"Joker" poster is racist, Washington Post concludes

[Becky72]

Excerpt, from today's Washington Post:

Between Jack Nicholson's 1989 portrayal of the Joker in "Batman" and Heath Ledger's 2008 characterization in "The Dark Knight," something sinister happened to the villain's iconic makeup. What had been a mask, with the clearly delineated lines of a carnival character, became simply war paint, and not very well applied.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/05/AR2009080503876.html?nav=hcmodule

Image of the poster in question:

[brendan120678]

1. I didn't really see it as racist...

just childish and immature, if anything.

Bushie was portrayed as the Joker as well (among other things - Hitler, a chimp, Alfred E. Newman...)

[Salviati]

4. Yeah, to me the link to racism seems a bit weak

Much stronger was the arguement that the poster was lacking in depth, and was lacking in any substance beyond "Obama = bad". To me, to imply that this poster is racist imbues its creator with a depth that is seemingly unwarrented given the product.

[elehhhhna]

9. and poorly executed.

[PretzelWarrior]

2. it's not racist. they are just trying to scare the bejeezus out of people

and this poster helps them to portray a very handsome reasonable man as some kind of psychotic lunatic bent on their destruction. Fear is irrational. Fear is an emotion easily played upon and manipulated. This is what is happening.

[YOY]

3. Not racist at all.

Just stupid and wrong...not to mention horribly ignorant as to what "socialism" is.

[Doctor_Horrible]

15. Reminds me of the quote: "Anarchy that I run" from Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog. nt

[jefferson_dem]

5. I like this Joker better.

[CJCRANE]

6. Um...I never saw Bush parody posters in the MSM...

this is just an excuse to give it exposure.

[PretzelWarrior]

7. VERRRRRYY good point.

[VespertineIconoclast]

8. Excellent point. n/t

[timeforpeace]

12. There's one in the post above yours. From Vanity Fair last year. MSM ran with it.

[CJCRANE]

14. I'm willing to bet the Obama poster receives a lot more coverage.

Just hit Google News with "Bush Joker" then try "Obama Joker" and you'll see the difference.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

10. I don't think it's racist. I think it's a sad attempt to squish three themes together.

[FailureToCommunicate]

11. "Why so SERIOUS?"

[Bok_Tukalo]

13. Al Jolson in an alternate universe

<OEM>

[vaberella]

16. Obama in White face...Oh have the tables turned. n/t