A picture is worth a thousand words.
Donald Trump's current brand is a revision from the 2016 brand where he was the successful, charismatic billionaire who would get tough on immigration. Now, amid his legal problems and his many detractors, he presents himself as strong, defiant, and indomitable in the arena of battle.
The images by Charlotte Alter of Time Magazine and Shepard Fairey, the artist who created Barack Obama's "Hope" poster 16 years ago, show an idealized image of a young women looking ahead. Idealistic. Hopeful. Optimistic.
Donald Trump's current brand is a revision from the 2016 brand where he was the successful, charismatic billionaire who would get tough on immigration. Now, amid his legal problems and his many detractors, he presents himself as strong, defiant, and indomitable in the arena of battle.
He is in a boxer's pose, eyebrows down, defending against a blow. He will be hard and cruel to opponents because he fights to win. It is a tough world of no-holds-barred competition. He is fighting for his team.
Kamala Harris has had her image made for her by two artists this week. I expect them to settle in as the primary look of the Harris brand.
The images by Charlotte Alter of Time Magazine and Shepard Fairey, the artist who created Barack Obama's "Hope" poster 16 years ago, show an idealized image of a young women looking ahead. Idealistic. Hopeful. Optimistic.
It lays out the choices for voters. Old fights vs. new hope. Negative vs. positive. Fighter vs. creator. Old baggage vs. new and fresh. I like Harris' chances here.
Democrats should not get too comfortable, though. Both images of Harris contain a vulnerability embedded in this brand. She is looking skyward and may not be grounded in practical realities. She may be a dreamer who will chase unrealistic programs created by ivory tower ideologues. In the effort to turn the brand negative, Trump calls her a low-IQ fool.
Harris turns Trump's image negative by describing him as a tiresome, narcissistic, criminal weirdo stuck fighting past battles.
Every strong brand has a negative side.
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12 comments:
Ya gotta love it: Trump's brand is his mug shot with the caption "NEVER SURRENDER" which is exactly what he did when the picture was taken.
I'm convinced Irony died when he committed perjury by taking the Oath of Office in 2017.
What does the mugshot represent? It's a MUGSHOT! Any deeper meaning is a projection.
Major omission here: if Harris gets two brand images, Trump should certainly also get the upraised fist and bloody ear immediately after the assassination attempt. It doesn’t detract from the post’s analysis, though. But symmetry is symmetry.
Dear LD. The two Harris images are nearly identical. They were produced independently, I presume, but both captured the same look. One look by Trump; one by Harris. Equality and equity. Trump's was hugely intentional and planned He knew the mug shot was coming and prepared for it and immediately released it when it displayed just what he wanted. Harris may not exactly want this one, for the vulnerability I mention, the dreamy idealistic look, and if she works hard to create a new image, one with her looking happy but grounded, then I will do another post, commenting (with my usual brilliance and insight) that Harris adjusted with specific intent. That would be tru symmetry. Then I will liken it to Trump's intentional pose for the mugshot.
A big surprise when walking the Boardwalk in Ocean City, MD last week were the large number of ships selling tshirts and hoodies with that raised fist photo of Trump after the attempted assassination.
And none at all of Harris.
Surprising...
What I have always wanted to know: How did Trump get the best-lit mug shot in history? Gotta a be a story there, about side lighting, no? Talk about conspiracy....
TCF intentionally posed that way trying to look tough. I think it was Martin Scorsese who developed that chin down, glaring look for characters in some of his movies. TFCs imitation isn't bad for a physical and moral coward.
"TFC=Thee Convicted Felon"
Why did he get to wear a suit and tie, instead of a Jailhouse Jumpsuit in Orange ?
Equal treatment , my rosy red A** !
We are all waiting to see whether she landed on her feet or her head when she fell out of that coconut tree.
At the moment, barring something unforeseen, it looks like she’s going to win. But given how this year has gone so far, that statement gives me much less confidence than it usually would.
The image I'd like to see is one of Trump sticking his foot in his mouth and then shooting himself in the foot, as he did recently when comparing the presidential medal of freedom with the Medal of Honor.
Yes, overconfidence could kill the momentum. 80 odd days can be a lifetime in this Countries Political scheme.
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