It is clear the image of former President Bush morphing into President Obama is trying to send a message to people, one that can be taken many different ways. Bush supporters may see it as an insult to Bush, while Obama supporters may see it as an insult to Obama. Others, who have no political affiliation, or even follow politics, may see it completely differently. I fall into the latter category, having no bias towards either president or political party, and see the image from a neutral standpoint.
When I first saw the image, I was immediately struck with the thought that it is attempting to insult both presidents. Usually when someone creates an image that morphs two people together he or she is trying to show that the two people are basically the same. In politics, this could mean that both presidents have done nothing different from one another, with no new progress being made during either president’s term. This is strongly suggested in the middle image, which has Bush and Obama morphed together. The image is so startling it requires a lot of staring to see either president specifically, and even then it is still eerie how easily both presidents’ faces fit together.
After a closer inspection of the image, I realized it could also be taken in a positive way. The change in background colors, from dark brown in Bush’s image to a light blue in Obama’s, could symbolize getting out of the dark place that was Bush’s term to the better, more positive and successful term of Obama. It could also show a change in the times, with the transition from a white president to America’s first African American president.
Everyone will see this image differently. Some people may see it as derogatory, others as a positive political statement. It doesn’t matter if the creator supported Bush or Obama, or doesn’t follow politics at all. The image was created to send a message, and definitely succeeds in doing so, no matter what the message is.
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Counterintuitive Fall 2022 
P1. I’m curious about your three choices, Benjamin. Is it possible that for supporters of either president, the only option is insult? Your last two sentences indicate only that for the unaffiliated, a “different” reaction is available. That’s not much work for two sentences to accomplish. In your “Others” sentence, “Have no” and “even follow” are an awkward and illegal “or” pair. The infraction is trivial, I agree, but a better sentence would avoid the problem.
Two nouns would work: Others who have no affiliation or interest
Two verbs would work: Others who don’t affiliate or follow
P2. Someday I will produce a lesson on “both.” Your two uses here would provide examples of another small problem that nags most writers. The second is easier to see. “It is eerie how easily both presidents’ faces fit together” means that Bush’s face fits together and Obama’s face fits together. But of course they can’t individually do so. You mean it’s eerie how well the two presidents’ faces fit together, not both.
Your observations here are not obvious. Your feeling that the image insults both is yours and indisputable. Your claim that mutual insult is the goal of morphing is not as patent. Your conclusion that Bush and Obama are most likely similar by not having accomplished anything is only one of countless choices. Why is it your choice?
P3. If you’ve examined the images in the post “Forcing an Interpretation,” which seems the more appropriate use of the image? Do you think the maker of the image intended either choice, had an agenda at all, or simply produced a graphic that can be put to multiple uses by others?
P4. You’ve anticipated my question, Benjamin, always a good thing. I respond while writing specifically to share with you how one reader reacts to the unfolding argument. Your reply to my question here doesn’t exactly say whether the maker had an intention, but it indicates he might not have. Your conclusion mystifies me though. Is thunder created to send a message?