The other day, PZ Myers posted that he’s at the Project 42 Freethought Convention in Fargo, ND September 24, 2011.
I went to the Project 42 web site (screen capped above). I looked at the graphics and I thought, this is the marketing for this event?
PZ Myers is on the splash page? Why? Because he’s the sexy face of free thought? The idea and the image don’t bother me. But take a good look at it.
I can see what they did there with graphics. They gave it a 3D feel. That’s cool right?
But look closer. His hands look like he’s crushing a mouse skull. His hands look mangled. It’s borderline horror film. All his digits aren’t represented and the ones that are there might give me nightmares.
Here’s the church, here’s the steeple.
And Michael Shermer?
Who shot that photo of Shermer? It looks like he’s professor Gandolf or Dr. Palpatine doing a Jedi mind trick just before electrocuting you with lightning fingers. Did the designer think it looked cool to drop that shadow so far away so it looks like Shermer is holding his hand like the Pope over some child’s head?
And those “Imma badass eyes … believe everything I say.”
Can you say, “Creepy.”
The lighting says, I’m two-faced. I have an enlightened side and a dark side. Would you like to fondle my dark side?
Do we really need to make ourselves out to be silly?
I want to stand behind atheism, but these graphics disturb me. If we stand for bettering the world, we should have better graphics behind us and in front of others.
Surely within our ranks there are photographers and graphic designers who can offer better art than this. I’ve heard of a photographer or two in my day. I know we’re grassroots and splintered in personalities, but this is somewhat dumbfounding.
Atheists need better PR.
Badly.
Artists attack!
Yeah, that’s really terrible.