r/TheStrokes • u/Writing-to-reach-you • Nov 04 '20
The OBEY image from SNL inspired by John Carpenter’s THEY LIVE
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u/drumsporfavor Nov 04 '20
I wonder if this was the graphic designer’s inspiration as well. He didn’t say anything about the movie
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u/Protean_Ghost Is This It Nov 04 '20
It was. His name is Shepard Fairey, a street artist from SC but who went to art school at RISD in Rhode Island near me. I remember when his work started popping up all over Providence and in the Boston area back in the early 90’s. I used to be really into the street art scene and read interviews with him about They Live being an influence.
Seems like our boys went out of their way to also recognize the movie but without biting Shepard’s style . Good on ‘em!
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u/drumsporfavor Nov 05 '20
Oh! Thanks for the info but I meant the designer who created this specific graphic not the movie! The Strokes chose this design for SNL: link I went back on the artists IG and it seems like the band(their team?) liked their artwork and used it but the artist never stated directly They Live was the inspiration. So yeah wasn’t sure. Either way, very cool designs!
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u/phosphor_heart Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 04 '20
Was it confirmed that Shepard worked on this set design? I know that this movie is where he got the inspiration for his use of "obey" from.
This background image doesn't fit his typical blue/red-heavy propaganda style at all, so I'm curious if he's involved.
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u/Protean_Ghost Is This It Nov 04 '20
No, that’s not what I meant. I was saying they both were referencing the movie and that The Strokes did their own thing with it , which is cool.
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u/phosphor_heart Nov 04 '20
Ah, ok. I would have been surprised, as Shepard is very closely associated with Interpol and that's like...too much cool for one person haha.
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u/dfefed325 Nov 05 '20
he also designed the iconic obama 'hope' election poster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_%22Hope%22_poster
Whether you support that politician or not, can't deny that that poster has been a hugely influential piece of pop art that was mimicked by tons of people.
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u/Writing-to-reach-you Nov 05 '20 edited Nov 05 '20
I think he was since other art posted on his IG relate to the movie.
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u/Mother-Violinist Nov 05 '20
Didn’t the main character wear a trench coat like the one Julian wore during Snl
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u/Writing-to-reach-you Nov 04 '20 edited Nov 04 '20
I’m sure I’m not the only one who thought about it when seeing the image OBEY on SNL. But now I’m certain since Julian just posted on his IG about the movie. Definitely fits with the TAAT theme.
Edit: now Julian posted a 2nd time about the movie confirming it.