SamoaJoe wrote:I agree, it's been argued to death.
It seems the Woot rules only apply when Woot feels the need to apply them, and most of the time those rules don't apply to Cho.
At the end of the day, regardless of my feelings towards Cho, I'm tired of every Derby being cluttered with his designs. I like to see a mix of new designers, but every week this guy is getting one or two shirts printed, and I truly think it's because of his name value.
The Derby loses its purpose when the same guy places week in/week out, especially when it's with shirts that aren't nearly as creative or good as other designs.
Woot's rules are purposely ambiguous. If you sit and read through them it leave a lot of power to their own decisions, eight of the nine official rules begin with: "We determine."
To say they are showing favoritism can be an observation, but have you actually put together a proof of process? Did you go from Derby #1 until now, noting all rejections, entry removals, and get the exact reason for their decisions?
I won't say that James Cho doesn't have a fan base, but so do other artists.
You have an opinion about the designs or the process involved in what is allowed, and that is your own right. It does not mean you are correct. I have watched several derbies now where designs that, I felt were exceedingly better than the ultimate winners, never made it to print. That does not make their designs better than the winners. It doesn't make the winning designs better. The artwork and designs offer appeals to different people. The ones that can reach out to more people win.
Take Warhol or van Gogh's art. I don't find it appealing. That does not make the artwork any less than another masterwork artist's. Your opinion on what is good and what is not good is nothing I would try to argue with, but do not say that the winners don't deserve it, or that those who didn't win should have won in place of them. There are many great artists here, there are many great designers here as well. Just because you win does not mean you are one of the best, nor does not winning mean that your artwork is necessarily poor.
E.G.
Lime in the Coconut shirt v.s. Death on a Pale Unicorn
Both were winners, both are completely polar styles, both deserved to win.
Nearly every week I notice Sokowa, JamesCho, Zenne, Tgentry, Enin, etc.. submitting awesome designs. Some I would wear on a shirt, some I would rather have as a print. The thing with the derbies is to appeal to the crowd while adhering to the limited/no violence, no sex, etc... That is generally why there is a larger amount of "cute" designs that win. Some artists have honed their skills to appeal to this, some have not. It doesn't lessen anyone's drawing and design skills. Some artists are more attuned to their own area of expertise. I would pit Jimiyo's skill against Cho's in a detailed line collage any day.
The personal attacks against artists that occur on any of these contest sites are just deplorable. -If- there was anything that would make me vote on a design just because of who submitted it, it would be from people purposely bashing that artist just because of their own opinion about what should win. To me, the lack of professionalism displayed by people during the contest is more of a turn off than a poor design. I would rather not vote for a good design from an artist with a poor attitude and likewise I would vote for a lesser design that I found somewhat appealing because of unwarranted attacks on the artist.
