These are some photographs I have taken of curb communiqués that have caught my eye while walking and cycling around Portland. Some are political. Some
The dino is behaving in ways that are ‘radical’ by the 90s styling of the word, and the design lightly borrows kitschy elements of 90s style to imply being ‘radical’ is akin to being ‘cool’. On the other hand, the modern use of the word ‘radical’ is mostly used as a negative by reactionaries to describe left-culture they think strays too far from social norms. By saying that “There’s nothing ‘radical’(read as ‘cool’) about trans exclusion” they could be attempting to say, TERFs aren’t cool like this sunglasses sporting skateboarding dinosaur. Or, as some people here seem to be interpreting it, they could be implying that there’s nothing radical (negative) about trans exclusion, and that is the nominative baseline position for them and all their TERF friends. The design including the dinosaur being radical in a 90s style, to me at least, implied that the designer was trying to convey the former intent, but that it could just as easily be interpreted the other way, as we’ve seen and discussed.
If this was made by a TERF I hope they someday find their sense of empathy and stop being a shitbag. If it was made by someone trying to do agitation against TERFs, I hope they workshop their future designs a bit better so there’s less confusion around what their intended message is. Maybe try all white text on a black background that just says ‘Fuck TERFs’. Short. Succinct. Zero confusion. No fun dinosaurs ):
The dino is behaving in ways that are ‘radical’ by the 90s styling of the word, and the design lightly borrows kitschy elements of 90s style to imply being ‘radical’ is akin to being ‘cool’. On the other hand, the modern use of the word ‘radical’ is mostly used as a negative by reactionaries to describe left-culture they think strays too far from social norms. By saying that “There’s nothing ‘radical’(read as ‘cool’) about trans exclusion” they could be attempting to say, TERFs aren’t cool like this sunglasses sporting skateboarding dinosaur. Or, as some people here seem to be interpreting it, they could be implying that there’s nothing radical (negative) about trans exclusion, and that is the nominative baseline position for them and all their TERF friends. The design including the dinosaur being radical in a 90s style, to me at least, implied that the designer was trying to convey the former intent, but that it could just as easily be interpreted the other way, as we’ve seen and discussed.
If this was made by a TERF I hope they someday find their sense of empathy and stop being a shitbag. If it was made by someone trying to do agitation against TERFs, I hope they workshop their future designs a bit better so there’s less confusion around what their intended message is. Maybe try all white text on a black background that just says ‘Fuck TERFs’. Short. Succinct. Zero confusion. No fun dinosaurs ):