T-shirt Politics
While in New York I stopped into one of Urban Outfitters’ flagship, hipper than normal stores. In the basement, near the back, they had a huge selection of printed T-shirts. Most were styled to look used and from the 70’s, saying stupid or silly things. There was a really disturbing one though, printed with patriotic colors and proclaiming Voting is for Old People on the front. The design is supposedly ironic, but really just irresponsible. It promotes the idea that voting “isn’t cool”, which will be taken at face value by many of their younger and trend whoring patrons. Similar in nature, though not as direct is the American Rat Race shirt.
What’s going on here? Why are politics being so blatantly ignored and dismissed by fashion designers? There’s a fine line between irony and apathy, and if ironic critique of our two party system was the goal of this design, then it horribly failed. Or maybe it’s only ironic if paired with a trucker cap.
Another news story about the issue can be found here, and MTV News has a video clip about it.
Update: 3/1/2004
NPR aired a story about the T-shirt controversy today. They also named the designers, Vintage Vantage, who are responding to the negative press in the most immature fashion possible. An example is the February 18th post on their press page where they make fun of Kat Storemski, the woman featured in the MTV interview by calling her a “dork” and making this mocking graphic. The next post makes fun of Russell Simmons for speaking out, and a glance at their product page for the shirt calls upon “the Camp Cool faithful” to support them. So yes, we’re dealing with assholes here.
Comments
Posted by: Craig on February 27, 2004 12:36 PM
Posted by: miguel on February 27, 2004 1:45 PM
Posted by: miguel on February 27, 2004 1:48 PM
Posted by: miguel on March 2, 2004 1:39 PM
Posted by: Vintage Vantage on March 4, 2004 3:19 AM
Posted by: Rob (Kat's Friend) on March 4, 2004 12:51 PM
Posted by: miguel on March 4, 2004 2:06 PM
Posted by: Ben Grossman on March 4, 2004 5:55 PM
Posted by: e_prime on March 5, 2004 12:56 PM
Posted by: miguel on March 5, 2004 7:11 PM