Craig Froehle tracks the odd convolutions of his famous illustration of how conservatives and liberals view the notion of equality. It’s been simplified, expanded, twisted, tucked in and turned inside-out—and even redrawn by professional artists.
Are the worst versions the ones that bury the simple point in condescending explanation?
Or the ones that seek to subvert it entirely, in as much as stamping “THIS IS FUCKING STUPID” over it counts as subversion?
The cannier mutations contextualize it for local audiences:
I am giddy that my little graphic has helped so many people think about the issue of equity and has spawned so many conversations in just the past few years. I’m not upset by the many way it’s been reimagined. In fact, I’m delighted, because the modifications just make it that much more useful to people.