On the aesthetics of authority or: Why We Are So Obsessed With Cuomo’s PPTs
I feel as though I have been waiting my whole life for this ARTnews analysis on the aesthetics of Andrew Cuomo’s powerpoint presentations, and anyone with intimate knowledge of the grueling and soul-killing process of trying to “jazz up” a bunch of slides while also sounding authoritative will hugely enjoy the close reading that writer Shannon Mattern performs on the bizarre visual interplay of Richardson Romanesque style architecture and Arial font, “regal hues and high-contrast blue and gold, state flags and clip art, velvet curtains and polo shirts, chandeliers and LCD projectors.”
Here’s one of my favorite bits, but the whole thing is definitely worth a read before you oh so casually tune into today’s briefing like it’s not the only thing your circadian rhythm hinges upon anymore:
A blue-tinted stock or news photo—of gloved hands, hospital workers, or city scenes—typically serves as a muted substrate for the slides’ factual content. New York State branding guidelines stipulate that photography used in official communication be authentic, inspiring, dynamic, and compassionate. Cuomo’s photos deliver; they provide the underlying pathos, while the bullet-points and bar charts layered on top appeal to logic. Rudimentary tables and maps adhere conscientiously (if, at times, inelegantly) to best practices for information design, as well as the state’s official blue-and-gold color scheme. Yet the slideshows also occasionally incorporate whimsical clip art: cresting waves signal peak infection, for instance, while chunky arrows remind us that we want to “flatten the curve.”
If your brain hungers for more deep dives on slide culture, Mattern’s also got this feature, Using Powerpoint, Artists Ask How Performative Presentations Shape Our Thinking from February in terms of extremely relevant companion reading.
Also P.S. Did you guys know Chris Cuomo’s daughter Bella is a TikTok star??? Also more Cuomo ‘Toks here, who am I to deny the people from what they want!!
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