We’re not where we used to be

You should be redirected to the new address. If that doesn't happen in a second, visit
http://short-sharp-shock.blogspot.com
Oh, and update your bookmarks. Thanks.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Presidential morphology

Change has been the mantra of the Barack Obama presidential campaign, and it's already the foundational theme of his administration-to-be.

But if you really want to see electoral change in action (with a little of the digital image enhancement known as morphing), check this video of the 44 men elected President of the United States, from Washington to the O-man. The soundtrack, the slowest portion of Ravel's "Bolero," didn't work for us, but you could almost watch it without any music.

The main attraction is in the faces, the poses, the expressions. It's an American history lesson: 44 men in four minutes. Note the shifts in sartorial style, the predilection for facial hair or its absence.

And check out that big change at the end, a change that's more existential than cosmetic. Marvel again at the chameleon possibilities of these United States.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I watched it without the music and it was just amazing. I think we had all kind of visualized the difference of Obama from all our other past presidents, but you brought it out even clearer and. Looking at the long list of presidents, it just proves how slow our country has been to accept change when all it preaches is freedom and equality.