I quite agree. Once again, thank you David Haberstich.
L.W.S. Petznick
------Original Message------
From: "David E. Haberstich" <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: December 21, 2000 4:37:56 AM GMT
Subject: Re: Coke at the Library of Congress
In a message dated 00-12-20 12:35:13 EST, Chris Dill writes:
<< I'll risk the flames and ask if a responsible institution should then =
refuse to acknowledge NEH or other non-"corporate"sponsors by posting =
their logos. The result of the suggestion if taken at face value would be =
that museums wouldn't get corporate sponsors because they'd refuse to =
acknowledge the funding source. Surely David's position isn't THAT black =
and white? How about non-profit corporations which supports the arts and =
humanities, or civic improvements, etc? >>
OK, let's go over this one more time. Frankly, I don't know how it's
possible to have misinterpreted or misunderstood my message so thoroughly.
Please read it again, Chris. I VERY clearly (I thought) stated "give credit
where credit is due, but no more". Apparently I should have said "give
credit to ALL...", as in each and every one. ALL donors to an exhibition
(including donors who foot the bills as well as donors of individual
objects)
should be acknowledged, IMHO. I said corporate donors should be
acknowledged
in normal typefaces without resorting to logos. I said logos connote
advertising and should be avoided (meaning I think it would be more tasteful
to avoid using the logos; the phrase "should be" represents my personal
opinion). To further clarify that, let me reverse it and ask, why is it
necessary to utilize logos, when just spelling out the company's name in a
standard sentence within a credit label should suffice? If Coca-Cola
sponsors your exhibition and you issue a press release about the exhibition,
would you use the Coke logo everywhere instead of just writing "Coca-Cola"?
Should I write this message by pasting in the Coke logo instead of typing
"Coca-Cola"? No? Then why is it necessary to put the Coke logo in an
exhibit credit label? The logo is their commercial symbol, used to
stimulate
sales through brand recognition, and I think it has no place in a credit
line
because the commercial message is too blatant. Also, I don't like the idea
of making a distinction between donors who have eye-catching visual symbols
and those who don't. I prefer a level playing field. If we're going to
allow or encourage corporate donors to be represented by their advertising
logos, maybe we should also encourage private donors to devise their own
logos or symbols. Maybe we should tell Mr. Donor Gotrocks to resurrect his
family coat of arms (or, if he doesn't have one, perhaps the museum could
design one for him). Maybe everyone should have a logo so it can be
displayed in any exhibit anyone underwrites. Jeez.
Of COURSE NEH and other non-profit funding sources, foundations, etc.,
should
be acknowledged. They too fit under my definition of "all". If NEH or NEA
(or NASA, for that matter) have logos, no, I wouldn't use them. I'd just
spell out "National Endowment for the Humanities", etc. However, please
note
that NEH isn't trying to sell a product, as Coca-Cola is. I don't think
anyone would look at an NEH logo in an exhibit and think, "Hey, they must be
good guys to fund this wonderful exhibit. Let's buy a couple of cases of
their product." NEH should be acknowledged because its funds are public and
taxpayers have a right to know where their money is going. I hope these
nuances are not too subtle.
David Haberstich
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