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SensibleMonkey β Defend Love
Published: 2009-11-16 07:16:31 +0000 UTC; Views: 3100; Favourites: 44; Downloads: 108
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Description
This is my Love Unites contest entry.I had two primary goals when creating this image:
1) Make an image that leaves no ambiguity about the core issue; hopefully provoking conversation about it in the process.
2) I also wanted to work the image so that the phrase 'Defend Love' is the first thing readable at a distance, fixing that thought into the viewer's head as they approach the sticker and digest it's message.
The idea is that by using imagery [restroom depictions of male and female, holding hands, etc.] and concepts ['defend love'] that we all understand at an early age, the response to the message will be more visceral. Making the message both more memorable and more likely to illicit a vocal response.
That's the idea anyhow. Hopefully it'll work that way in practice.
Here are my other entries into the contest: [link]
Related content
Comments: 36
Love the use of the hearts
Also it gets the message across well, good job
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I hope you win with this one! Its really well thought out and I love the way you made it readable in the several ways... 'Defend Love' 'Defend Equality' 'Equality Unites' and 'Love Unites'.
Great work!
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Ohmygosh!! Thank you! I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that!! 
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so far this is the best one ive seen , the message is clear and your goals are well acomplished! congrats!!!
im working on mine as well but, i dont understand the concept "remix" that means: can i change elements and everything? or should i use the same elements...
BTW yours is a win!!!!!!
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This friend speaks my mind.
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Meep!!! I got soo wrapped up in your question that I totally forgot to say thanks!!!!
After seeing your work I feel you've given me high priaise indeed!! Thank you! and thanks for the awesome question!!
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hey dont worry your "answer" really help me , and i think your are deamn right, the rules are unclear, i totally agree with you , the clenched fist is to agressive, we have two choices i think , make our own version of the poster , or just a variation from the FAIR, the problem here is what we want? to win the contest or create concience ?
hope Mr.Fairely thinks about it
hey i really appreciate your attention!! thnx for everything
se ya around!!!
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Thatβs an excellent question; one which I wrestled with myself when making this piece.
The rules themselves are unclear, as are the agendas of the players involved.
Shepard Fairey, who seems to have the final word has a vested interest in choosing a piece which reinforces his brand. Pointing to a remix using only the elements present in the original image as being perhaps the most viable solution for winning.
FAIR, if true to their stated goals, would desire an image which would have the greatest positive impact for their cause. BUT, they are currently trying to make money off of signed versions of the original image along with βremixedβ versions that attempt to keep the original image recognizable. So, there too you seem to have a vested interest in the original.
Personally, I feel the visual imagery of a clenched fist is too closely associated with violence to be a strong rallying symbol for a βLove Unitesβ campaign. The revolutionary propaganda style of Faireyβs work also seems to be a poor choice to me.
Ultimately I chose to go with my heart and create an image which I believed would convey the message in a way which I felt that was both appropriate and strong. It may ultimately cost me the competition, but I personally feel this issue is larger than myself and deserved the best that I could give.
That said, I did do my best to incorporate elements from the original as much as possible. At one point I even considered building my image using spliced pieces of the fist poster, but rejected it since I felt that in the end it would only detract from the message.
So, my answer really isnβt much of an answer I guess. Hopefully itβll help you in your own work.
P.S.
Nice gallery, BTW. I look forward to seeing what you produce.
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i will be watching too!! 
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Congratulations!
I think all your goals of this piece worked out (including provoked conversation 
Its a great concept, the restroom depictions holding hands and the hearts make it easy to understand even if you can't understand the words. That makes it not only understandable for people of all ages but of all nations, too.
I think its one of the few REAL remixes of the original peace, since you changed the visible contend completely but saved the message, the colours and the words.
(To be honest, I think your poster transports the message better than Fairey's clenched fist...)
Good Luck with the contest!
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I'm not going to bring my beliefs on same sex marriage into this but rather I'll say that your message is absolutely clear. You've illustrated that love, no matter what form it's in, can unite people. Nice piece. Good luck.
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Thanks for the positive feedback! It's really encouraging.
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I really like yours 
the message is conveyed clearly! good job and good luck!
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I think you achieve your goals here. The simplicity of the male and female figures makes the message instantly understandable. But I really think this design is spot-on amazing because it's the most inclusive image I've come across in a long time.
I (a married, heterosexual, and--if it matters, Christian-- woman) can put myself in that poster alongside anyone else of any gender or sexual preference or religious creed as a member of the human community. I think any other viewer could do the same. To choose not to stand in line with that unity, one must intentionally separate oneself from it. This makes love in unity the norm rather than divisive antagonism or outright hatred.
Brilliant work!
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ohmygosh!!
Thank you for such a thoughtful and eloquent comment!!! You've left me beaming and feeling like all the effort was worth it. 
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It's worth it. More than worth it.
Whether you win or not, it's awesome.
And I hope you win! Good luck!
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I love it too...and my gay men who are my best friends love it as well
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Woot! That's awesome to hear!! Thanks!!!
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Yay! Thank you!!
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omg how did I not fav this 
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*Disapproves*
God created Adam and Eve, not Sam and Steve.
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Not everyone believes in God so your argument is
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A) Only about 33% of people on the planet worship Christianity - [link] - so your comment probably makes absolutely no sense to about 4.5 billion people.
B) Assuming the Christian God created at least 33% of everything and everyone, doesn't that include a big chunk (if not all) of the Sams and Steves? [I'll concede this point if you don't think God had anything to do with creating you.]
C) I believe the first portrayal of human love in Christianity was same-gender: Adam (a male) loved the Christian God (a male) who loved Adam ... [I'm pretty sure I wasn't there, so I can't really say for sure what their feelings were for each other though, so this point is just conjecture based on hearsay.]
D) Thanks for the comment!!
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A. Ahh considering that there are also other religions who also believe in God. Your comment isn't supported well.
B. No comment
C. Well. 
β+β = β₯
D. No problem hun xD
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A) Adam and Eve are JudeoβChristian constructs.
I think most, if not all other religions of the world have the concept of one or more God responsible for creation. After that, things start to get a little dicey.
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A) Whatever you say.
I'm not going to pretend i know a lot about religions but i know the christians and muslims both believe in one god. Maybe even jews.
Anyway the only thing i like about this work is the colours.
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Honestly, your personal religous beliefs have nothing to do with if OTHER people want to be together or not; why should they have to follow your "Adam and Eve" beliefs?
Sorry, I know you made this comment back in Nov. & I'm not trying to annoy you, but I just had to say that.
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WTH LEAVE ME ALONE NOOB. ATLEAST REPLY AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
WHAT DO YOUR BELIEVES HAVE TO DO WITH MINE HMMM?
anyway β+β = β₯
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First of all, I'm not a noob, I've been here for 2 yr.s and it has nothing to do with what I can say on DA. Second of all, I was being polite, you don't have to type in all capital letters. Third of all, if you can say your beliefs, I'm defintiely allowed to speak mine.
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UHM, YEA U R. TIME HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT NOOB.
BEING POLITE ISN'T ATTACKING ME MONTHS AFTER I STATED MY VIEW DUH.
ya didn't say u cnt.
>_____________________________________>
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