The Secret Identity of The Artist Behind the Controversial New Yorker Cover

Peter Sieve, or Peter de Seve, makes a lemon levitate.


Press Release from I Watch So You Don't Have To
July 28, 2008
Will the Real Peter Sieve Please Stand Up?

It has been brought to my attention that the cartoonist responsible for the controversial New Yorker cover depicting lobsters escaping certain doom (see last post) may be none other than Peter Sieve, lead guitarist of the Minneapolis-based Chris Koza band. Though the name attributed to the cartoon is Peter de Seve, many sources tell me that the hands behind such melodious tunes as "Adjust" and the soon-to-be classic "Straight to Video" are also the hands behind the soon-to-be infamous cartoon.

When reached for comment, Mr. Sieve had this to say:

"Listen, yo, Chris writes the songs that make the whole world sing. I just try to kick in some nice licks behind them. I have no alter-cartoonist-ego. I haven't drawn since I was a kid."

At least one fan's story would lead one to believe otherwise. According to Stacey Jorghanson of Souix City, South Dakota the lobster now tatooed on her right breast was originally drawn there with a Sharpie marker by Mr. Sieve after he performed with Mr. Koza and the rest of the band at Hogs Wild, a local saloon and music venue in Soiux City.

Ms. Jorghanson:

"I just fell in love with him on stage. He had this long, flowing hair and these super cool black glasses. He was so, you know, sophisticated. Not like these idiots I usually hang around with."

Ms. Jorghanson said that after the show she and Mr. Sieve "drank like 20 Captain Cokes" and she told him to sign her "wherever he wanted to." At which time Mr. Sieve apparently drew a lobster in lieu of signing his name on the 21-year-old's right breast. Ms. Jorghanson had the drawing turned into a tattoo the following day.

The tattoo bears a striking resemblance to the lobsters on the latest cover of The New Yorker.

Mr. Sieve denies ever having met Ms. Jorghanson. Though, when asked about the night in question, Chris Koza told me that although he could not say whether or not Mr. Sieve and Ms. Jorghanson were in one another's company after the Souix Falls show, it would not be the first time Mr. Sieve has autographed a female fan's chest.

Peter Sieve (right) and Chris Koza


Brought to you by I Watch So You Don't Have To, a media watch dog, hounding the mainstream media to get it Right since 2002.

-See previous post for backstory on this post-

New Yorker Follows Now Imfamous Obamas-As-Terrorists Cover With Equally Controversial Animal-Rights Cover

Press Release from I Watch So You Don't Have To
July 28, 2008
Satire or Hate Speech?

Rather than shy away from the pressure placed on it by the controversy resulting from last week's cover portraying Barack and Michelle Obama as Muslim extremists and violent black activists, The New Yorker this week went to press with a cover that is sure to cause an equal stir among the pundits and elected officials.

While many suspected the magazine, known for its liberal leanings and, some say, East Coast elitism, would send out the July 28, 2008 issue with a cover that could elicit little to no controversy, it has done quite the opposite.

The latest cover shows four white thirty-somethings on a porch--in the Hamptons, it has been suggested--enjoying glasses of red wine and a good laugh, while lobsters perform a classic "jail break" scene from the kitchen window, as a pot of boiling water steams in the background. The lobsters have tied together the bibs that would have surely been used to wipe away remnants of those exact lobsters as the "happy-go-lucky" foursome on the porch gorged themselves.

In what comes as no surprise PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the largest animal rights organization in the world with over 2 million members, has issued a statement:

"The New Yorker has shown its true colors by covering their content in these latest covers. Last week they outed themselves as racists and terrorist sympathizers. With this week's cover they have gone one step further and shown themselves to be enemies to all living creatures.

To make light of such a topic--animal cruelty--a topic that needs to be at the center of all of our lives, does this country, the readers of The New Yorker, and indeed all of the world's citizens a great disservice. When will the editors of this magazine stop spewing hateful cartoons into this world?

PETA is officially calling for a ban of The New Yorker by all two million of our members until the July 28, 2008 issue is recalled and the editorial staff has issued a heart-felt apology, accepting the fact that people will not stand for this blatant disrespect for the dignity of humans and animals."

As animal-rights activists around the globe protest the magazine, the editors are, surprisingly, standing behind the recent covers. David Remnick, Editor-in-Chief:

"While we at The New Yorker understand the current debate on our most recent covers, we feel that due to the serious nature of the subjects being addressed, as serious discussion is called for. The New Yorker always strives to produce thought-provoking articles, fiction, poetry, and, possibly more than any of these, cartoons. We stand behind all of our cartoons and the artists who produce them. We welcome comments and assure you that your opinions on these cartoons are appreciated."

Letters can, in fact, be sent to themail@newyorker.com, and as proof of Mr. Remnick's statement The New Yorker published five opinionated letters on the Obama cover in this week's issue. Readers called that cover "inartful," "creative," and "in poor taste," among other things. Look for next week's issue of The New Yorker to be full of similar opinionated letters. Though, according to many experts, given the sensitivities surrounding animal cruelty--sensitivities that most agree far outweigh those surrounding race and religious intolerance--no one should expect the readers of The New Yorker to be as forgiving on the magazine this time around.

Brought to you by I Watch So You Don't Have To, a media watch dog, hounding the mainstream media to get it Right since 2002.