April 19, 2010

I was asked to explain why I've made so many of my Tea Party photographs black and white.

The subject came up in the comments to this morning's post, which had 3 black and white photographs. Let me post a few more, and then I'll give my answer.

DSC08973



DSC08983

DSC08980

DSC08996

DSC09076

DSC09080

So, what am I doing with black and white? I'll copy my raw musing from the comments at this morning's post:
Why black and white?

I experiment, tweaking each picture in different ways. Sometimes I like what black and white does.

When does that happen?

1. When the color elements are random or distracting or loud or inconsistent with the mood/theme of the picture.

2. When the shapes and forms are good and you want to give them maximum prominence.

3. Sometimes cutting out the color seems to unify everything.

4. Cutting out the color can give the picture a timeless or historical look or a profundity that works.

I'm drawn to black and white in these pictures as a way of eliminating the casual "picnic" feeling and making things seem more serious and significant.

By the way, my Tea Party pictures are notably neutral. I'm not promoting or criticizing these people with my photographs. I'm observing them and presenting them for what they are. I hope you appreciate that.
That's written more roughly than what I put on the front page here generally. I hope you understand.

Here's an interesting comparison between black and white and color: black & white and color. It makes a big difference, doesn't it?

107 comments:

themightypuck said...

I like the photos. Keep up the good work.

bagoh20 said...

Perhaps the Civil War was more festive than it appears. Then again black and white was at the core of that.

veni vidi vici said...

And here I was, thinking you were trying to make a subtle statement, given that there don't appear to be any people of color in any of the photos you posted!

Seeing the b&w pics brought the whole "no black folks at the racist honkey Tea Party" meme to mind. Nice meta-work!


wv: "materwil" -- If your pater doesn't, your materwil.

Ann Althouse said...

@veni vidi vici Gah! The knee jerk where are all the black people is really tiresome.

You know what I would find repulsive? Going to a Tea Party event and making a big point of getting black people in the shot. But I know there are photographers who would do that and I feel bad that black people who might want to go may need to feel that they don't want to because they will be overused in photographs by Tea Party enthusiasts.

Robert J. said...

Try some in sepia. Most photo-editing software will let you convert to sepia just like converting to b&w.

David said...

The Civil War started festive.

Bravado and exuberance on both sides.

Not for long.

David said...

The first photo is the best imho. The meticulously dressed woman in a sea of everyday slobbery. Probably she had heard that Tea Partiers were Country Club types. What a disappointment.

Superdad said...

The first photo demonstrates that Bruce Willis was at the Madison Tea Party. Check it out. Right hand side in the cap.

Issob Morocco said...

I was looking at the black and white world, it seemed so exciting.

ricpic said...

I like the three fat dudes picture. Don't know why, I just like it.

RLB_IV said...

The faces "pop" in B&W so that individual expressions stand out from the crowd.

I am intrigued by the blond in the suit with the pleated skirt. She is one of the people I would have spoken to at the rally. She looks familiar.

Daddio said...

Wow, the difference in your two sample images is pretty drastic. In the B/W version, I noticed the different people in the foreground. Which is really what it is all about. In the color version, I immediately saw the aborted baby on the side of the truck in the background, and even after a few moments never really saw the people individually at all.

David said...

RLB--If you won't talk to the rest of the less well dressed types, you will have a very quiet time in Wisconsin. If you do talk, the Cheeseheads will try not to hold "IV" against you, but it will be hard for them.

Culture tip: Except for Madison, Wisconsin is really not very Democratic, despite the recent success of the donkey party there. But Cheeseheads are relentlessly democratic. Do not put on airs in Cheesehead land.

Chennaul said...

You really think you can be "neutral" when doing photography?

Heh.

Maybe if you found a way to randomize shots or something.

David said...

Well, Milwaukee too.

reader_iam said...

What I like about the b&w picture posts is that it's easier to compare them with the vast majority of images which I saw (and which most people saw) of various protests from decades past, whether moving images or still. Some of the most arresting images of my youth were those attached to protests of one sort and/or another (and I do mean sort and/or --whether anti-war, say, or for another example, from those angry over court-ordered desegegration/busing).

Perhaps it really is just due to my prism, of one sort and/or another, but I'm simply not seeing the level of anger in these images (b&w OR color, for that matter) than so many, many, many of the others.

Ann Althouse said...

Most of the people at the rally in Madison came in from outside of the city. There was much talk of buses. Madison residents were not well-represented in the crowd, I believe.

Paddy O said...

"Perhaps the Civil War was more festive than it appears."

Festive indeed!"

Often even had a casual 'picnic' feeling to it.

themightypuck said...

It is a bit funny to bus people into Madison for a conservative protest but what do I know. I take a dim view of crowds.

Peter Hoh said...

re. the comparison photos: you eliminated the man in shorts.

All while claiming to be neutral.

You, a law professor!

reader_iam said...

You go where the opposition is. Also, and/or alternatively, you go where you're most likely to get coverage, even of whatever type.

No?

Unknown said...

first you write:

'Cutting out the color can give the picture a timeless or historical look or a profundity that works.'

then you write:
'I'm drawn to black and white in these pictures as a way of eliminating the casual "picnic" feeling and making things seem more serious and significant'

and then you write:
'my Tea Party pictures are notably neutral. I'm not promoting or criticizing these people with my photographs'

so trying to make things look historical, profound, and more serious and significant is impartial and neutral ?

you lie !

Unknown said...

The B&W pictures have an objectivity to them. Color can be something of a distraction and adds a certain 'heat' Ann has mentioned before. I agree with puck, keep them coming; there will always be a few sourballs (mostly the usual suspects) that will throw a fit.

bagoh20 said...

Perhaps the Civil War was more festive than it appears. Then again black and white was at the core of that.

There are some color photos of the French army at the beginning of WWI showing them in the 19 century uniforms that were still issued. Given that French military fashion was in vogue in the 1850s, those pictures give an idea of what at least the Union Army looked like.

reader_iam said...

I take a dim view of crowds.

Not a live sports fan, I take it? (Or a fan of rock concerts or even, relatively speaking, live performing arts presentations. Or, for that matter, certain exhibitions at art museums, even.)

Anonymous said...

"By the way, my Tea Party pictures are notably neutral."

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

Your frame job of the abortion picture you cropped, reframed and made bloddy to make it seem like a passing vehicle was part of the Tea Party protest was sickening. And in no way was it impartial or neutral.

That was a deliberate smear against the innocent people you framed in the foreground so as to hold them up to public ridicule.

And for which you should be ashamed of yourself.

As a publisher of original news coverage for which you sell advertising, you are held to the same photo editing standards as the New York Times or the Washington Post.

Your altering of that photograph was completely unethical and immoral.

Shame on you.

Alex said...

I think the women in the pleated skirt is kinda hot.

Alex said...

Not a live sports fan, I take it? (Or a fan of rock concerts or even, relatively speaking, live performing arts presentations. Or, for that matter, certain exhibitions at art museums, even.)

I also take a dim view of crowds. A few weeks ago I attended a rock concert. The band was great, but most of the fans behaved like douchebags.

reader_iam said...

Personally, with regard to crowds, my bright, clear, dark line is drawn each and every day after Thanksgiving. Also, for OMG-Best-Movie-Evah premieres and, with the exception of one time, retail-release days of Apple products.

; )

wv: baliamet

LOL.

reader_iam said...

That said, I'm generally a solitary sort. This probably explains why I have a house larger than I really need, I've come to realize.

William said...

I don't know if there's a stereotype you can hang upon this crowd. Some look to be thoughtful and decent; others look to have strong convictions not just on tea party issues but on every single facet of civilization from particle colliders to leaf blowers. Some look like they went along to get along....Opposition to the Democratic health care plan is a pretty wide net. I don't think you can profile brunettes in any meaningful way; likewise with tea partiers.

Anonymous said...

All those things are true about black and white. I have this picture of myself getting a shoeshine in Istanbul. There's a simple white wall in the background with a poster on it -- maybe something political, maybe not.

In color, it looks like a goofy tourist getting his shoes shined. In black and white (and with the contrast somewhat amped up), there's this photojournalistic quality to it and the whole scene looks really intense (which it wasn't, but that's how it looks).

Anyway, fascinating what you can do with the absence of color.

Meade said...

"historical, profound... serious and significant"

If I were President Obama, I'd request that all photos of me be made only in black & white.

themightypuck said...

@reader

You got me. My dim view is pretty specific. I can't stand Disneyland and I don't like arena rock concerts. You won't catch me at Coachella but I've been to more than a few raves and weird email parties. I love soccer and sometimes baseball. I used to go to USC games but I never enjoyed anything between the tailgate and the post game dinner. I guess I should have said I take a dim view of political crowds. Not that there is anything wrong with political crowds.

Anonymous said...

weird email parties

Tell us more. I am highly intrigued.

RLB_IV said...

@David I lived in Milwaukee from 1980 to 1984 and traveled throught the state. I enjoyed my time in Wisconsin, then I moved to San Luis Obispo, Ca.. quite a few cheese heads there.

bagoh20 said...

One of the most searing Black and white photos I remember is the John Filo's showing Kent State student Jeffrey Miller lying face down with blood streaming down the sidewalk in 1970 after being shot by National Guardsmen.

It has stuck with me since I was 12. When the subject of Kent State or violent protest comes up it is what immediately comes to mind.

Irene said...

danielle said, "you lie !"

Hahahaha.

LonewackoDotCom said...

It's good to see that Althouse got some sense and is backing away from the parties.

While there might be a few exceptions here and there, the partiers are in general incredibly stupid and they're hurting the U.S. by lowering the level of debate. Instead of trying to make an argument, all they can do is throw tantrums, wave loopy signs, play dress-up games, and in general act like little kids.

And, by being the loudest, most visible opposition to Obama, they're helping him. They're giving Obama what he wants: a weak, fringe, borderline insane opposition.

Not only are they not opposing Obama, they're hurting the U.S. by refusing to discuss issues like immig. They could do a good turn for the U.S. and for millions of low-wage Americans by supporting immig. enforcement in order to free up jobs. And, by doing that, they'd help undercut the MSM and crooked politicians.

Instead of that, they're acting as useful idiots for those who - even while millions of Americans are unemployed - want to bring in even more foreign labor, legally or not. But, wait, there's more: not only are they collaborating with anti-American groups, but they hold up signs saying "spread my work ethic". As if the millions of unemployed Americans are lazy bums.

Teapartiers really are the lowest of the low, turning their backs on their fellow Americans who are in dire straits in order to whine about their own less serious issues, and serving as useful idiots for those who don't have the U.S.'s best interests at heart.

P.S. Another teaparty tactic is to smear anyone who says anything against them, as I know from comments here. Some have tried to claim that I'm an Obama supporter, when things like me trying to ask him an adversarial question over three years ago and dozens of other posts show otherwise. Enter the name of a politician in the tag search in my right sidebar or just click the big Topics link to see what I've been covering since 2002. I'm not an Obama supporter, I just tend to oppose incredibly stupid, vile, borderline fascistic/sociopathic people who engage in counter-productive activities and who don't have the U.S.'s best interests at heart.

bagoh20 said...

I wonder how much of this difference we see in black and white photos is learned. We grow up seeing mostly important historical things in black and white. Then, as here, we reinforce that by making photos B&W to look that way by choice.

Anonymous said...

Shorter Wacko: "I hate tea partiers because they are not loons about immigration the way I am."

Anonymous said...

Bag -- I don't think there's any question that black and white really brings out the forms in the photograph.

Titus said...

I hate crowds too. All types of crowds, gay crowds, sports crowds, rallys of any kind

Which is kind of weird because I live in one of the most congested cities in the US.

Today was the Boston Marathon and the city was so filled with fergners it was disgusting.

Thank you so much. Have a wonderful evening.

One exception though is I kind of like small town parades with tractors and firetrucks throwing candy and 4 wheelers and cloggers on floats-seriously I find the entire thing very nostalgic.

KCFleming said...

I love the B&W pics.

Mayberry as filmed by David Lynch.



Issob Morocco said...

"I was looking at the black and white world, it seemed so exciting."
Ha!
'Its more than just a physical attraction
It starts with a face and ends up a fixation'

bagoh20 said...

"Another teaparty tactic is to smear anyone who says anything against them,..."

How dare they after I call them: "incredibly stupid, vile, borderline fascistic/sociopathic people who engage in counter-productive activities and who don't have the U.S.'s best interests at heart."

Where do they get off? Those racist spitters. If they debated the issues with some civility, like I do, maybe they would get the attention I command.

Sincerely,
Lonewackjob

garage mahal said...

Most of the people at the rally in Madison came in from outside of the city. There was much talk of buses. Madison residents were not well-represented in the crowd, I believe.

Who is paying for that??? That can't be -- These are only impromptu grass-root gatherings of fiscally concerned tax paying citizens. YOU LIE!!

Stogie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
themightypuck said...

@Macho. LOL. Back in the day there used to be crazy parties where you had to be on an email list and you'd get the info and drive out to where the party was. This was in the 90s before the cops had email.

Anonymous said...

Garage -- I know it's hard for a lazy socialist such as you to believe, but it doesn't take a lot of organization or money to rent a bus.

There are these companies. They're called charters. You could look into it.

But, Garage, I want to make this clear: you are nowhere near even 10 percent the putz that Danielle is.

Stogie said...

You know Ann, a photograph can also be both color AND black and white, especially when you want to emphasize someone or something.

See your photo once again, here:

http://tinyurl.com/y4lzd6x

reader_iam said...

Well, nudge, nudge, Garage Mahal. Wink, wink, too.

OTOH... .

Ann Althouse said...

@Stogie Very interesting, but I must ask you to put my name on the photograph and to put the same creative commons license on it that I use (not "all rights reserved").

Anonymous said...

"... John Filo's showing Kent State student Jeffrey Miller lying face down with blood streaming down the sidewalk in 1970 after being shot by National Guardsmen."

This was one of the original altered photographs which set the modern-day ethical standard for journalism (an inconveniently poaced post was removed from the photo that was published.)

Anonymous said...

"... but I must ask you to put my name on the photograph and to put the same creative commons license on it that I use ..."

Is it "your" photograph once an artist has reinterpreted it? Or is it is an original work of art created by another artist.

Is it merely an (protected) homage? Can Campbell's Soup sue Warhol? They can try, but they won't succeed.

The Associated Press is suing the creator of the Obama blue/red iconic imagery used during his election for similar reasons but won't get too far.

Anonymous said...

New Ham -- I don't think the absence of that post really took away from visceral quality of the photo.

I read an article not long ago about how photoshopping is making people who judge photo contests have to try to draw a line at the point at which photographs stop being representations of the actual reality they represent. I think the Kent State photos fall well on the good side of that line.

garage mahal said...

There are these companies. They're called charters. You could look into it.

Interesting. So (theoretically) some outside group is paying for impromptu grass roots fiscally concerned tax paying citizen gatherings to congregate in multiple cities across America? That doesn't very organic. But hey, what in the fuck do I know. I live a sheltered life.

Anonymous said...

New Ham -- Why on earth would Campbell want to sue Warhol? For making their product iconic? Yeah, what a sucky thing.

Stogie said...

Okay Ann, I will try and do that, though I don't know why you care. It is really a boring picture.

If I can't figure it out I will just delete it.

Patm said...

I like the pics a lot, and I agree with you that they portray a uniformity and also a seriousness that is lost with color. But "When the shapes and forms are good and you want to give them maximum prominence."

Is it b/c tubby people look better in black and white?

Anonymous said...

Garage -- Well, first of all, you are assuming that people got to ride the bus for free. That may be the case, or it may have been that there was a ticket price.

Second, would you consider the Iraq War parades in Washington DC around 2005 organic? I was there. I saw lots and lots of (hilarious) people and lots of buses. Or was it similarly some corporate gambit like you are for mysterious reasons that lead to nothing trying to label these tea party demonstrations?

Anonymous said...

"Why on earth would Campbell want to sue Warhol?"

I'm not suggesting it would be the smartest thing to do, but I've seen copyright lawyers do equally stupid things. Lawyers are - by definition - stupid ... almost as stupid as law professors, who cannot do, so they teach.

Fact of the matter is once a person "re-imagines" your photograph in some way, it is no longer your photograph. It is their artwork.

Ann cannot claim copyright over works of art created by someone else that might be based on her artwork - regardless of what Creative Commons says.

Patm said...

what stuck out at me in the comparison photo is the older lady sitting in the chair with a flag on either side. In the color, you barely notice her. She looks a little like Barbara Bush.

In Black and White, she seems grave and tired and almost resigned. She looks like she's seen bad times before and will see them again.

B&W changes the story.

1775OGG said...

When colorized movies came in, B&W became old and campy. Yet, in the early 50s, there was a small effort to make B&W flicks for an artistic effect; not certain why but it happened. Then of course Turner began his colorization of old B&W flicks and raised the hackles of some, complainers eh!

But, Althouse raises a point with her B&W pics and that aspect might emphasize a particular point of hers. Kind of an artist's viewpoint.

OTOH, I though she might have found that using a colorized digital chip was too expensive!!
-:)

Cheers!

Anonymous said...

Lawyers are - by definition - stupid...

Ann cannot claim copyright over works of art created by someone else that might be based on her artwork


The first claim is silly.

The second is patently false. I mean, it's just ridiculously false. I could name 100 examples in the next hour across a range of media. I'll stick to popular music.

1. The copyright holders of Under Pressure settled with Vanilla out of court for an undisclosed sum.

2. Huey Lewis sued Parker and several other parties, claiming Parker plagiarized "I Want a New Drug" (composed, in part, by Lewis) in composing "Ghostbusters." The parties eventually reached a financial settlement.

You want me to go on? Or are you now convinced that you don't know what the fuck you are talking about?

Angst said...

While I sincerely love all of your pictures -

- these black and white images seem timeless in essence by capturing enduring human emotions.

And you a HEARTLESS law professor!

LonewackoDotCom said...

The partiers - as shown by some comments above - are monumentally stupid. I don't mean garden variety dumb, I mean record setting dumb.


1. Regarding "Seven Machos", teaparty has consistently ignored immig., despite how vital and fundamental it is to what they claim to care about. The Dems and the far-left use it to obtain power, and then spends money because of it. It's an issue that increases the partiers' taxes and reduces their power. Yet, "Seven Machos" thinks being concerned about it is somehow a bad thing. Like I said: these are monumentally stupid people.

2. Regarding "bagoh20", smearing is when you lie and mislead about someone. I can back up each of my claims about teaparty with countless examples. Like I said: these are monumentally stupid people.

Anonymous said...

Wacko -- Maybe there's not a massive groundswell of public protest about immigration because virtually nobody really cares about immigration.

Do you have any idea how hilarious you sound? Your essential argument is: you people are all stupid because you don't care about the issues I care about.

Good luck with that.

rumtumtugger said...

like millions before you, you're trying to cover up the fact you're not a very good photographer by clicking on the b and w button - meh.

Alex said...

In the late 50s, early 60s French new Wave was always black&white, and nowadays it's considered "arty" to make black/white films.

Revenant said...

Is it "your" photograph once an artist has reinterpreted it? Or is it is an original work of art created by another artist.

It depends on how much the new "artist" added to the original work. If, for example, you copied one of Althouse's black and white photos and "reinterpreted" it by running it through a sepia filter, Ann -- not you -- would almost certainly be considered the legal owner of the resulting work.

Can Campbell's Soup sue Warhol?

They could have, yes, and (like several of the other people Warhol whose work Warhol copied) they probably would have won or forced a settlement. What Campbell's opted to do instead was to cooperate with Warhol -- he was, after all, pretty much just placing soup ads in art galleries. :)

Happenstanze said...

@alex

It appears the women in the first picture may be State Senator Alberta Darling. Nice lady.

http://www.albertadarling.com/

Opus One Media said...

certainly a well fed group

AllenS said...

Anything but the fish-eye.

Paco Wové said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KCFleming said...

"certainly a well fed group"

Give Democrats enough time, and they will fix that. (See Cuba 1990-2005; mass starvation)

Jim Gust said...

Many of your B & W photos have that wonderful Diane Arbus feeling. That's the highest praise I have.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ann Althouse said...

Stogie said..."Okay Ann, I will try and do that, though I don't know why you care. It is really a boring picture.
If I can't figure it out I will just delete it."

Did you hear the one about the shoplifter who was caught stealing candy and said "But this candy is awful"?

Ann Althouse said...

So, to be clear, Stogie: Deleting it would be appropriate. I was just trying to be supportive of your work before and nicely encouraging. It's the teacher in me.

rhhardin said...

I wonder if the photo editor can do orthochromatic black and white (no sensitivity to red), for the 1930s touch.

Also it gives some nice landscapes.

MadisonMan said...

I agree that these are most likely out-of-towners. I never see anyone I recognize in them.

Phil 314 said...

By the way, my Tea Party pictures are notably neutral.

Well you've got Danielle on one side and New Ham on the other so it looks like your aim is good.

(which reminds me of this. They combined black and white and color too)

Phil 314 said...

shoot me, shoot me!
More inciting violence

Phil 314 said...

So I went back to the reframed and colorized photo that got New Ham upset and I kept thinking:
she already stated it was reframed and colorized and on top of that she showed the original. So clearly an experiment in how photo technique can influence impression

Is New Ham that sensitive that he sees ulterior motive in everything that doesn't fit his world view. The reaction reminded me of this.

New Ham, you're a funny guy

miss j said...

Since you make money on your blog, how do you deal with model release forms? I ask because my mother does not wish her photo to be on your commercial enterprise.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Video - part 1 from the Tea Party I attended.

Video - part 2

This guy was really good.

Kirby Olson said...

It brings us back to the 1950s when work ethic was still an important philosophy for the middle class, and when we were still proud of America because we had beaten the Nazis, and Democracy was still on the march.

After Vietnam, the left firebombed that America, and left us with Bill Ayers teaching our children "well."

Joe said...

Since you make money on your blog, how do you deal with model release forms? I ask because my mother does not wish her photo to be on your commercial enterprise.

Which one is your Mom? And does a Newspaper, also a money-making enterprise, need your mom's permission to run photo's of her taken at the Tea Party?

She's in a public place, with no expectation of privacy....does Kirstie Allie have to give her permission to the national Enquirer?

Riddle me these things Batman.

Unknown said...

Can't let this thread end without a link to the relevant Calvin and Hobbes strip about color and black-and-white photography:

http://tinyurl.com/y37njxa

Hoosier Daddy said...

Riddle me these things Batman.

Holy flashing Polaroid! I never thought of that!

/facepalm

miss j said...

You don't know much about commercial photography do you? I do.

Why do you assume that she was in one of these pictures?

Do you think I would draw further attention to her by asking the question where her photo is used?


or.. do you think I would use a thread where legal issues regarding photography were raised?

Joe said...

You don't know much about commercial photography do you? I do.
You don’t know much about Cylons, I do……You don’t much about Constitutional Law, I do…..see saying “I do” really is only part of the answer. And I note you don’t say you know a lot about commercial law AND photography, but Commercial photography…..the two are separate but related issues. I notice you didn’t actually answer the questions, you merely said, “I do.” There all sorts of people that know lots about dope-smoking who believe if you ask an undercover peace officer, “are you a cop?” That the under-cover officer must answer truthfully…They THINK they know things they don’t.


Why do you assume that she was in one of these pictures?
Otherwise why bring up the point? If she’s not there, then your question is moot and silly? If she’s not there, and neither is Gordon Brown, does Gordon Brown ALSO have to sign a release to NOT be in the photo? I’m not there either, did Ann need to get a release from me for not being there? So the only reasonable reason to ask this question would be that your Mom was present…otherwise Ann is free and clear, of your Mom, Gordon Brown’s or my complaint.

Do you think I would draw further attention to her by asking the question where her photo is used?

So far that’s the only reasonable part of your posting……


or.. do you think I would use a thread where legal issues regarding photography were raised?

Your meaning is unclear here? Are you asking why else would you post on this issue, on an ostensibly “legal” blog? That’s hard to say. Your mother could be in the photo’s and you have some mistaken belief that your mother has a right to privacy in a public place. You could be subtly pulling our legs? You could be a legal student hoping to spark a legal debate. It’s hard to say WHY you posted what you did, without you telling us. As I say, in fact, it’s hard to say what the last phrase of your posting actually means.

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

Most of the people at the rally in Madison came in from outside of the city.

I would imagine the Tea Party isn't very popular among government workers and university students. I'm guessing these groups (and their families) comprise a large portion of the Madison population.

bagoh20 said...

"government workers and university students."

eewwwww!

Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...

NTTAWWT

veni vidi vici said...

Wait a minute, that's an abortion photo on the truck in the background?

I thought it was a bread truck with a picture of an amalgamation of different loaves printed on the side panel.

But then, I suppose I bitterly cling to foolishly assuming a sort of normalcy in America that may not exist anymore. Mayberry's bread truck has become Madison's abortion truck. God help us all!


wv: "phive" -- The hair-do of the bukkake girl that showed up wearing a beehive 'do before the festivities.

halojones-fan said...

Color: Wow those women are wearing clothes that are REALLY REALLY RED. Also there's some other stuff in the picture.

B&W: Hey, that's a cute sign! Also, look at those kids in the front, I wonder what they're looking at? Huh, those people are making some odd faces, they look almost kind of bored.

veni vidi vici said...

Bukkake, golden showers... variations on a theme.


wv: chbugg -- a desire for intimacy with the heavyset, i.e., "Man, have I got the chbugg tonight!"

AlphaLiberal said...

It does a good job of capturing the TPers as stuck in the past.

AlphaLiberal said...

But, hey, it's a protest. So where are the giant puppets?

(Joking. Not a fan of those f'en puppets).

Also, my word verification word?
"hopetize"

You can use it. Go ahead.

Ann Althouse said...

"But, hey, it's a protest. So where are the giant puppets?"

I do have one with a guy in a papier maché pig head, but I didn't get a good angle on it, so I haven't posted it.

Mitch H. said...

Alpha, that's very strange, you thinking that the tea partiers are "stuck in the past", because the implicit message I took from that first photo of the well-dressed woman - identified as a state senator further up in the comments thread - was of the ghost of Republican Party Woman Past, haunting the Walmart Generation, standing about her in their t-shirts, jeans, and flab.

There's a peacefulness and cheer to the tea party gatherings, but the decorum of the conservatism of the past is only notable in its isolation and abnormality - how it sticks out from the crowd.

But it isn't a time for decorum and gentility, is it?

Nora said...

Your curiosity is so profound and embraces so many things. I think that now I know your secret of internal youth. ;)

Anonymous said...

I always cringe at women who wear high heels to walk on the grass. Of course I cringe when I see high heels in parking garages or clacking down long empty echoing corridors.

A question for women. Don't you ever get annoyed at noise made by your high heels?

jeff said...

"I just tend to oppose incredibly stupid, vile, borderline fascistic/sociopathic people who engage in counter-productive activities and who don't have the U.S.'s best interests at heart."

Lord, what happens when you look into a mirror and have all that looking back at you?

Oh, and Fuck you.

Anonymous said...

Danielle to Althouse: "You lie!"

And you, Danielle, make mountains out of molehills.

Focko Smitherman said...

Issob: Get Happy! Still my fave Elvi album (and yes, I have it on vinyl).

veni vidi vici said...

"C'mon, Get Happy!" Still my favorite Partridge Family single!


wv: "heamin" -- Ed McMahon's pronunciation of "he-men".