i hope ap wins this case.

While I agree, borrowing iconic images is dicey area, the medium is the message and we live in an age of sampling and re-working icons, so that in of itself is saying something. Rappers spit each others lines in tribute, Tarantino synthesizes his favorite cult films into blockbusters, and I know a whole lot of respected artists who re-tool existing imagery. These things say a lot about who we are at this point and where we are going.

Andy Warhol set a sort of precedent for this kind of work himself, but even there, there is a much different tone and meaning behind his and Shep’s work. Not saying it’s genius, but I do like seeing Malcolm X and Assata appearing on our streets in tribute.

I guess from that angle, Shep has merged radical anti-authoritarian or cult symbols and given them an open but definite new meaning.

I do think he’s pretty over-exposed, there are other artist deserving of the attention, but it’s not the man’s fault he’s a hustler, and he is opening doors for a lot others who deserve it as well.