Jessica Herman

"See this? This is what I mean by `conspiracy theory one-upmanship,'" says Jeff Brooks, twisting his face and pointing accusingly at the pair beside him who compare thoughts regarding problems with the current administration. Brooks stands in the middle of In These Times' office, which temporarily has been converted into a "Presidential Rogues Gallery." Curated by Los Angeles-based Center for the Study of Political Graphics, the (needless to say) left-leaning exhibition highlights four decades of posters that lambaste and lampoon Presidents' actions.

Some of the guests might have been lured into this "Cirque du Politique" by the Billionaires for Bush's flamboyant performance on the sidewalk below; others have been eating, drinking, reading and seeing a day's worth of political satire, co-hosted by the Newberry Library and In These Times.

Brooks barely fusses with the various forms of record-keeping tools slung around his neck and tucked behind his tweed jacket while he rolls out personal stories about being escorted to jail and questioned by FBI agents.

"Even the Bible enforced mind reading--"Do unto others as you'd like them to do unto you,'" Brooks rants and continues to theorize on the root of America's problems. "America has made this huge mind-reading mistake." He doesn't leave without showing off a taped-together copy of his book-in-progress, "101 Reasons for War."

The show of posters provides a quiet backdrop to Brooks' animated speech. Organized into categories like "Boys with War-Toys," the pieces range from a manipulated movie poster "Gulf Wars, Episode II: Clone of the Attack" to a painting of canned peaches, entitled "Nixon Impeaches." The crowd sooner pulls itself away from the colorful walls to form an audience for the performance by sketch-comedy group Schadenfreude. It's a chance for everyone to laugh together rather than chuckle to themselves or to their one friend gazing over their shoulder at the same witty work of art. After a well-appreciated show, the audience disperses around the office, donating money to tonight's movers and shakers by buying cans of beers and subscriptions to the local magazine or anti-Bush paraphernalia designed in patriotic colors.

An international banker, who describes himself as "the foreigner," comes over to offer his refined opinion; in one logical ramble, he explains why he wants to become an American citizen, why he is scared shitless and how the song "Eve of Destruction" embodies his current outlook.

"To the informed, [satire] appears to be a reaffirmation that many people understand the irony of the situation," he concludes after his prologue pinpointing the decisions made in recent history that prompted America's downward spiral. "Politicians seek to muddify, not simplify. Satire enlightens people."

(2004-10-27)

Also by Jessica Herman

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Costume ball
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Really easy riders
"This is Rob's bike," says Bob Burns, better known as "Big Bob," pointing to the scooter beside him, his bouncer's body stuffed into black coveralls...
(2004-10-13)

Hiccup to the chief
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Material girls
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Custom couture
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Ziggy lives
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Dialogue by design
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Spin Control
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To the Gill
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The art of the discount
(2004-08-31)

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