Shepard Fairey has a strong reputation as one of the greatest contemporary artists of our time. With many pieces of his work portraying propaganda, Fairey uses mediums of illustration, photography, graphic design, and print work to capture his audience's eye. Based on his autobiography "Obey: Propaganda," most of his work involves a totalitarian-styled basis which spreads a subliminal message of how his art can be as powerful as government in control. Although his artistic designs display many communist dictators and political advocates, his main purpose is not to spread a socialist idea, but more of a strong message to get the viewer's attention to his propaganda.
He began in Boston, MA, posting bills of Andre the Giant with the slogan "Andre has a posse" as well as "Obey" written with an image of Andre himself. Although it began as a joke at first, it spread as a strong wave of getting his movement out there. Eventually over many years, he used George Orwell's "1984" as inspiration to fuel his totalitarian styled artwork. "Big Brother Is Watching You," a quote from Orwell's novel is based on a political figure in a totalitarian, Marshall law government who watches your every move, punishing individuals for doing the slightest thing which goes against political order. In his clothing, he uses Big Brother as well as soldiers and political advocates to spread the idea that his message is all around us through his artwork and clothing, just as much as Big Brother watches his everyone in his government in "1984."
Document by: James Rivas
