Rethinking the Shepard Fairey Hope poster fair use issue
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
Drowning Girl by Roy Lichtenstein
I was looking through the excellent photographs of Laurie Lambrecht at lens culture: Inside Roy Lichtenstein’s Studio and images like “Bathing Beauties, stencils,” and “Naples” made me wonder if there is a connection between what Roy Lichtenstein did with period graphic images and what Shepard Fairey did with the photograph that was the basis for his Obama “Hope” poster.
Of course there’s a connection but Fairey got in trouble for not citing the photograph (by AP photographer Mannie Garcia) he used as source material for his poster. Many in the photography world got bent (me included) about Fairey not citing the photographer of the image he copied and initially, he denied copying anything until someone came up with the image.
There is no doubt that most artists, photographers, and creators of images are standing on the shoulders of those who came before them. It’s useful to acknowledge that and I’m wondering if Lichtenstein ever acknowledged the graphic designers and artists who’s work he used as the basis for his pop art. Whatever Lichtenstein did or didn’t do doesn’t excuse Fairey but it’s an example of the context in which Fairey was and no doubt continues to operate.
The art world is one weird place.
