PS: for all of you who are mad at me for going to Wallmart, I'm awfully glad your mad. That's what friends are for.
20100820
Big Boxing. . . Citizens As Immune System
No matter how many of these street performance, artivist projects I see I still cry every time I a new one shows up on the web. A blog reader and friend sent me this lovely bit done at a Target store. When I ask myself why I these make me cry I realize that the way this occurs to me is this. . . If the whole world was one living being than these acts, the people in them, are like the cells in our immune system saying "I'm working! I'm fighting back!"
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11 comments:
I love it!!!!
Some of the comments on YuTube's site are as amusing as the video itself,.....One kindly soul has discounted the protest on the basis of the girl singer having armpit hair......
......Sitting looking at this here in the 'old world'it gave me a very good laugh!
But no one said a word about what Target has ever done wrong, which as anyone who is paying attention knows, is plenty. So is this preaching straight to the choir or is this supposed to change minds that aren't already aligned with your/our way of thinking? I am all for performance, but ineffective messaging makes for bad activism.
But no one said a word about what Target has ever done wrong, which as anyone who is paying attention knows, is plenty. So is this preaching straight to the choir or is this supposed to change minds that aren't already aligned with your/our way of thinking? I am all for performance, but ineffective messaging makes for bad activism.
Wow. I posted a comment and it didn't go through. Ok. I'll try again. And so help be god this is the last time I type this....
Um, so in the video, no one mentioned a thing about what Target actually does wrong, business wise or in any other sense. So is this preaching only to/for the choir or...what?
Unclear messaging makes for bad "activism". But the "message"... it is so vague. With the chanting, the singing, the slogans - in and of themselves, it comes off as merely a performance for all of those who already agree with this perspective. But if there is a problem (which there is - and do I need to even say that? - of course there is, this is Target for chrissakes!) then there needs to be a direct deconstructive commentary of this business model that is truly educational. Or better yet, make an alternative!!! How revolutionary! How long until an entire generation is disaffected but this type of performance "activism" that makes the performers feel better about their views and lives but ultimately serves no greater purpose than to elevate the folks who were involved or who already would celebrate this perspective. I mean, pretty as it looks, how much masturbation can one take? I am all for the idea but really? Dancing for a "cause" - to what end? Please, tell me. What has been accomplished?
to monika.. if you watch the very beginning targets use of funds to buy political movement is explained. in this case target spent big money on a political candidate that's notoriously anti gay and anti worker.
but the bigger issue is the supreme court rulingthat allows corporations to do use their financial might in this way.
Wendy - I totally agree with you that what Target does with the amount of power it has is horribly, disgustingly wrong, but i still feed a little short changed by the activism that speaks out against it when the majority of the activities are only relevant to those already of the same political mind. I know who I agree with, but things like this do very little to persuade new minds. And sometimes they just make us look silly. I am all for some comedic relief and pure expression when it comes to personally dealing with the imbalances of power that corporate greed embody, glorify and perpetuate, but I'd never rely on such "activism" to sway, say, the mind of my republican cousins or my homophobic father. It just doesn't serve a purpose, and if the activism doesn't serve a purpose of growing spreading a message to a greater number of people, then it is just expression for the participants and the followers, which amounts to preaching to the choir. And god forbid members of the choir roll their eyes in familiar understanding and ask the preacher to please turn back around for the next sermon. I hope this criticism isn't off putting, because lord knows we need to stick together. I just think we could use our talents more effectively for change. I promise not to be an idiot this time and post this comment three times. Sheesh.
In reply to Monika. . . I agree that this kind of activism (artivism) is at times inward, that it is rallies existing groups and likely groups already on the team. There is however value in getting any team up and moving. For one, as a whole we suffer from complacency and lethargy. In particular when it comes to standing up for our rights and freedom. Practicing action as a group may just be a needed skill in the future.
But I think this kind of work also informs the public in particular instructive ways. . . for those depressed and feeling helpless over the issues of the day, there is a kind of connection,even relief felt by seeing others express and act on the things that cause us stress.
As you suggest. . this work is not everyone's style. I happen to like the artivism style, its in the language of our day, performance, media, song, jingle... not far off from an advertisement. And in it I find spirit and play, two things I enjoy. I even get the feeling that I wish to be there experiencing the high one gets from such a thing. So for me it is a call to action. I want to be there!
We'll always likely have a tendency to wince when our views are not expressed as we would express them . . . but this of course is a call to express our views in the voice we'd prefer. It's easy to criticize from the couch (not that I'm suggesting this is what your doing). Action is hard, takes bravery. There are likely as many voices, ways to say a thing, as there are people alive. so we cant expect others to get ours just right.
Cheers.
Ok, I get to thank you now for posting this video. I was telling my partner, Clay, about the in-the-comments discussion that we've had and he ended up schooled about the state of affairs. He actually had no idea what I was talking about until I gave him the back story about the video. (I know - wtf?) And then he said he was so glad you posted it because without it he might not have found out about it from me. Because it hadn't come up yet in conversation, I guess. (I know, again, wtf?) Now, his mind wasn't swayed from a different perspective, but he was informed about the supreme court decision and the surrounding fall out of that which spurred the "artivism" embodied in the video. So thank you. Job well done! You are right - there are enough ways to express a sentiment as there are people, and we owe it to each other to contribute to the dialogue. I am glad this inspired you enough to share it. And although it wasn't inspiration that I (or Clay) needed necessarily, the crucial information was certainly not lost in our conversation about it. So again, thank you thank you thank you.
Absolutely beautiful!
If we make target pay for supporting these folks other corporations may think twice... or may just launder their money better.
monika... many many many thanks for an invigorating conversation. I wish every day we (as in all of us) were doing just this. what happened to the chivalric practices like sparring wherein a good back n forth, a good joust was considered a compliment to both parties? I appreciate your sensitivity and great communication skills very much.
cheers!
xo
Aw Wendy, well said. But now I think we are just abusing your poor comments page. It must be exhausted! Besides it's about time we discussed your fabulous eggplant recipes. I'll see you over there, darlin'. And I hope to see you both in October when Clay and I finally get down there. ex-oh.
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