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Last week Mutiny Information Cafe unveiled its new mural highlighting the characters of Broadway. But this is far from the only tasty mural on the side of a local watering hole. At Highland Tavern, an outside wall boasts Rosie the Riveter urging you to drink Pabst. But is that co-opting an iconic feminist figure just to sell bad beer?
See also: Rosie the Riveter says “enough” — stop the appropriation of feminist icons
Not according to ply99:
This view assumes that that poster was created by a feminist with a feminist message and audience in mind. It wasn’t. It was a corporate image, created by a male artist for a male-dominated corporation in the midst of a wartime setting. Only since the 80s has it been used for feminist causes. The Pabst image is actually much closer to the poster’s original meaning than this article implies. In the end, there’s nothing wrong with either side appropriating the poster, but the patriarchal side arguably has a better original claim.
What do you think of the Highland Tavern mural? And have you spotted other noteworthy murals on restaurants around town? Post your suggestions below. In the meantime, here’s a look at the new Mutiny mural:
