I have a love-hate relationship with The Economist. On the love side, I found the two jobs I have had in Geneva in The Economist. I love their house style - no magazine has such a clear and identifable style where every article, no matter who writes it, has that distinctive Economist voice. For that reason, I keep their style guide next to my Strunk and White at work. I love the little slices of absurdity that they manage to unearth in almost every issue and that very dry, very English humour that shines through the straitlacedness.And I love their covers. George Bush looking bemused as "The Accidental President". Kim Jong Il in his 70s style gear saying "Greetings, Earthlings". Silvio Berlusconi at his oiliest, smirking up to the words "Mamma mia. Here We Go Again".
But it is also the covers that bring out the hate side - their Africa covers. Man. They have this thing where they will do one cover devoted to Africa, and I have absolutely loathed, loathed each one, and especially the one where President Bob Mugabe's moustache was darkened and Hitlerised. But the cover for the current issue, which I have scanned for your enjoyment, is just stunning. I love everything about it. Every little thing. And what is better still - it looks even better in colour.
1 comments:
The picture of the woman donning rollers on The Economist caused quite a debate amongst my geographically dispersed girls and I.
Those of us living on the African continent thought the picture was realistic of the emerging markets and could identify with the ladies selling their wares on street, donning rollers whilst chattering on their cellies.
However, my girls on all the other continents but Africa felt that once again, through the picture, the West was depicting Africa in its worst light and took great offense.
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