It’s been a while since I’ve been impressed by anything that mainstream media creates, but this time they caught my attention. The image above is a visual representation of a NYT/CBS public opinion poll about support for the Occupy Together movement that was spawned from one small spark, and rapidly grew into an international fire.
After all of the confusing articles, opinions, and generally vague or rampantly slanted coverage, this is a simple way to view a complicated concept in a clear manner. There’s no personalization to the individual commentaries until the viewer hover over a selected circle to read a specific response within a category. Even if it’s a small percentage of the total population in the US, it gives us a glimpse to the national mood that patently disagrees with the typical mainstream take that status quo continues to perceive without any questions.
The silent are furious, is what this presentation shows to me, and I find it interesting that this image goes against what every political group is trying to tell us. And the fact that the Occupy Together movement goes way beyond what politics will ever discuss or even acknowledge. We’re not really as fragmented as we thought we are, although we’re definitely doing less than the occupiers are doing in conveying our discontent. The Occupy movement is doing this entire world a favor, because it’s bringing social issues that we’ve refused to entertain into an open discussion forum. Whether we like it or not, resting on our laurels and waiting for someone else to fix our problems is no longer a solution.
And to all of those people who continually disparage the creative world, well, here’s proof that there is value in every discipline. Disparaging things you oppose doesn’t change the fact that they’re an important part of the total picture. Thank a graphic designer for helping you see a muddy picture just a little clearer, so that those who can’t get the words we’re using may now get an in-your-face moment that can’t be ridiculed. Unless they’re planning on taking on a really large part of the entire human civilization.
