NYT Week In Review, Iran
posted:
The revolution WILL be televised, thanks to thousands of brave Iranians and online social networking sites like Twitter and Youtube.
Mark the past week's events in Iran as one of those moments in history when those who thrive in the dark corners of media suppression were dragged out into the light. It's a rare expansion of the power and voice of the individual thanks to the personalized one-man broadcast studios most of us hold in the palm of our hand. So when the idea for this piece came to mind, I sought a way to broadcast it.
As is the case with a handful of my personal favorite images, this image was an idea that popped into my head, without a specific assignment. This was also the case with my Tunnel cover for the New Yorker. When this happens, and if the image is timely and relevant, I look around to find the art a home. So it was this past wednesday when I thought to send the sketch below off to NYT Week In Review AD Aviva Michaelov. I always feel a bit presumptuous when I do this, but then I figure what the heck, if writers pitch stories, why not artists pitching commentary. Thankfully Aviva welcomed the idea. A few days later she sent me the rough layout below informing me that they wanted to use it as the cover of the section.
It's hard for me to step outside the structured way our business works. We get the call, we don't place the call. But more and more I'm starting to find AD's appreciative of the efforts. I'll continue to put my ideas out there, proactively, because if there's one thing I've learned from Iran this week is that never in the history of humankind has an individuals voice been so loud, and heard by so many.
Thanks Aviva for your open mind.
(NYT article here)
Mark the past week's events in Iran as one of those moments in history when those who thrive in the dark corners of media suppression were dragged out into the light. It's a rare expansion of the power and voice of the individual thanks to the personalized one-man broadcast studios most of us hold in the palm of our hand. So when the idea for this piece came to mind, I sought a way to broadcast it.
As is the case with a handful of my personal favorite images, this image was an idea that popped into my head, without a specific assignment. This was also the case with my Tunnel cover for the New Yorker. When this happens, and if the image is timely and relevant, I look around to find the art a home. So it was this past wednesday when I thought to send the sketch below off to NYT Week In Review AD Aviva Michaelov. I always feel a bit presumptuous when I do this, but then I figure what the heck, if writers pitch stories, why not artists pitching commentary. Thankfully Aviva welcomed the idea. A few days later she sent me the rough layout below informing me that they wanted to use it as the cover of the section.
It's hard for me to step outside the structured way our business works. We get the call, we don't place the call. But more and more I'm starting to find AD's appreciative of the efforts. I'll continue to put my ideas out there, proactively, because if there's one thing I've learned from Iran this week is that never in the history of humankind has an individuals voice been so loud, and heard by so many.
Thanks Aviva for your open mind.
(NYT article here)
