# Time magazine pranks Trump! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 8, 2016, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241 "2016-12-08T23:25:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/41 "2016-12-09T18:32:21Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > _This time,_ it was intentional. > > The [other 34 times](http://time.com/3742509/donald-trump-time-person-of-the-year-horns/), it was accidental. > > Is that your considered professional opinion? Yes, for certain values of “accidental.” When you do complex high-end layouts like magazines and catalogs for a living, absolutely no detail escapes you (or your peers). You see details and relationships most people, even those generally artistically inclined, just don’t. Most designers, given the choice of bumping something one millimeter this way and missing a joke or two millimeters that way and making a visual… pun, joke, snark, quirk - will do the latter. And deny it with a straight face. It also pays off when there are good reasons NOT to introduce any kind of potential insult into a layout, such as juxtapositions of ethnically, socially or politically sensitive components. But I’ve only been doing this for about 30 years, so if any real experts want to correct me, please do. ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/42 "2016-12-09T18:37:30Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Has the minority-President-elect commented (aka “tweeted”) on it? Who is the “minority-President-elect”? Is that JugearS Obama? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/43 "2016-12-09T18:46:51Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Who is the “minority-President-elect”? Is that JugearS Obama? No, that would be the President-elect who lost the popular vote and is fond of Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/848f3c/32.png) [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/44 "2016-12-09T19:01:58Z")
This thread reminds me of that poster who is convinced Bell Labs is a Satanic conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/45 "2016-12-09T19:08:09Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Yes, for certain values of “accidental.” > > When you do complex high-end layouts like magazines and catalogs for a living, absolutely no detail escapes you (or your peers). You see details and relationships most people, even those generally artistically inclined, just don’t. Most designers, given the choice of bumping something one millimeter this way and missing a joke or two millimeters that way and making a visual… pun, joke, snark, quirk - will do the latter. And deny it with a straight face. > > It also pays off when there are good reasons NOT to introduce any kind of potential insult into a layout, such as juxtapositions of ethnically, socially or politically sensitive components. > > But I’ve only been doing this for about 30 years, so if any real experts want to correct me, please do. So Time graphic designers definitely have something against Popes. And Bono. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/46 "2016-12-09T19:34:20Z")
Really? The horns? That’s disappointing. I thought you were referring to the giant penis on the back of his chair. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/47 "2016-12-09T19:51:12Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > So Time graphic designers definitely have something against Popes. And Bono. Humor modules can be found on aisle 3, in the back, under clues. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/48 "2016-12-09T19:55:03Z")
> [@toast\_pakora](#): > > I see it now but my first thought was: is that a Prince of Wales feather motif on the back of the chair? Ditto. My second thought was that my cat had got his claws in it. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/49 "2016-12-09T20:00:51Z")
If that’s supposed to be devil’s horns then they did a really shit job. Looks more like Felix the Cat to me. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/50 "2016-12-09T20:19:13Z")
I think many people are projecting and seeing horns because they \*want \*this to be intentional. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/51 "2016-12-09T20:41:35Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > You must know a lot of rather violent people. > > He’s not wrong. You usually don’t reveal the thing that’s “wrong” with the photo before the person has had a chance to look and find it for themselves. > > Nerdshaming on this board is kinda weird. I know lots of nerds, even more nerds than violent people. I wouldn’t say playing the “Hey, look at this picture! See the funny thing? See it yet? I’m not gonna tell you until you see it!” game is any way a common attribute among them. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/52 "2016-12-09T20:53:44Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I know lots of nerds, even more nerds than violent people. I wouldn’t say playing the “Hey, look at this picture! See the funny thing? See it yet? I’m not gonna tell you until you see it!” game is any way a common attribute among them. Oh, come on. You’ve been around here almost as long as I have, and it’s not at all uncommon to post a “discovery” like this, with an OP followup after the first round of posts. If the collective attention span is only long enough to click a spoiler link, I’ll try to keep that… oh, look, giraffes! ---
**Author:** ![Trancephalic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trancephalic/32/380_2.png) [@Trancephalic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trancephalic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/53 "2016-12-09T21:11:41Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Oh, come on. You’ve been around here almost as long as I have, and it’s not at all uncommon to post a “discovery” like this, with an OP followup after the first round of posts. If the collective attention span is only long enough to click a spoiler link, I’ll try to keep that… oh, look, giraffes! How’re they wearing their neckties ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/54 "2016-12-09T21:25:32Z")
> [@Turpentine](#): > > I thought you were referring to the giant penis on the back of his chair. Back of the chair? I see a big dick _in_ the chair. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/55 "2016-12-09T22:04:58Z")
I don’t know what the hell kind of devil you’ve been worshiping if you think they look like horns. They are clearly cat ears. And for quite a grumpy cat at that. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/56 "2016-12-09T22:21:53Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Oh, come on. You’ve been around here almost as long as I have, and it’s not at all uncommon to post a “discovery” like this, with an OP followup after the first round of posts. If the collective attention span is only long enough to click a spoiler link, I’ll try to keep that… oh, look, giraffes! Of course it’s common on this board. And every time I see one, I think “Oh Christ, another annoying pseudo-clever post”. You claim it’s more “fun” for people to figure out whatever nonsense you’re reading into a picture by themselves. I believe the majority of the population disagrees. And at least in person, after looking at whatever stupid picture said annoyer is showing you, you can ask them what the hell they’re talking about. On a messageboard you’ve got to wait until they deign to return and tell you. So I don’t think it’s nerd shaming. At best, it’s “insufferably arrogant and annoying behavior shaming”, which, not unexpectedly, I think we need more of. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2016, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/57 "2016-12-09T23:40:10Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Yes, for certain values of “accidental.” > > When you do complex high-end layouts like magazines and catalogs for a living, absolutely no detail escapes you (or your peers). You see details and relationships most people, even those generally artistically inclined, just don’t. Most designers, given the choice of bumping something one millimeter this way and missing a joke or two millimeters that way and making a visual… pun, joke, snark, quirk - will do the latter. And deny it with a straight face. > > It also pays off when there are good reasons NOT to introduce any kind of potential insult into a layout, such as juxtapositions of ethnically, socially or politically sensitive components. > > But I’ve only been doing this for about 30 years, so if any real experts want to correct me, please do. Here’s an interesting article on the cover portrait. [Why Trump’s Cover Portrait Is a Subversive Work of Political Art](http://forward.com/culture/356537/why-times-trump-cover-is-a-subversive-work-of-political-art/) > [@](#): > > The decisions that Time made regarding how to photograph Trump reveal a layered, nuanced field of references that place the image among, in this viewer’s opinion, the magazine’s greatest covers. The “prank” has nothing to do with the supposed “horns.” It’s much deeper and more subtle than that. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/58 "2016-12-10T00:26:38Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Here’s an interesting article on the cover portrait. > > … Excellent analysis. The use of the Louis XV chair was an inspired choice - this from [Wikipedia’s page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XV_of_France) on Louis XV: > [@](#): > > Most scholars believe Louis XV’s decisions damaged the power of France, weakened the treasury, discredited the absolute monarchy, and made it more vulnerable to distrust and destruction, as happened in the French Revolution, which broke out 15 years after his death. Norman Davies characterized Louis XV’s reign as “one of debilitating stagnation,” characterized by lost wars, endless clashes between the Court and Parliament, and religious feuds. A few scholars defend Louis, arguing that his highly negative reputation was based on propaganda meant to justify the French Revolution. Jerome Blum described him as “a perpetual adolescent called to do a man’s job.” ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/59 "2016-12-10T00:34:50Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Here’s an interesting article on the cover portrait. > > [Why Trump’s Cover Portrait Is a Subversive Work of Political Art](http://forward.com/culture/356537/why-times-trump-cover-is-a-subversive-work-of-political-art/) > > The “prank” has nothing to do with the supposed “horns.” It’s much deeper and more subtle than that. Now that’s the sort of analysis I can believe. Not some Beavis and Butthead-level “huh huh, huh huh… we put horns on 'im” bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241/60 "2016-12-10T01:26:17Z")
It may be accidental, but fuck, now I can’t unsee it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/time-magazine-pranks-trump/774241.md?page=4)