New Republic and Time spar over magazine covers of Dean and Obama

[madfloridian]

'TNR' Obama Cover's Metaphor a Bit Too Apt

Revenge or coincidence? A few weeks ago, The New Republic cried foul after Time produced a concept cover that resembled one that TNR had published. (Time said its design was in homage to a current NBA ad campaign.)

Now it's TNR's turn to be accused of lacking originality. This week's paint-by-numbers cover, consisting of an unfinished watercolor rendering of Barack Obama, bears a distinct resemblance to a Time cover from 2004 featuring Howard Dean.

TNR editor Franklin Foer says the similarity was unintentional: "Nobody here has any recollection of seeing that cover. Maybe we should get a subscription to Time." Ouch!

Ouch is right.

[NashVegas]

1. Why Would They Remember Seeing That Cover

They were anti-Dean in that cycle, for the most part.

[madfloridian]

2. How could they not see that cover, even if they were anti-Dean?

And you are right, they were very much anti-Dean.

[NashVegas]

3. Repressed Memories

:hi:

[madfloridian]

4. Ha Ha,,appears they both ripped off Esquire from 1967

Time, TNR Both Rip Off Esquire

Yesterday, we noted (thanks Mixed Media) the shocking similarities between Time's Howard Dean cover from four years ago and The New Republic's recent Barack Obama issue. This all comes on the heels of TNR editors accusing Time of stealing one of their cover ideas, adding much intrigue to the magazine publishing world.

But our sister blog, UnBeige, has a different take. Stephanie Murg thinks Time and TNR both paid homage to Esquire's famous 1967 Richard Hess-drawn LBJ non-cover. A last-minute decision put Jackie Kennedy on the front of the magazine, but Hess' drawing gained notoriety as it was shown at multiple exhibits.

[Nikki Stone1]

5. What is the message behind this un-drawing?

Is the implication that we really don't know the person?

[madfloridian]

6. I think so. That is all I can figure out.

Incomplete picture of the person. I don't think it is meant to be flattering.

[Nikki Stone1]

7. I agree with you that it's probably not meant to be flattering.

It just seems a little odd.