The things you find in Japan…
I understand the customer’s side of Engrish (I even asked some people to confirm): they just don’t care about what’s written. They don’t even bother trying to know what that means.
It’s the manufacturer’s side that confuses me a bit. I assume they don’t care either, but how do they choose the words and expressions they use? Sometimes I wonder whether they actually know, but simply troll their customers?
Erratum: Apparently it’s a “street wear” brand name that is very popular among Chinese jocks (and Japanese jocks too?)
2 thoughts on “Obey Propaganda”
Hi there,
Obey is a street artist whose real name is Shepherd Fairy. He intentionally chose the word ‘Obey’ to elicit a response (of disobeying/anti-authoritarianism). He’s well renowned and is responsible for the Obama Hope campaign poster and presently the We the People campaign– the posters that were in heavy rotation during the post- presidential election in the US this year.
He has works all over Paris (and all over the world).
It’s highly likely most people don’t know what they’re wearing, because they think it’s a “brand” rather than being anti-authoritarian or awareness raising. Hahaha
You can learn more about him here:
https://obeygiant.com
Love your Ask A Frenchman posts!
A
Thanks for your explanation.
However:
“people don’t know what they’re wearing, because they think it’s a “brand” rather than being anti-authoritarian or awareness raising.”
Maybe he needs to reconsider his method, not much awareness is being raised that way, if people don’t get what or who he is, don’t you think?
I actually have difficulty finding the approach genuine, as it’s indeed becoming a brand.