Yeah It’s Strange, But What’s So Strange About That?
The “Keep Ann Arbor Strange” clothing line is a takeoff on the similar “Keep Austin Weird” campaign. But since their logo obscures the word “strange” by superimposing it on a stylized lizard head, the shirts seem to be saying, “Keep Ann Arbor.” Which is a slogan we can get behind.
I just moved here…is “Keep Ann Arbor Strange” like a *thing* that’s been around for a while, or something? Or is it new just with this batch of merchandise? What are the forces threatening its strangeness? To be honest it seems pretty…not strange, at first glance. Also, “strange” is a very strange word to use for this sort of campaign. It doesn’t have that cute “look at us we reclaimed the pejorative word!” feel of “weird.”
posted by pc on September 8th, 2006 at 12:17 pmI agree with pc: “What are the forces threatening [Ann Arbor’s] strangeness?”
The internet boom and the Dellionaires were a “real” threat to Austin’s personality. Underneath “Keep Austin Weird” and in a smaller font was “support your local businesses.”
posted by bevo on September 8th, 2006 at 12:53 pmMan, that is some messed up graphic design. Legibility, schmegibility.
@pc: no, it’s not a ‘thing.’ Never heard of it before. They’re way too late with the campaign, though. Ann Arbor hasn’t been strange for a long time. In fact, it’s pretty damn ordinary. Not necessarily unpleasant, just ordinary.
posted by Laura F. on September 8th, 2006 at 1:02 pmI’ve never seen that before, and I’m doubting I’ll ever see it on the street. If they sell one, I’ll be surprised.
posted by Chris on September 8th, 2006 at 1:47 pmMore proof that AA is a very,… very poor man’s version of Austin…and that ain’t sayin’ much(o).
posted by leighton on September 8th, 2006 at 1:58 pmAnn Arbor is mildly odd, and only in relation to the state of Michigan.
Maybe I should make a Keep Ann Arbor Mildly Odd shirt. But no lizards.
posted by Dave on September 8th, 2006 at 3:13 pmHm… Think Local First thought about using the ‘Keep Weird’ tagline in Ann Arbor, but it quickly became clear that ‘weird’ was not something that midwesterners aspired to be, unlike the gazillion other cities that have used this tagline for their buy local campaigns. Perhaps that is why it says ’strange’ instead.
So… our teeshirts (coming soon!) Will say ‘Think Independently?’; ; ‘Support Your Locally-Owned Businesses’. I’m thinking I should post a draft link here just to make sure we don’t get the ‘messed up graphic design’ charge as well!
posted by Lisa on September 8th, 2006 at 3:21 pmHm… it looks like this site deletes things in inside brackets - the first paragraph is supposed to say ‘Keep Ann Arbor Weird’, and the second is supposed to reference a funky graphic between the “; ;”s on the teeshirt. What happened to preview, anyways?
posted by Lisa on September 8th, 2006 at 3:24 pmThat’s it, Lisa - we’re taking away your internet priviliges until you stop using brackets in posts!
posted by David on September 8th, 2006 at 6:03 pmWell, these things are on a CaféPress page. I’d be far more impressed if, like in the olden days, the designer(s) had to go out and invest a rather substantial sum in printing out each item in quantity and in multiple sizes, where applicable — in other words, if they were willing to invest a life’s savings and risk losing their shirts to try and actually sell these shirts and sundry items. Then their effort would seem more worthy of attention and comment.
That’s not to knock the CaféPress business model, which can be a great option for the budget-conscious seller. One result of it, though, is a plethora of stuff that quickly comes and goes. If you blink, you’ll likely miss it. And, in reference to an earlier comment, if you blink it’s doubtful you’ll ever realize what you’re not seeing on the streets or in anyone’s home.
The ” Keep [your town here] Weird” or “Strange” phrase has become a bit well-worn, anyway. Besides Austin, there’s this longtime example as well. Though “Keep Ann Arbor Mildly Odd” is a fine twist on this otherwise aging theme, as worthy as someone else’s “Wow! It’s just like Birmingham in the early 70s!”
posted by hale on September 8th, 2006 at 7:59 pmLet’s see if this link works.
http://www.zazzle.com/myzazzle/my_products/in_progress/design_list.asp?type=235
posted by LittleB on September 8th, 2006 at 8:32 pmNope. Too bad, I had designed a t-shirt based on the new and improved text. Well, use the link to make one for yourself, maybe.
posted by LittleB on September 8th, 2006 at 8:34 pm“keep ann arbor strange” on a classic thong????? i don’t know how i’d react if i saw that. would i care? would i lshake my head and roll my eyes like i would with the dog t-shirt? would i ask her why her crotch says “keep ann arbor”? would i then be forced to take a closer look at said crotch to see that lizardhead actually says “strange”? at least it’s made in the USA. that comforts me.
posted by tim on September 8th, 2006 at 10:33 pmNo no no. Keep Ann Arbor Mildly Odd.
posted by LittleB on September 8th, 2006 at 10:51 pmThe link I attached, by the way, was a place to design your own t-shirts. Where do we see thong?? Ick.
posted by LittleB on September 8th, 2006 at 10:53 pmthe orginal link has a thong towards the middle of the page, a few below the dog t-shirt, between the camisole and boxer shorts. (and are we assuming this a women’s thong?)
posted by tim on September 8th, 2006 at 11:53 pmTim wondered: “… are we assuming this a women’s thong?”
As the owner of one of these
http://www.cafepress.com/gevilthings.64964550
there’s no question that the standard-issue CafePress thong is designed for (very small) women. This assessment is, I concede, not based on anything more than visual inspection. Otherwise put, I did not actually try it on. The quality of materials and construction suggests to me that it’s an item intended more as a novelty item than a piece of apparel, anyway, and not engineering to withstand the rigors of everyday wear. Even if you’re the right sex and size.
I’m thinking maybe I can get Larry Page to autograph it. Or something.
posted by HD on September 9th, 2006 at 8:27 amThink “stretchy” and “wedgie”.
posted by JCP2 on September 9th, 2006 at 9:38 amI am going to jump on the “Keep Ann Arbor Mildly Odd” bandwagon.
posted by Andrea on September 9th, 2006 at 10:19 amCool. Any designers out there keep us posted if you come up with a good one. If I had even an ounce of artistic ability I might try it myself.
posted by Dave on September 9th, 2006 at 11:06 amDare I suggest “Keep Ann Arbor Overrated”?
posted by abc on September 9th, 2006 at 1:46 pmOr better yet, simply the name of this site.
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on September 9th, 2006 at 3:43 pmHow about just a black t-shirt with a white “AAIO” or white with black letters? You know, esoteric.
It seems to me that, despite all these websites where you can make your own t-shirts, there is a real absence of good t-shirts nowadays, but perhaps that’s just my imagination. Perhaps all the cool t-shirts left Ann Arbor when the wierdness/strangeness left, which was around the same time that Borders left their old digs on State St., I would say.
posted by Daniel on September 9th, 2006 at 6:53 pmHow about: Ann Arbor, we’re not like everybody else, we’re better.
posted by Old Goat on September 9th, 2006 at 11:42 pmHD: thanks. now we know what happened to the ol’ ann arbor/google thing. google came calling, saw the “gevil” wear on ann arbor’s floor, knew it wasn’t theirs and started hurling accusations. the rest is history. i bet austin would never do something like that.
posted by tim on September 10th, 2006 at 6:25 amNope. How about, “We’re pretty much like everybody else, but we like to think we’re better.” More accurate, but perhaps to long to make a good catch phrase.
posted by LittleB on September 10th, 2006 at 5:17 pmit should be “make” not “keep” it strange.
posted by guest on September 10th, 2006 at 10:21 pmI kind of like “Ann Arbor: Reminding our neighbors how provincial and stupid they are since 1817″
posted by OFWinsurgent on September 11th, 2006 at 4:25 pmI’m thinking that ’s the one, Ofwin.
posted by LittleB on September 11th, 2006 at 6:43 pmHow do you fit that on a button?
posted by abc on September 11th, 2006 at 11:13 pmI guess it needs to be turned into a clever acronym.
posted by OFWinsurgent on September 12th, 2006 at 11:21 amAt the Pre-Art-Fair Townie Party, a friend of mine gave me a button with the message “Don’t Mess With Me: I LIVE HERE.”
posted by Larry Kestenbaum on September 12th, 2006 at 3:29 pm“… Reminding our neighbors how provincial and stupid they are …”
Wait a minute now.
posted by Anonymous on September 12th, 2006 at 8:26 pmAnn Arbor can no more easily descend into the realm of smugness than a camel can fit through the eye of a hurricane.
Tee hee. Mind you, I love the town, but smug! You betcha.
posted by LittleB on September 12th, 2006 at 9:34 pmAnn Arbor Native — Right from the Beginning.
That’s right, I’m 190 years old, bitches!
posted by Dave on September 13th, 2006 at 11:27 am