This book discusses how the feminist movement went beyond its original aim (of bringing equality to women) to the point of minimizing the importance of men and masculinity in families,relationships, and society. It actually sounds rather interesting.
What amuses me is that this is yet another cover that anonymizes someone. Ok, I get the argument about the autism book (the boy with no lower face), but if this book is about the importance of men, why cut off his face? Not to mention that the block of white with the title and subtitles is just ugly and unimaginative (in my oh-so-humble opinion). And why is it all spread out that way? They should have made the white square smaller or the subtext bigger. Just annoys me.
8 comments:
From a graphic designer's perspective, the cover is actually very interestingly designed, somewhat unique, and I find that taken as a whole it has a strong aesthetic, color balance, and positive visual appeal.
Also, did you ever think that perhaps they're obscuring his face to make a point? Since the book is about the importance of men and how the male identity has suffered from the excesses employed in certain aspects of feminism, wouldn't it have more of a positive (and sympathetic) impact for the man to be portrayed as a faceless suit? In modern society, any cause regarding downtrodden males is most likely to be met with derision, simply because women have lived with a patriarchal society for so long and are still struggling. Putting some guy's face on there would just give potential readers a face to dislike when presenting a knotty issue, especially when it's impossible to predict everyone's reaction to a particular face or expression. Why risk readers getting the wrong idea by misinterpreting the expression of the man on the cover, thus influencing their perception of the tone of the entire book? Seems more like a smart (if understated) design choice to me.
I think it's a conspiracy. They even made the water deliberately choppy so you couldn't see his face in the reflection. There's something they didn't want us to see!
Desine,
I thought that at first too, but then I reconsidered because the words "why men matter" is across where his face should be. Irony? Or poor choice? You decide. :)
I agree with our first commentor, I like this cover, too. But can all the gods please save us from post-feminist backlash?! I thought that kind of thing went out with the promise keepers.
That suit's never gonna be the same after being in the water. A thousand dry cleaners couldn't save it.
I knew I recognized that name. Another Oh Dear God What About the Men book. Those poor little men, thank goodness they have finally realized they need us womenfolk to come to their rescue and make them matter.
Notice that it's a white guy on the cover. So, what, only WHITE men matter? I like the empty suit idea better. It is an interesting cover though, with the empty ocean (what does that symbolize? Oh, wait, it's part of the save the whales pun. Unfunny.) and solid color palette.
(I got the point of the ocean after I'd already posted)
Post a Comment