Origin: agonist
early 20th century: from Greek agōnistēs ‘contestant’ (a sense reflected in English in the early 17th century), from agōn ‘contest’ (1) - One involved in a struggle or competition. (2)
Does the Agonist.org need a new logo? Here are some options, tied to the history of the site. Feedback and alternatives are encouraged. The Agonist’s meticulous Newswire editor, Raja, sent a link to the central office from Kaylok on Deviant Art. It’s a timely update to the original Agonist logo from David’s Death of Socrates. Take a look at this and the other variations and see what you think. The modification of the image below is a “thoughtful” takeoff on the original painting which was commissioned by French revolutionaries who favored the introduction of a free market system. Why not free up art for marketing?
Raja suggested combining the Deviant Art piece with a modern day Socrates: Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, This Sócrates became a “symbol of cool for a whole generation of football supporters”.
If not a soccer player, how about Warren Buffet?
Then there is the struggling, agonizing President Obama!
And, last, an internet slacker, my avatar (in some places).
Why not free up Art for Marketing? Because it leads to things like this:
We could adopt the Brasilian Soccer player Sócrates as our new mascot rather than that stodgy Greek:
There are already T-shirts made:
When we’re particularly outraged, we could change it to:
Or:
When we’re feeling sage or stoned:
Probably best to go with the stylized:
or: 
I also like the fists, but instead of a bracelet, a pair of cuffs.
I suggest this: http://nibiryukov.narod.ru/nb_pinacoteca/nb_pinacoteca_painting/nb_pinacoteca_gerome_socrates_seeking_alcibiades_in_the_house_of_aspasia.jpg
I hope this is a tasteless joke; what’s wrong with the logo as is? Or, the original from the time before?
Art for art’s sake; what an idea…
I nominate grumpy cat
‘Drinking the Cool-Aid’ has a long history, doesn’t it?
Grumpy Socrates: “You want moi to drink that?”
I actually like the first picture as long as we have permission from the artist and ‘fair use’ deters Coke & Pepsi from screaming, “Trademark Violation”.
How about this…
Got my vote, but would Coke object? What are the legal limits for satire?
I can’t see Coke or Pepsi having an issue. There are plenty of coke + pepsi images on the interwebz. Both logos, individually and combined feature in many places . If anything they possibly take the view that any advertising is good advertising. I’d love to see the Starbucks logo incorporated as well, the sanitised siren appeals to my sensibilities – or lack thereof. Announce the logo change and in the announcement specify fair use, and willingness to take down if copyright is infringed. So we should go for it!
Given that folks seem to be about a tenth serious about this – my advice? Worry about the fact that there isn’t a sufficient critical mass of folks who don’t think along similar pathways to foster the struggle for greater understanding that is the point of this place. Without that, logo is lipstick on a pig.
This is your re-caffeinated downer message of the morning. If this had been a real downer message an alert tone would have sounded and you would have received evacuation instructions…
Yep. Priorities, damn it, priorities…
Okay, that’s supposed to say pre-caffeinated. Re-caffeinated is what I am, more or less, right now.
…a 10th serious is optimistic;) More coffee for clearer thinking. A physician friend of mind told me that coffee, black, counts against the recommended amount of water daily. So, it is a health food!
Just. Say. No.
And I am completely caffeinated.
I’m not crazy about the current version of the logo, but agonizing is no joke. Joke pictures look great for about a week.
(except in a thread like this).
Of course it doesn’t have to have Socrates in any form -But it might as well, given the long association.
Ian leaves his logo but changes the picture when he feels like it-( but it’s not at the left)..
On bad days, the Agonist could look like this:
http://uploads6.wikipaintings.org/images/andrea-solario/salome-with-the-head-of-st-john-the-baptist-1507.jpg
The one left over on Facebook is fine, if you want to redesign the FP on a budget.
http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-prn1/c31.10.119.119/s111x111/39807_143582238997366_6426688_a.jpg
Or some variant of the even older one from 2004 on the wayback machine with updated
typeface. (currently offline)
The picture does not need to be edgy or fun. Look at the pictures on the recommended sites links- they are …. attractive….(what a concept).
the Fp just needs some non soporific, attractive FP redesign if someone has the means to do it-
of course edgy content helps !
I am not sure how the original permissions were obtained, unless the images are too old to need permissions.
old fart mole
I fully recognize that my input is valueless here, but a.) I do not like the current logo and b.) while I applaud the attempt at irony in the potential new version of the logo, why not be more edgy–anyone can riff off of crass commercialism, but why not try something completely new. Maybe its time to ditch Socrates and go with someone you, Michael, want to go with–something that represents what you want the site to reflect, all the while keeping some continuity?
Just my thoughts.
watch out- or a dramatically altered picture of SPK could appear as part of a collage…..!
LOL, I can think of few that would work well
How about a Bukowski-Socrates mashup?
Or maybe a Banksy-Socrates mashup.
That’s my favorite suggestion.
Banksy! Yes!
I like that. Banksy-Socrates!
Banksy = Socrates incarnate?