We librarians don't have the best image among the professions -- stuffy, crabby, and technologically obsolete are the common archetypes. But now the Minneapolis Public Library is advocating the trade by reminding patrons that Mao Zedong, one of the most bloodthirsty dictators in human history, was once a librarian. Lileks via Reynolds:
The Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library – a group presumably formed to combat the work of their tireless foes, the Enemies of the Minneapolis Public Library – has a new ad campaign out to hype next year’s opening of the new downtown library. One side of the poster has a big picture of Mao; beneath him, it says, well, MAO. On the other side, a picture of the new library, with the letters MPL, for Minneapolis Public Library. From the Skyway News article on the campaign:
“What’s the connection? China sports the world’s third largest economy, while the library claims the nation’s third largest collection of books (per capita.)
“It’s a stretch, and a little weird, but it made us look, and that’s the point.”
Hmm. I’m curious: how many people do you have to kill, and how many books do you have to destroy, before you’re no longer a benign historical image to be used in a “clever” ad campaign? The campaign also features J. Edgar Hoover and Batgirl, because they, like Mao, were librarians at some point in their lives. “Mao Tse-Tung became a convert to Marxism while working as a librarian at Beijing University prior to launching a communist revolution in China,” the article explains.
Next up: Stalin shills for the church! Hey, he was a seminarian, once. See, it’s funny and clever when they didn’t kill anyone you know. Criminey.
Stalin was in seminary? Sheesh. I'm going from one horrible profession to another.
I've done some websearching, and looked through the periodicals database Infotrac (subscription only), and can locate no source to verify what Lileks is saying. Nothing. Lileks has always proven honest before, but before we start screaming at the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library, let's get some verification.
In the meantime, I'll be taking night classes at the Hitler School for the Fine Arts.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
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4 comments:
Yup Stalin was a seminarian for 5 years until he was 19. There are some indications that he only went because, as a Georgian, that was the only higher education he had access to. His mother was devout Orthodox and considered premiership of the Soviet Union a step down from the priesthood.
At one point in his life he also had the entire New Testament memorized.
Al Gore was a seminarian for a bit too I think. It was one of those graduate degrees he never got around to finishing.
Gee can you tell I vote Republican yet? ;)
You're not putting Gore and Stalin in the same boat, are you?
That was the joke, but no Al Gore and Stalin obviously not in the same boat.
<-- Thread --> <-- Date --> Find
[Mpls] Downtown library asks the tough - and amusing - questions
Krueger, Rodney
Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:57:26 -0700
"Downtown library asks the tough - and amusing - questions"
By Jeremy Stratton - Skyway News (4/25/05)
http://www.skywaynews.net/articles/2005/04/25/news/news03.txt
What do Chairman Mao Tse-tung, J. Edgar Hoover and Batgirl have in common?
A hint: the Friends of the Minneapolis Public Library (FMPL) are posing the
intriguing question as part of a quirky campaign to preview the Spring 2006
opening of Downtown's New Central Library.
Minneapolis design firm Andrews/Birt created the campaign for free, according
to Colin Hamilton, FMPL executive director. Posters, bookmarks and print ads -
in space donated by local media - will debut in May.
The first of three ads will compare the former leader of China to the future
New Central Library. What's the connection? China sports the world's third
largest economy, while the library claims the nation's third largest collection
of books (per capita.)
It's a stretch, and a little weird, but it made us look, and that's the point.
"We want to pique people's curiosity and get some buzz," Hamilton said. "If we
had a million dollars to spend, we could do something straightforward. We have
zero dollars. To get attention, we need to challenge viewers."
Early reviews were mixed, according Hamilton. "Some were amused, some were
intrigued, some didn't get it," he said.
So? Do you get it? The Mao/Hoover/Batgirl implication is that all three were
librarians, but it's not exactly true. Batgirl was head librarian at Gotham
Public Library prior to her career as a crime fighter. Mao Tse-tung became a
convert to Marxism while working as a librarian at Beijing University prior to
launching a communist revolution in China.
Hoover was never a librarian, but worked as a clerk at the Library of Congress
while pursuing a law degree. Hoover would have made chief librarian, according
to biographer Curt Gentry, but he quit in 1919 to take a position as special
assistant to the Attorney General, where, coincidentally, he directed raids
against Communists. As you may have heard, he later worked for the FBI.
(Skyway News)
- - - -
I will have a chance to see a preview of the media campaign later this week, it
should be very interesting. Thank you to the Friends of MPL and to design firm
Andrews/Birt for their generosity.
- for more information on Andrews/Birt: www.abagency.com
- for more information on the Friends of MPL: www.friendsofmpl.org
Thank you,
Rod Krueger
Library Board / 12th Ward
www.rodkrueger.org
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