dog, i am not yet the man
October 27, 2010 8:28 AM Subscribe
How can I be "The Man" for Halloween?
Since my daughter insists on being a princess for Halloween, my wife and I are deciding to roll the family into archetypes for our costumes. We thought it would be great if I'm The Man, but we're both kinda at a loss for how exactly to do that. Google-fu is failing me, and I've searched the costume and halloween page with no luck.
Since my daughter insists on being a princess for Halloween, my wife and I are deciding to roll the family into archetypes for our costumes. We thought it would be great if I'm The Man, but we're both kinda at a loss for how exactly to do that. Google-fu is failing me, and I've searched the costume and halloween page with no luck.
I picture the man in the suit from half life 1. Sorry don't know his name, but maybe someone else does?
posted by meta87 at 8:34 AM on October 27, 2010
posted by meta87 at 8:34 AM on October 27, 2010
The Man is rarely ever seen in programs where he is mentioned as he's more of an idea than an actual man. Any costume you'd put together to be The Man, you'd have to explain.
Unless you went as Ric Flair or Stan Musial...but those are different things entirely.
posted by inturnaround at 8:34 AM on October 27, 2010
Unless you went as Ric Flair or Stan Musial...but those are different things entirely.
posted by inturnaround at 8:34 AM on October 27, 2010
"I'm The Man, would you like to stick it to me?" and then hand the stick to them.
Would be careful with this part if I were you.
posted by hermitosis at 8:35 AM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Would be careful with this part if I were you.
posted by hermitosis at 8:35 AM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Color your hair white, wear a big double-breasted suit jacket, and put a monocle in.
Yeah, I picture "The Man" as looking like the money dude from Monopoly.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:39 AM on October 27, 2010
Yeah, I picture "The Man" as looking like the money dude from Monopoly.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:39 AM on October 27, 2010
There are two ways to go. One is to go as a G Man (a Man in Black, in otherwords).
The other is to go as faceless corporate America. I'm picturing something like the Anonymous image. The costume is basically the same as the G Man one, except that you need a no-face mask. I think that this version of the costume is way cooler.
posted by 256 at 8:40 AM on October 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
The other is to go as faceless corporate America. I'm picturing something like the Anonymous image. The costume is basically the same as the G Man one, except that you need a no-face mask. I think that this version of the costume is way cooler.
posted by 256 at 8:40 AM on October 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
I picture the man in the suit from half life 1. Sorry don't know his name, but maybe someone else does?
The G-Man
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:40 AM on October 27, 2010
The G-Man
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:40 AM on October 27, 2010
The man in Half Life is simply called the G-Man, however that's exactly who I'm picturing for this costume as well.
The stick prop, while it might be funny, might be a short-lived joke, and would you want to carry around a stick all night? (I carried around a fake glass of milk for my Clockwork Orange costume. It was kind of a pain.)
I like the monocle idea if you went for an old-timey "The Man," along the lines of the rich crime bosses or political figures found in Boardwalk Empire or something.
Honestly, all I think it would take is a suit and a scowl, maybe some faux salt-and-pepper hair. I like the ambiguity, because then when someone asks "Who are you?" you can just say "The Man."
posted by mostlybecky at 8:45 AM on October 27, 2010
The stick prop, while it might be funny, might be a short-lived joke, and would you want to carry around a stick all night? (I carried around a fake glass of milk for my Clockwork Orange costume. It was kind of a pain.)
I like the monocle idea if you went for an old-timey "The Man," along the lines of the rich crime bosses or political figures found in Boardwalk Empire or something.
Honestly, all I think it would take is a suit and a scowl, maybe some faux salt-and-pepper hair. I like the ambiguity, because then when someone asks "Who are you?" you can just say "The Man."
posted by mostlybecky at 8:45 AM on October 27, 2010
You have to light a cigar with fake money. Have to.
posted by elder18 at 8:58 AM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by elder18 at 8:58 AM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
Gordon Gekko. Whether 80s style or modern, that's definitely the outfit of The Man.
Alternately, a formal suit, top hat, monocle, and large stuffed sack with a dollar sign on it. That's a very recognizable caricature, but leans towards comically rich more than someone to be feared and loathed.
posted by Saydur at 8:58 AM on October 27, 2010
Alternately, a formal suit, top hat, monocle, and large stuffed sack with a dollar sign on it. That's a very recognizable caricature, but leans towards comically rich more than someone to be feared and loathed.
posted by Saydur at 8:58 AM on October 27, 2010
I always picture actor John Vernon when I think of The Man, probably because he played Mr. Big in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.
I'd go with the standard CEO-testifying-before-Congress outfit of dark suit, power tie and slightly unkempt gray hair. Also, you might think the "Hello My Name Is" nametag is cheating, but it does make it a little easier. I went as Your Mom one year and that helped a lot.
posted by electroboy at 9:00 AM on October 27, 2010
I'd go with the standard CEO-testifying-before-Congress outfit of dark suit, power tie and slightly unkempt gray hair. Also, you might think the "Hello My Name Is" nametag is cheating, but it does make it a little easier. I went as Your Mom one year and that helped a lot.
posted by electroboy at 9:00 AM on October 27, 2010
I always assumed THE MAN looked like J. R. "Bob" Dobbs of the Church of the SubGenius. Classic 1950s dad in a suit. Add pipe.
posted by EL-O-ESS at 9:18 AM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by EL-O-ESS at 9:18 AM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Wear a suit. Slap post-its all over it with the word 'it' on them?
posted by jacquilynne at 9:26 AM on October 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by jacquilynne at 9:26 AM on October 27, 2010 [3 favorites]
There is a character in Wheatley/Hempel's Breathtaker called "The Man" (who I believe is supposed to represent "The Man" as you say) and is actually a paid government super-hero.
But that's so obscure, my post is probably unhelpful.
posted by bitterkitten at 9:27 AM on October 27, 2010
But that's so obscure, my post is probably unhelpful.
posted by bitterkitten at 9:27 AM on October 27, 2010
In the film Wonderful World (2009), Philip Baker Hall played "The Man", who existed in the anti-establishment main character's mind and had imaginary conversations with him. Shown in this still. Roughly along the lines of what others have described above.
None of this is an endorsement of the film or anyone in it.
posted by Maximian at 9:28 AM on October 27, 2010
None of this is an endorsement of the film or anyone in it.
posted by Maximian at 9:28 AM on October 27, 2010
"Wear a suit. Slap post-its all over it with the word 'it' on them?"
Seconding this. And invite people to partake in sticking them on you as you go door to door. Adults are sure to get a laugh out of that.
posted by patronuscharms at 10:42 AM on October 27, 2010
Seconding this. And invite people to partake in sticking them on you as you go door to door. Adults are sure to get a laugh out of that.
posted by patronuscharms at 10:42 AM on October 27, 2010
"I'm The Man, would you like to stick it to me?"
Your stick, of course, will be a partial-length black pool noodle, or otherwise harmless object.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:56 PM on October 27, 2010
Your stick, of course, will be a partial-length black pool noodle, or otherwise harmless object.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:56 PM on October 27, 2010
The Man in The Onion.
Whoa, that sounds like the title of some short, new-age book. I can picture the sepia toned cover in my mind.
posted by chairface at 2:15 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
Whoa, that sounds like the title of some short, new-age book. I can picture the sepia toned cover in my mind.
posted by chairface at 2:15 PM on October 27, 2010 [2 favorites]
You could be Bill Lumbergh
posted by imalaowai at 3:45 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by imalaowai at 3:45 PM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Obviously you'd wanna wear a suit, but it's in the details that make it. I suggest wearing a 3-piece suit, leave the jacked unbuttoned, and have a pocket watch chain. Also, make sure your shirt sleeves are just a bit longer than your jacket sleeves. Have cuff links. Tiny stuff like that, makes the suit look more pretentious-man-bing-better-than-you and less business worker. Also, phony grin.
Or, you could wear what ever republican wears:dark suit, white shirt, red tie.
posted by shesaysgo at 9:35 PM on October 27, 2010
Or, you could wear what ever republican wears:dark suit, white shirt, red tie.
posted by shesaysgo at 9:35 PM on October 27, 2010
Response by poster: I went to a couple of parties two nights in a row and just had a "Hello My Name Is" sticker on me and "The Man" written in. I had a full pad of those smaller post-it notes with the word "it" pre-written on them. People would look at my name tag, not get it, and then I'd say "Stick it to The Man" and offer the post-it pad. Hilarity ensued.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 2:02 PM on November 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 2:02 PM on November 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
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posted by jessamyn at 8:31 AM on October 27, 2010 [1 favorite]