-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
In the, um, thirties. A decade strangely cohabitated by both art deco and Herr Adolf Hitler.
-------------------- "I was surprised by the matter-of-factness of Kafka's narration, and the subtle humor present as a result." (Sizer 2005)
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
No, I mean, can you show me any Nazi Deco stuff? I've never seen any.
-------------------- "The best defense is not a good offense. The best defense is a terrifyingly accurate and devastatingly powerful offense, with multiply-overlapping kill zones and time-on-target artillery strikes." -- Laurence, Archangel of the Sword
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
I believe what they're saying is, certain elements of Nazi style could have been inspired by the Art Deco movement. Art Deco had a specific futuristic bent which the Nazis might have wanted to tap into, given the glorious future, under the auspices of National Socialism, that they were keen to promote.
Whether justified or not, the sylised eagle symbolism has come to be associated with the Nazis. It's likely (well, I hope it is) that whoever designed this stamp was unaware of such associations. I'm no philatelist, but maybe there was an earlier stamp (from the Art Deco period) which used this design.
True story: A rollercoaster was built on the Pier in Brighton a few years back. They wanted to give it a cool, futuristic name, so they chose - apparently at random with no idea as to the word's other usage - Zyklon. When informed that was a brand of nerve gas used in the concentration camps, they hurriedly renamed it.
I saw a program a while back about Nazi architecture, which included some obvious Art Deco touches; I'll try to see if I can dig up a few examples. I recommend reading William Gibson's short story "The Gernsback Continuum" (from the collection Burning Chrome, among others), it's all about the dangers of Art Deco architecture. 8)
posted
Dudes, it's not that complicated. The nazis merely followed the fashion of the time, like everyone does. It coloured everything, just look at opening credits in movies of the time, every swedish movie has the style, it's infectious.
And the Nazis did use the squarish, blocky eagle-symbol a lot. On most of their standards, letterheads and on the collars of their uniforms, at least.
I wouldn't be surprised if the actual symbol had been used since the time of the last Kaiser, though.
-------------------- "I'm nigh-invulnerable when I'm blasting!" Mel Gibson, X-Men
Registered: Aug 1999
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Saiyanman Benjita
...in 2012. This time, why not the worst?
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posted
While it may not be exactly like the Nazi-style eagle, it holds many of the characteristics of such. Eagles that face most American stuff are normally more life-like. Not necessarily in the artwork, but in the way it's drawn. Nazi-style eagles were more stiff. Wings straight out as opposed to curved in flight (or take-off). I'm shocked that something like this passed through the cracks of the US government.
I'm not condemning the artist. Art is their own, but this would be like having a stamp with artwork that looked very similar to the Confederate Flag.
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Registered: Apr 1999
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Saiyanman Benjita
...in 2012. This time, why not the worst?
Member # 122
posted
SS = Silver surfer. I think that's quite a stretch there, sir Sol.
-------------------- You've got to be kidding! I'm wet, I'm naked, your sister is wearing my clothes And this is all part of some evil plot to rule the world as a soggy chimp in my BIRTHDAY SUIT???!!!
Registered: Apr 1999
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"...this would be like having a stamp with artwork that looked very similar to the Confederate Flag."
The Confederate battle flag is still part of a couple state flags. How woudl making a stamp out of it be much different?
Registered: Mar 1999
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