Fringe?
This is the cover of the most recent YouthWorker Journal that I get every other month. It definitely caught my attention, but probably not in the way the editors were intending. Does anything strike you as curious?
Friday, October 28, 2005
This is the cover of the most recent YouthWorker Journal that I get every other month. It definitely caught my attention, but probably not in the way the editors were intending. Does anything strike you as curious?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
(disclaimer: I was privvy to J-Wild's own thoughts on this cover before posting my comment, but this comment is purely my thinking.)
So there are two ways to analyze an illustration like this. The first is purely on its aesthetic value. The second is on its contextual value.
Aesthetically, I hate it. Why pull punches? I think I'm qualified enough to make a blanket dismissal based on technique, research and knowledge of anatomy. It is obvious this illustrator did none of those. It's a little tricky talking about his technique (or "style" as some people call it) because the artist's past work is not accessible to me. It's always important to compare a piece of art with other works by the artist to see how it compares. But his style, color choices and drawing abilities are really lacking. He/she has not done their research on what urban fringe youth look like, dress like or the environments in which they hang out, and it almost pains me to have to point out his complete disregard for human anatomy. Charlie Brown was drawn with a better sense of anatomy than this kid on the cover.
Now, as for its contextual value, I think most people would agree that this illustration does not accurately represent a teen on the fringe.
This is all purely my OPINION (but I'm pretty sure I'm right).
Just because I feel a little bad about my post above, I will add that every commercial illustrator is given direction by an Art Director and poor direction usually results in poor artwork - it also needs to be approved by that Art Director before publication, so I blame the AD for this mess as much as the artist.
Kenny, don't apologize I think your critical eye is right!
So I am sure all of you can guess that my reaction to the cover was a negative one. Here is the copy of the letter that I sent to the editor and illustrator at YouthWorker:
Long time reader, first time writer.
I love YouthWorker Journal and have found it instrumental in helping me think through many issues that I deal with as a Youth Minister. I appreciate the diverse theological and social perspectives on scripture, ministry, and church that the Journal gives. You all do a great job.
That being said, I would like to comment on the cover of the recent magazine with the title “Kids on the Fringe.” I have yet to read all the articles (since I got it yesterday) but, the illustration on the cover was enough to give me pause. To me the kid on the cover doesn’t represent a fringe kid. It appears that he is black, from the projects, and lives in an urban context complete with blight. I would hardly believe that this kid would represent the archetypical fringe kid. He definitely doesn’t in my context (NYC), but if he does in other contexts then I find that very problematic.
What am I really saying...I am saying that the overtones of this illustration point to me that a fringe kid is someone who is black and lives in a lower socio-economic environment. I think that’s an unfair characterization of what a fringe kid is and the illustration uses two pretty strong and obvious qualifiers like race and economics in a way that isn’t really descriptive of the fringe kid.
If the black poor kid is the common conception of a fringe kid by most youth ministries then the isolation and protectionism of the suburban church has done a great disservice to our teens and our congregations.
I feel bad that this is the first time I have commented on a YouthWorker. I can’t tell you the number of times that I have ridden the subway or bus home saying “yes, yes, yes” in my mind as I read a compelling article. Again thank you for your work, and keep it up.
Blessings,
Jason
J-Wild,
What is your definition of a fringe kid?
I am not disputing your post or comments, just curious to what it means to you. I couldn't discern from your comments what it means to you or to kenny.
I am not sure I have any clue to what a fringe kid is.
Tony
When I think of a fringe kid in regards to a youth group setting, it is a kid (or kids) that either don't feel welcome, don't want to participate or don't feel as if they CAN participate.
Because of my definition of a Fringe kid, I think a better representation of this would have been trying to show a contrast between an active group and an outsider looking in (or conversly, the group reaching out to the outsider). But to show that contrast is really the only way I can think of to accurately communicate what they wanted to communicate. By showing just a single kid incorrectly placed the weight of ALL fringe kids EVERYWHERE on this sole "poster kid."
fringe kid? a beter word choice might have been for that picture marginal kids. Larry James used that wording in a sermon he spoke once.
A marginal kid is someone who lives on the edge of the mainstream, majority society. Jesus was marginal, so obviously nothing is wrong with it, other than we who look down upon it are wrong for our actions. I would say someone who is black and lower socio-economic class is probably a marginal kid.
A Fringe Kid is definitley someone who can't relate, because he feels as if everyone else is something else that he can't be. Once again, if we have fringes, then we have something that is complete and woven, which simply means once again, we've got problems in our groups situation. We all want to be on the inside, but maybe if we were all on the outside, the inside would be a big whole in which no one wanted to be. Weird thought to think about, but maybe something we should consider.
Be on the outside of society, connecting with people, not on the inside trying to pull people in. Hmm?
I think he's Hispanic.
Post a Comment