In a move to court the polling-place power of aging hipsters, Sheperd Fairey has joined the list of people endorsing Barack Obama’s campaign for president. This marks the end of irony for Fairey, who’s propaganda-themed street art has, for years, relied on the emotional authenticity of “outsider” positioning. Now, in producing an actual campaign poster, he is sending a clear signal to Generation Xers everywhere that it is time to trade ironic self indulgence for actual political power.

Daniel Turman