Yosi Sergant
Encyclopedia
Yosi Sergant is an American publicist
He is known for his commissioning and management of the "Hope" poster
created during the 2008 presidential election
by Shepard Fairey
.
Sergant holds a degree in World Arts and Culture from UCLA. Early in his career he worked for Yitzhak Rabin
and Larry Clark
. After the 2008 campaign, Sergant joined the White House's Office of Public Liaison and on May 11, 2009, Sergant was appointed Director of Communications for the National Endowment for the Arts
.
On August 10, 2009, Sergant participated in a conference call about United We Serve, a government program which encouraged community service in four areas chosen by the Corporation for National Service.
On August 25, 2009, Sergant's former employer Patrick Courrielche blogged about the call on a website run by conservative activist Andrew Breitbart
calling it "a gross overreach of the National Endowment for the Arts." This initial report included only brief excerpts from the call, which Courrielche secretly recorded, but alleged that the NEA was attempting to use its influence to have artists create work in support of the Obama Administration's domestic policy.
On August 27, The Washington Times reported that Sergant stated that the NEA did not organize the call. Courrielche produced an invite forwarded by Sergant, which he said contradicted the communications director's claim. On September 1, 2009, Alex Beam
referenced Courrielche's report in his Boston Globe column and Courrielche appeared on Fox News with host Glenn Beck
. Lynne Munson, former deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under George W. Bush, stated in National Review Online that during her tenure at the NEA's sister agency, "any action resembling this call would have triggered immediate dismissal." Sergant was eventually reassigned to the title of New Media and Special Projects Advisor.
Courrielche did not release the full audio and transcript of the call until September 21, 2009. Reacting to the full transcript, arts journalist Ben Davis, of ArtNet
, argued that the full text exonerated Sergant, and called the attack "politically motivated and built on mostly fabricated information". Jeff Chang, noted hip-hop journalist, called the episode the beginning of the "new face of the Culture Wars". Mainstream media sources did not evaluate whether the full context of the transcript impacted the allegations.
While arguing that Courrielche "misconstrued the purpose of the call", the White House later issued new guidelines to help staffers avoid any appearance of impropriety. On the same day, Chairman Landesman issued a statement stating that the call was not a means to promote any legislative agenda but rather to inform members of the arts community of an opportunity to become involved in volunteerism through the United We Serve program, and also that some of Sergant's language may have been inappropriate. His statement also noted that the call had nothing to do with grantmaking. On September 23, 2009, ten Republican Senators issued an inquiry to the Chairman of the NEA, Rocco Landesman, questioning the possibility of "taxpayer dollars to engage in lobbying activities to promote the President's health care legislative agenda and other legislative priorities." On September 24, 2009, the NEA announced that "effective immediately", Sergant had resigned from the organization. Sergant later stated "They targeted me,".
Since leaving his job with the National Endowment, Sergant produced Manifest Equality and Reform School .
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
He is known for his commissioning and management of the "Hope" poster
Barack Obama "Hope" poster
The Barack Obama "Hope" poster is an image of Barack Obama designed by artist Shepard Fairey, which was widely described as iconic and became synonymous with the 2008 Obama presidential campaign...
created during the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
by Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
.
Sergant holds a degree in World Arts and Culture from UCLA. Early in his career he worked for Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin
' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....
and Larry Clark
Larry Clark
Lawrence Donald "Larry" Clark is an American film director, photographer, writer and film producer who is best known for the movie Kids and his photography book Tulsa...
. After the 2008 campaign, Sergant joined the White House's Office of Public Liaison and on May 11, 2009, Sergant was appointed Director of Communications for the National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
.
On August 10, 2009, Sergant participated in a conference call about United We Serve, a government program which encouraged community service in four areas chosen by the Corporation for National Service.
On August 25, 2009, Sergant's former employer Patrick Courrielche blogged about the call on a website run by conservative activist Andrew Breitbart
Andrew Breitbart
Andrew Breitbart is an American publisher, commentator for the Washington Times, author, an occasional guest commentator on various news programs who has served as an editor for the Drudge Report website...
calling it "a gross overreach of the National Endowment for the Arts." This initial report included only brief excerpts from the call, which Courrielche secretly recorded, but alleged that the NEA was attempting to use its influence to have artists create work in support of the Obama Administration's domestic policy.
On August 27, The Washington Times reported that Sergant stated that the NEA did not organize the call. Courrielche produced an invite forwarded by Sergant, which he said contradicted the communications director's claim. On September 1, 2009, Alex Beam
Alex Beam
Alex Beam is an American writer and journalist, who is currently a columnist for The Boston Globe.-Biography:Beam grew up in Washington, D.C., as his father Jacob D. Beam was a diplomat. Beam attended Phillips Exeter Academy, where he was Foreign Correspondent for the twice-weekly school...
referenced Courrielche's report in his Boston Globe column and Courrielche appeared on Fox News with host Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
. Lynne Munson, former deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities under George W. Bush, stated in National Review Online that during her tenure at the NEA's sister agency, "any action resembling this call would have triggered immediate dismissal." Sergant was eventually reassigned to the title of New Media and Special Projects Advisor.
Courrielche did not release the full audio and transcript of the call until September 21, 2009. Reacting to the full transcript, arts journalist Ben Davis, of ArtNet
Artnet
artnet is an online service provider for the international art market with headquarters in New York, Berlin and Paris. Additionally, artnet has regional offices in China, the UK and Russia.- Business model :...
, argued that the full text exonerated Sergant, and called the attack "politically motivated and built on mostly fabricated information". Jeff Chang, noted hip-hop journalist, called the episode the beginning of the "new face of the Culture Wars". Mainstream media sources did not evaluate whether the full context of the transcript impacted the allegations.
While arguing that Courrielche "misconstrued the purpose of the call", the White House later issued new guidelines to help staffers avoid any appearance of impropriety. On the same day, Chairman Landesman issued a statement stating that the call was not a means to promote any legislative agenda but rather to inform members of the arts community of an opportunity to become involved in volunteerism through the United We Serve program, and also that some of Sergant's language may have been inappropriate. His statement also noted that the call had nothing to do with grantmaking. On September 23, 2009, ten Republican Senators issued an inquiry to the Chairman of the NEA, Rocco Landesman, questioning the possibility of "taxpayer dollars to engage in lobbying activities to promote the President's health care legislative agenda and other legislative priorities." On September 24, 2009, the NEA announced that "effective immediately", Sergant had resigned from the organization. Sergant later stated "They targeted me,".
Since leaving his job with the National Endowment, Sergant produced Manifest Equality and Reform School .
External links
- Evolutionary Media Group homepage
- About United We Serve
- Originally released full audio and transcript of August 10th conference call
- New Culture Wars, ArtNet
- Blog comment on The New Shape of the Culture War: Glenn Beck, Yosi Sergant, Van Jones, and Hip-Hop, The Huffington Post
- After 'Inappropriate' NEA Conference Call, White House Pushes New Guidelines, ABC News
- Yosi Sergant Gets Hypovehiculated, Wall Street Journal
- Statement from NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman, National Endowment for the Arts Website
- The art of agitprop, Boston Globe
- Official dishonesty from the National Endowment for the Arts, Washington Times
- Administration backs off NEA call, Politico
- Yosi Sergant And The Art Of Right Wing Hysteria, Neon Tommy