The Campaign Poster Debaffler: 3 – Caroline Simons (Libertas)
Our third slice of “Debafflement" sees the series move from local level to European, and from Shannonside to the banks of the Liffey. Courtesy of Simon McGarr comes the below image. He's (presumably) baffled and bewildered and needing our help. Glad to try and unscramble his mind-jam.
Sweet mother of incongruity and mishmashment. A veritable feast of signs, cues and elements. Where to start?
Is the integration of the tricolour and the EU flag supposed to reassure or alarm? Does it speak of harmony and unity, or the latter devouring the former? Might Ms. Simon's bisecting head indicate that she (and her party) can halt the blurring of boundaries and ensure the maintenance of heterogeneity? And what does the gold cláirseach (emblazoned on Ms. Simon's left breast) add to this heady potpourri? We might need to rope in Dan Brown to decrypt this one.
Then there's the slogan – “It's Your Future – Take it Back". Are we to infer from this that Libertas no longer wants our future? What's wrong with it? And how did they get their hands on it in the first place?
Of course the pairing of the words “Back" & “Future" could simply be evidence of a cheap attempt to appeal to the nostalgia/retro crowd. I mean, who doesn't love Michael J. Fox? Or DeLorean cars? Or time travel and incest?
Ms. Simon's unearthly glow certainly seems to indicate that she's either a) Dead (see Cormac Hurley for details), or, b) straddling a crack in the space-time continuum, and phasing in & out of our reality (see Star Trek TNG for details).
Libertas? Kings & Queens of discombobulating bafflement.
May 22, 2009
14 responses to The Campaign Poster Debaffler: 3 – Caroline Simons (Libertas)
Don’t forget that she is wearing a jacket, and a poster, that is the same colour reserved for the cover of Bunreacht na hEireann. And that the state crest appears to be positioned like a blazer badge on same.
All that, and the soapily condescending half smile suggest she is running for the position of National Head Girl.
Albeit one who glows like a Scooby-Doo phosphor doused ghost.
She’s been on the Ready-Brek.
I think she’s tilting at the hardcore religious crowd: all that blue, the glow, and the way the flags look like a headscarf. (Subtext: If the Virgin Mary ran for office, she’d be with Libertas…)
Simon, Definitely a head girl vibe. I bet she still tells people how many points she got in her Leaving. And smirks smugly when she finds out the person she’s talking to only got a C1 in Hons. French. Of course if you follow the Scooby-Doo logic then that head is but a giant rubber mask, hiding some disgruntled fair-ground/mine/hotel (etc) owner underneath. Either way, I’m not feeling the love.
John, If I ever run I’m going to paint myself gold and replace my eyes with diamonds. The awesome glow will dazzle voters into giving me the nod. People don’t want ruddy-faced fatsos in crumpled suits. They want demi-gods.
Doubtful, The Virgin Mary (Magdalene?) angle adds yet another Dan Brown-y twist to proceedings. Ms. Simons looks ready to take the suffering of the world into her heart, while revealing mysteries and secrets to stun all the nations of the earth. Can’t fault her for ambition.
Libertas? What’s this? A party dedicated to a Roman goddess?
If I take back my future does that mean she doesn’t have one?
Don’t forget that she is wearing a jacket, and a poster, that is the same colour reserved for the cover of Bunreacht na hEireann. And that the state crest appears to be positioned like a blazer badge on same.
We’ve been here before with Messr. McGuirk, Waghorne & Co. and the (mis)appropriation of the symbols of this State, haven’t we? I recall a Freedom Intitute attempt at a relaunch of their website which stuck the Harp up as a masthead - tch, tch. I further saw on the Cedar Lounge that Libertas’ story is:
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2009/05/19/libertas-and-the-presidential-harp/
Given that the usual “Libertas spokesman” in these parts is the selfsame Mr. McGuirk, then perhaps their claims of innocent mistake will warrant some further scrutiny by the law.
No-one seems to have noticed how like Tyne Daly. Of Cagney and Lacey fame. We could do with a bit of Tyne Daly round here.
Fustar, I just love these debafflers. You’ve written on a wide range of subjects but this just seems perfect in style and humour.
I’m almost… well, hmmm, maybe it’s just because I’m ovulating. But hormones aside, it’s great. More!
There’s a poster in Bray I wish you could see, just the blown-up face of Warren flanagan Tobin, independent candidate, with artfully styled boyband hair, so young, and looking like the camp Irish one in the Big Brother House.
My amusement is dampened slightly by the the fact that he was chairman of Wicklow Against Suicide, as he lost his father to it, so, good work Warren… but the look, is, em, more youthful than is strictly inspiring, I would say.
Yes, John. Yes it is. Where have you been? Japan?
EWI, Instead of…
…read…
Jo, Thanks. I knew there was a definite 80s American TV vibe going on, but couldn’t quite put my finger on the specifics. She’s very Lacey alright. Pushing retro buttons again.
I’m probably going to avoid putting the boot in on the independents. The thrown-togetherness of their posters (probably) owes less to calculated cynicism and more to a lack of time and money.
There really is a creepy eighties vibe in the soft-focus that caught my attention: I think it looks like Dawn French lampooning Cagney and Lacey really. The populist symbolism and the jibberish slogan and the dominating navey blue hue on top of that smug smile have sealed the deal for me, No.1 Libertas!
Cnuimh, I’m becoming convinved that this campaign is all about a) the future by way of the past, and, b) death. If these trends hold I’ve got my design ready for the next local elections.
Me in a skeleton suit, sitting at the controls of a time machine that’s shaped like Wanderley Wagon (the Wagon is being pulled by Magnum’s Ferrari). Part DÃa de los Muertos, part Triple-A Golden Maverick style Irish nostalgia. Can’t lose.
The only candidate in this election that does not need a web site…
Here is all I managed to find about her:
http://www.ivanstojanovic.com/caroline-simons/
Ivan, Well in fairness there is this on the libertas website…
http://www.libertas.eu/ireland/candidates/carolinesimons
…but I take your point. Hardly sufficient.
I was just talking to someone the other day about the astonishingly poor online presence many local election candidates have (at least in Munster), When the posters first went up around my neighbourhood I took note of names and looked them up at home. A pitiful lack of real, concrete information, in general, and very few real attempts made to rally online support.
Correction : The former Chairman of Wicklow Against Suicide is called Wayne (NOT WARREN) and he did not only just lose his father to suicide so perhaps keeping smart comments about the guy to yourself might be nicer. That said, he can certainly speak for himself I have found their group a good asset for the area. He got my vote. M.
hahaha!!! YAWN !!!