The poster above appeared in 2008 for a girl posting her candidacy for the Beirut municipality as an impartial. Her identify is “Nabila Mohammad Saab” Fathallah (Fathallah being her married identify). Her predominant slogan (in French thoughts you) was “noblesse difficile” – how come? Properly “nabila” is “noble” and “saab” is “tough” as a direct translation. Put 2 and a couple of collectively or identify/surname collectively and what do you get? “tough the Aristocracy” or “noblesse difficile”. Beneath there have been loads of hearts printed on pink papers.
“Religion in God and the nation (coronary heart) schooling and tradition (coronary heart) Love and affection
A full constructing = man + lady”
The picture above is clearly a composite from my archive. Really I used to be so fascinated by this poster I tore it out and saved it. I at all times consider it as an intriguing relic. Each avant-garde and retro. Bear in mind, in 2008 most politicians had transitioned to digital campaigning and pictures printed with massive budgets and those that didn’t have budgets no less than managed to get them designers (generally within the printing presses) to do layouts for his or her campaigns and all.
However Mrs Saab (Fathallah) put her passport photograph all with shiny 80s earrings and a floral gown (florals for elections? groundbreaking!) and clearly her personal copy as a result of I doubt anybody may have give you one thing so kitsch (and anybody who is aware of me is aware of I like kitsch) which is so completely her but additionally so completely out of this world.
If I’m scripting this at present it’s as a result of the problem of self-branding is so fascinating for me. Simply have a look at linkedin, the foremost outlet for self-promotion. I’ve a interest, now and again I’m going there, have a look at the profiles the system is suggesting for me and see how they “model” themselves. What titles do they offer themselves – rational, completely on the market, ego-based? Potentialities are limitless.
In fact, more often than not I’m not precisely impressed. I actually say I’m a “suppose tank and multimedia artist” which actually, means something and every part and tries to mix the wacky creative experiments I do with the truth that I do analysis a lot of the day (not at all times being paid to do it – this weblog is a serious instance).
Nonetheless, someday in 2016 I went on a serious “digital restructuring” operation. I used to be unfold too skinny in sub-brands (my publishing arm had a reputation, the weblog had a special identify, my movies had an additional totally different nom de plume (or nom de director) and so forth…). I merely tried to shed all these entities to agglomerate them below the umbrella of – what else? – “Tarek Chemaly”.
I do know it appears apparent, however belief me for a very long time it was not. Name it convoluted circumstances. However nonetheless, now that it’s executed, it makes – ahem – sense. Now earlier than anybody begins assuming issues – no, the “Tarek Chemaly” isn’t, Tarek Chemaly. And earlier than anybody begins considering I’m speaking philosophy – you already know the everlasting French conundrum of “l’etre et le paraitre” (the distinction between what’s, and what’s seen) – I imply the “model” isn’t the person behind it.
I allow you to see what I need you to see, and – once more imagine it or not – individuals suppose that what I’m permitting them to see is what is definitely behind the picture. In fact, all of us try this as people. Challenge and imago which isn’t the particular person. However to many, picture and particular person are one and the identical with little distinction. In my case, it’s a little bit extra difficult.
However this doesn’t imply I’m “mendacity” or “deceptive”. I merely divide myself upon my audiences. Only a few individuals get to see sure points of me. Recently nonetheless, a pupil of mine who got here again from France informed me “you scared me the primary day I noticed you. When all of us have been making an attempt to cover behind masks, there you have been, parading your self unafraid of who you have been”. Does this imply I informed her my utmost secrets and techniques and confirmed her sides of me solely very shut individuals know? No. However it additionally means I used to be not making an attempt to be somebody I used to be not or projecting the picture of somebody who isn’t “me” (or the “me” I needed to mission to college students).
Properly, there are quite a few books, treatises and articles written on self-branding. This one doesn’t fake to unravel the riddle. However to me “noblesse difficile” will at all times stay that fascinating exhibit. A sworn statement of somebody who knew who they have been and what they needed to painting and find out how to painting that. And in itself, that is self-branding.
