Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower (Post 467875)

To me, this seems like the real point. At least on some level, when Gingrich leads off his rally with a Melt Banana tune, he is suggesting that there is an endorsement there and that Melt Banana fans should feel in sync with his campaign. Melt Banana should be able to stand up, without judgment from the Angry Attici of the world, and say, "Hey, to the extent this Gingrich chap is trying to suggest that we are part of his movement, it is not true. When we 'sing' the lyrics 'I see a Plastic Moon shining...Won't you lead me?', we want you to know we were referring to Herman Cain. Cain is the Plastic Moon." I also would like to know what Melt Banana eat and drive, but I don't think this makes me less smart than GWNC and Thurgreed.

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower (Post 467875)

I also would like to know what Melt Banana eat and drive, but I don't think this makes me less smart than GWNC and Thurgreed.

Originally Posted by greatwhitenorthchick (Post 467877)

This is why Thurgreed and I are smarter than you: we know that they drive "vehicles" and eat "food." Or perhaps drive "golf clubs" and eat "pussy."

Either way, smarter.

I am sorry.

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch (Post 467852)

It's horseshit. Say how you'll vote and see if people care, but claiming a monopoly on how and where your art is interpreted and used, aside from copyright law, is net bad for discourse.

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall (Post 467874)

You can't possibly be serious.

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield (Post 467879)

There are lines. "It's in the public sphere... We can interpret it any way we like" is not a total license to warp any art you like into campaign ads.

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower (Post 467875)

To me, this seems like the real point. At least on some level, when Gingrich leads off his rally with a Melt Banana tune, he is suggesting that there is an endorsement there and that Melt Banana fans should feel in sync with his campaign. Melt Banana should be able to stand up, without judgment from the Angry Attici of the world, and say, "Hey, to the extent this Gingrich chap is trying to suggest that we are part of his movement, it is not true. When we 'sing' the lyrics 'I see a Plastic Moon shining...Won't you lead me?', we want you to know we were referring to Herman Cain. Cain is the Plastic Moon." I also would like to know what Melt Banana eat and drive, but I don't think this makes me less smart than GWNC and Thurgreed.

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch (Post 467880)

...it was a pretty low-stakes controversy at the outset, so any mental health problems you infer from it are probably still curable. My overall happiness is affected by it only one out of every four years, and not much at that, while you are looking at a lifetime of being mad at David Simon trying to tell you what to think about "The Wire."

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower (Post 467875)

To me, this seems like the real point. At least on some level, when Gingrich leads off his rally with a Melt Banana tune, he is suggesting that there is an endorsement there and that Melt Banana fans should feel in sync with his campaign. Melt Banana should be able to stand up, without judgment from the Angry Attici of the world, and say, "Hey, to the extent this Gingrich chap is trying to suggest that we are part of his movement, it is not true. When we 'sing' the lyrics 'I see a Plastic Moon shining...Won't you lead me?', we want you to know we were referring to Herman Cain. Cain is the Plastic Moon." I also would like to know what Melt Banana eat and drive, but I don't think this makes me less smart than GWNC and Thurgreed.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 467882)

I agree with every word of this post. Every. single. word.

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch (Post 467881)

Now this is the most bizarre thing I'm likely to read all day. Yes, it absolutely is. Total license. What good is art if you can't misinterpret it? Who decides? Are politicians specially prohibited from making the case that a work of creative imagination supports or challenges a worldview?

Keep in mind both left and right will be making apologies to the estate of George Orwell if you're right.

ETA I see you said "campaign ads." I don't know whether licensing rules would allow that or not, but it hampers the debate. The issue is more clear when it's a candidate who always takes the stump to "Born in the USA" over the PA.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop (Post 467882)

I agree with every word of this post. Every. single. word.

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield (Post 467889)

Can I use Botero in anti-obesity campaigns? I'm fairly certain he'd sue, successfully, to stop such appropriation. If he can do that, what's objectionable about the lesser act of commenting on why he found my use of his work offensive?

Originally Posted by Atticus Grinch (Post 467892)

But now you're talking about copyright. If I buy a Botero, and display it behind me on an easel while I talk about obesity, he has no legal claim and a weak-sauce moral objection since he sold his painting and I bought it. He can call his own press conference, but he can't stop me from displaying it alongside a message to which he is opposed.