An Analysis of an Image: GQ November 2008 cover

In this November 2008 GQ cover, we see famed late night television host and comedian Jimmy Kimmel smiling sort of awkwardly covered in lip stick kisses from Marilyn Monroe. This cover deviates from the normal covers we usually see from GQ which feature either dapper men in designer clothing or naked women in suggestive poses. The cover photo alone is very interesting because it can be interpreted in multiple ways.

Although this image can be perceived in many ways, I personally think it is a statement about corruption in the Political world. Many of us know about the supposed liaisons that John F. Kennedy shared with Marilyn Monroe and in this image Mr. Kimmel plays the part of JFK. I also feel that this cover shot is a social commentary about how hypocritical politicians can be. However, I do acknowledge that this issue also features an article about the twenty five sexiest women in film and Ms. Monroe’s appearance on the cover may just be in reference to that piece.

Through the years we have heard various stories about married politicians who either engage in affairs with other women or send inappropriate pictures of themselves to their lovers. This picture satirizes the fantasy that these politicians are perfect human beings. When politicians are out on the road campaigning for a position they want to be elected into, they sometimes create this façade of the perfect family man, but this cover indirectly says that we must be more skeptical when it comes to politicians, we must remember that they are human and that there is a possibility that they are lying to us.

Another striking detail about this cover is that the phrase “Jimmy Kimmel says vote democrat so this damn thing can finally be over”. I acknowledge that this cover was before President Obama was elected into office, but I feel as if Jimmy Kimmel is saying that voting democrat would end the political struggle in the nation. Little did he know that almost four years later, that wouldn’t be the story. Today, there is an even bigger political divide in the nation: one half wants a new president and the other half thinks that our current president deserves another term.

Ultimately, I think that this cover satirizes politicians and politics in general. We are often fed lies about those who work in the government and I feel that this cover is just warning us to be more wary of what politicians tell us.