2008 is prone to be one of the most fascinating and compelling political years, heightened by the controversial Democratic candidates bidding for the presidential seat in the White House.  I use the word controversial lightly, with good connotations.  These matters are indeed buzz-worthy, controversial, history making even with Senator Hilary Clinton, a woman, and Senator Barack Obama, a black man, battling each other for the Democratic spot in the upcoming presidential election.  Both candidates stand a good chance in being this nation’s first woman or black President in the midst of economic and international turmoil under the tutelage of President Bush and the Republican Party.

The December issue of Time magazine did a feature story written by Karen Tumulty entitled Obama Finds His Moment on the Senator and his efforts toward the White House.   Barack Obama graced the magazine’s cover standing in a king-like position with the words “The Contender” written across his frame (Tumulty, 2007).  The sub-title read “Barack Obama has promised to change politics. Has politics changed him?” (Tumulty, 2007).  The image that was chosen for Tumulty’s cover story of Obama spoke depths to readers.  The phrase “The Contender” is written across the cover in a powerful red color, scrolled across his frame as if it were the title of a new action movie. His image stance and posture perhaps gives off implications of Obama being similar to an action hero.  The political battle between Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton has evolved into an action packed competition, but instead of good versus evil it resembles the likes of old versus new, and interestingly enough race versus gender.

Some readers could look at the image of Barack Obama matched with the phrase “The Contender” and see it negatively.  Addressing Barack Obama as a contender could be understood in a manner believing that he is no match for his opponents, that he is merely a contender.  The portion of the sub-title that read “Has politics changed him?” juxtaposed with his pose could be viewed in an arrogant and devious manner, the alleged face of politics (Tumulty, 2007).  The cover possibly hints at the notion of Obama becoming similar to other candidates who he claims to be different than.  Critics of his would take the image and projection of power as an inconsistency to what Obama preaches and supposedly stands for throughout his campaign. 

In my mind, Obama’s ideology of new politics and changing the face of America demonstrates the significance of an action and/or super hero character coming to save the day, in this sense America.  Obama’s superman stance where his arms are folded and his head is titled upward projects him as this confident and dominant individual.  There is a light on the cover that is lit behind him as if his presence exudes light.  The underlying message of this image of Obama informs the reader that he is a powerful man, powerful enough to bring forth the light that rest behind him, and powerful enough to encourage and demonstrate political change as he promises.  A picture is definitely worth a thousand words.

_______. (2007). Retrieved February 5, 2008 from Google Search Premier. http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/Newsweek/Components/Photos/060919_060925/060922_BarackObama_Xtrawide.jpg 

 Riedel, Jeff. (2007). Time Magazine. Retrieved February 12, 2008 from Google Search Premier. http://img.timeinc.net/time/time100/2007/images/barack_obama.jpgg  

Tumulty, Karen. (2007, November 29). Obama Finds His Moment. [Electronic Version]. Time Magazine, 2-6. Retrieved February 5, 2008 from http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1688931-4,00.html