February 3, 2009 | New Film | by Xavier Toby |

The famous interview between David Frost and Richard Nixon has recently received renewed media attention following its twentieth anniversary. Those not willing to sit through hours of unedited footage though, like me, can just watch this film. Handy huh? No doubt some of the depth is lost, but this movie also provides fascinating background, such as the difficulties faced by Frost and the mood of a general public hungry for an apology from Nixon, the most despised President in American history. In parts the film does seem to enhance the tension for effect, but overall it’s fascinating to see how Frost manages to cajole Nixon into an apology. By following Frost as he prepares for the interviews, the film also analyses some of the policies of a President that caused unbelievable worldwide damage, with ramifications still manifesting themselves today.

January 31, 2009 | Video | by Zolton |

The very talented Jess Snow, the first video artist to be featured by Female Persuasion — the original site for provocative and political female artists — created this ethereal short video for Lost At E Minor. We feel it. We love it. Just like we dug the video that Lifelongfriendshipsociety created. Aw, shucks!

New Trends / Amateur portraits of Barack Obama

January 30, 2009 | New Trends | by Gerry Mak |

It’s been a while since we’ve had a global leader who also happens to be a folk hero. The amateur portraits of our new Commander-in-Chief posted at the <a href=” http://referencelibrary.blogspot.com/2009/01/obama.html”>Reference Library</a> reflect the reverence so many have for him. Read more

Cool Websites / Create Your Own Inauguration Speech

January 22, 2009 | Cool Websites | by Francis Andrews |

They say he’s the best orator of our time. He delivers his message with an eloquence difficult to find in these days of jumbled political spiel. So if you suffered a mild twinge of jealousy at Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday, cast away your tied tongue and get to work on a new skill by creating your very own inauguration speech.

New Products / Obama Action Figure

January 22, 2009 | New Products | by Gerry Mak |

Sure, President Obama is just as human as the rest of us, and there is a certain excessiveness to the extent to which he’s been idealized, but I’d rather have a President the world views as a secret agent ninja than one the world views as a bumbling, ignorant fool. Can you imagine an action figure like this one by Hong Kong-based DID Corporation made of Dubya? If they did make one, it’d probably be along the lines of Maxwell Smart.

Cool Websites / Shepard Fairey’s guest edited issue of LAEM

January 20, 2009 | Cool Websites | by Zolton |

Tomorrow we’ll be sending out a special Shepard Fairey Guest Compiled issue of our free weekly email publication to our email subscribers, featuring the work of his favorite artists, photographers and music. Fairey’s iconic image of Barack Obama was recently the cover of Time Magazine’s Person Of The Year issue, but he was well known previously as the creator of the ubiquitous Andre The Giant sticker. We’re honored to have him write exclusively for us about the artwork that excited him most in 2008. You can sign up to receive this Guest Compiled issue by subscribing to the free weekly Lost At E Minor email publication.

New Design / Dennis Boyle’s poster artwork

January 17, 2009 | New Design | by Zolton |

I love the dramatically flecked colored tones and sense of playful discontent about the poster artwork of Vancouver-based designer, Dennis Boyle. Of this series, he says: ‘They are different social messages that specifically use typography — or in some cases, graphics — as the main tool for communication’. Indeed. Very fitting for the times and superbly realized as standalone artworks in their own right. Read more

New Trends / Breakup of the USA

January 8, 2009 | New Trends | by Gerry Mak |

Russian political science professor Igor Panarin recently caused a bit of a stir, predicting that the US will break apart in 2010, when the current financial crisis will have resulted in social crisis big enough to tear the Union into six pieces. Kevin Kelly, Editor-At-Large for Wired Magazine, has posted a discussion on the likelihood of Panarin’s prediction coming true.

New Design / Obama Logo Designs

December 16, 2008 | New Design | by Gerry Mak |

The Obama campaign was one of the most visually effective in recent history, brilliantly tapping modern marketing concepts and design to get its message across. The deceptively simple logo they chose stemmed from an amalgamation of a lot of different concepts the Obama designers came up with. Logo Design Love just posted all the different looks that weren’t used.

New Trends / Buy Nothing Day

November 21, 2008 | New Trends | by Francis Andrews |

Obama’s election campaign was something of a celebrity fanfare not seen since Reagan took up the seat back in the 1980s. While we’re yet to see whether the hype that surrounds his name is followed though, there is no question that his calls for ‘Change’ have already injected a new sense of political zest both into the US and much of the rest of the world. Politics has suddenly become exciting, and his unprecedented tactics for private fundraising have made his supporters believe that they have a personal stake in the government. So how appealing is political participation now? Read more

Cool Websites / Super Obama World

November 19, 2008 | Cool Websites | by Gerry Mak |

As Internet-savvy as President-Elect Obama is, I wonder if he’s played the hilarious flash game, Super Obama World, a Super Mario-esque spoof in which Obama must defeat lipstick-sporting pigs and money-hungry lobbyists roaming around the icy tundras of Alaska while collecting flag pins.

Cool Websites / From 58 to 42 with Love

November 10, 2008 | Cool Websites | by Gerry Mak |

In the wake of America’s historic presidential election, nearly two years of divisive campaigning, and eight years of a controversial administration, the nation is in desperate need of healing. Beloved Internet personality Ze Frank started From 58 to 42 with Love where contributors use their webcams to post messages reaching out to the side of the country that didn’t vote for their guy. It’s saccharine at times, and there are one or two borderline nasty posts from people that don’t seem completely onboard with the project’s objective. But overall, it’s pretty effective and moving. I’ll admit I needed a couple tissues while reading it.

New Trends / Barack sweats it out on Election Night

November 8, 2008 | New Trends | by Zolton |

While the rest of the world spent election night biting fingernails whilst glued to the TV set, it’s kinda nice to know that President Elect, Barack Obama, was doing exactly the same thing, as these wonderfully low-key insider snaps from David Katz reveals. Read more

New Design / W stickers on the Upper West Side

November 1, 2008 | New Design | by Yuko Shimizu |

I saw these W faces stuck onto the movie poster of W on the Upper West Side of New York. They’re so cool looking, I just had to take a photo.

New Illustration / Steve Bell’s cartoons

October 31, 2008 | New Illustration | by Francis Andrews |

Guardian newspaper cartoonist Steve Bell is a bit of a household treasure in England: a very astute political observer who picks up so well on the little nuances in speech and image that are key to good cartoonists. His work is nothing short of hilarious. So he must have felt like a present landed on his lap the day Bush came into power — depictions of him as a monkey, a lame duck, his ’special relationship’ with Blair, and so on, are some of the best I’ve seen. No-one gets an easy ride: he’s now having a whale of a time with Palin.