Pushing open a restroom door, a quote is emblazoned on its surface. Walking past Boston University’s Law Building’s lobby, white lettering contrasts the glassy exterior. Beneath all of these quotes, a slogan of “Make America Say It Again” is present.
Quotes spoken by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump were concentrated around BU’s central campus; first plastered around campus on Saturday, students expressed shock at the represented messages.
In a Tab article, the artist, who chose to remain anonymous, stated his or her intentions were to highlight the ridiculous nature of our potential president’s statements.
“Through using the power of design, it takes direct quotes that Trump has said and positions them in places around Boston University that further how immoral, racist and just plain absurd they are,” the artist said in the article.
The pieces posted around campus include sayings like, “If Hillary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband, what makes her think she can satisfy America?” and “You never get to the face because the body’s so good.”
Trump’s words are haunting to say the least, and to see them posted publicly is jarring. In this regard, the artist achieved his or her intention. The words are powerful and impactful, jolting a passerby from their internal thoughts. The more you read them, the more appalling and absurd the words become.
That being said, the artist failed to properly credit the words to Trump. Certainly, the quotes are from Trump, but the message was obfuscated. Such powerful and explicit words deserve an equally powerful and explicit call to action. The statements were charged and brash, but only coupled with “Make America Say It Again.” Without context, this statement means nothing and could be easily discounted. If not for The Tab’s interview with the artist, that statement would most likely still mean nothing, despite the seemingly opinionated interview.
Removing Trump’s name from his words, however, do strip them down to their absolute meaning. Without attaching his name to the words, there are no excuses. There is no consideration of his background, no consideration of his political beliefs. There are only words, words that are repulsive to read and even more repulsive to hear.
Another interesting part of the installment is the artist’s choice to remain anonymous, assuming a Banksy-like persona. From a purely strategic perspective, the artist is technically vandalizing university property and revealing an identity could be compromising. Yet, BU has an impressive security system and officials would have most likely disciplined the artist if they were so keen on doing so. Beyond that, officials also have the right to remove the words from university property if they see it as fit to do so.
As an installation in its entirety, it successfully instigated conversation on campus, but it is somewhat ignorant to think that those conversations were not already happening. In the last few weeks before we take to the polls, these conversations are inevitable, particularly on a politically active college campus. At this point in the campaign, most minds are made in regards to selecting a candidate, and pasting vinyl stickers around campus is not going to drastically impact the student body.
When seeing the stickers, it makes us think of the custodians who inevitably have to scrape them off of the walls and doors and windows.
Why spread hatred and negativity when the option of positivity is another viable and impactful option? “Women’s rights are human rights” would have also caught the eyes of passersby, and instead of inspiring glares, perhaps it would have brought out a smile or two. Furthering positivity in this bleak time seems far more pressing than giving further attention to a buffoon who believes it is justified to objectify women.
Freedom of speech and expression is of course necessary, but it is also necessary to go about it effectively. If you’re going to make a statement, do so clearly, and most importantly, make your statement on Nov. 8.
