modernsquid. I love that you have to explore the site to really get the gist of the project (although the 'You Are Beautiful' mantra conveys the sentiment on its own). Also reminds me of a graphic design presentation I went to recently that described an exhibition that was idealistic, amazing, and inspiring: Massive Change.

By: superfem

superfem — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 10:37:19 -0800

^ Already discussed apparently.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 11:00:58 -0800

Damn. I thought this was going to be a link to a Christina Aguilera fan site.

By: Simon!

Simon! — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 11:21:24 -0800

Swampjazz!: I'm sorry that I'm apparently not giving enough credence to the vast rainbow of diversity within the genre of "putting unusual, non-commercial stickers in public places to transform the urban mundane into participatory art." But I'm not seeing where this departs from Obey Giant, or the dozens of other, similar, antecedent projects. As I said, I like it, but this isn't a artistic revolution. It's a bunch of stickers that think that I am pretty.

By: Specklet

Specklet — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 13:08:38 -0800

I like it. I'm signing up. Thanks, MS.

By: shoepal

shoepal — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 13:51:02 -0800

fandango_matt, Obey started as "Andre the Giant has a Posse" by a guy who was a student at RISD. He says it was an experiment in "phenomonology" or something like that. His name is Shepard Fairey. Interesting guy, actually. Here's an interview. As to the You are beautiful stickers, I swear they were on the blue a year or 2 ago (maybe in reference to the toynbee tiles?). My stickers took about 6 months to arrive and of course I haven't actually put them anywear. They just sit in the envelope they arrived in. sigh.

By: botono9

botono9 — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 15:49:56 -0800

As I said, I like it, but this isn't a artistic revolution. No one has claimed that it is. But don't let that stop you from finding something wrong with it.

By: tr33hggr

tr33hggr — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 16:44:14 -0800

Why does it have to be advertising? Because it's a public statement?

By: interrupt

interrupt — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 17:22:50 -0800

y'know, it's nice to hear it from someone else, but I personally don't need advertising to tell me that I'm beautiful. um, isn't this a response to advertising?

By: breakfast_yeti

breakfast_yeti — Tue, 14 Dec 2004 18:28:57 -0800

save two stamps, fuck an ugly person. feel better? i didn't think so.

By: Ritchie

Ritchie — Wed, 15 Dec 2004 05:06:27 -0800

Reminds me of eternity