hiatus

Victor Jara

"The cultural invasion is like a leafy tree which prevents us from seeing our own sun, sky and stars. Therefore in order to be able to see the sky above our heads, our task is to cut this tree off at the roots. US imperialism understands very well the magic of communication through music and persists in filling our young people with all sorts of commercial tripe. With professional expertise they have taken certain measures: first, the commercialization of the so-called ‘protest music’; second, the creation of ‘idols’ of protest music who obey the same rules and suffer from the same constraints as the other idols of the consumer music industry – they last a little while and then disappear. Meanwhile they are useful in neutralizing the innate spirit of rebellion of young people. The term ‘protest song’ is no longer valid because it is ambiguous and has been misused. I prefer the term ‘revolutionary song’." Victor Jara

I've been listening to Victor Jara today. I find his songs to be are very humble and inspirational.

Sept 11, 1973

"Workers of my country, I have faith in Chile and its destiny. Other men will overcome this dark and bitter moment when treason seeks to prevail. Keep in mind that, much sooner than later, the great avenues will again be opened through which will pass free men to construct a better society. Long live Chile! Long live the people! Long live the workers!"
President Salvador Allende's farewell speech, September 11, 1973.

On this day in 1973, the democratically elected, Marxist, president of Chile, Salvador Allende, was ousted by a United States backed military coup. In his place, the United States placed Augusto Pinochet. One of the worst dictators of Latin America.

U.S. seizes Fannie & Freddie

"The Bush administration on Sunday said it was taking over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the troubled mortgage companies that play a key role in the U.S. housing industry. To keep the companies afloat, the administration said it would funnel billions of dollars in taxpayer money into the companies.
"-NPR

socialism for corporations. capitalism for the poor.

Hipster: Representation of The End of Western Civilization?

Is hipster sub-culture representational of the end of western civilization? Highly doubtful. I recently read an article in Adbusters that attempted to support the claim that hipsterdom was "the end product of all prior counter-cultures....stripped of their subversion and originality." Though, I do agree that hipsterdom is vapid, vacuous, self-involved and hyper-consumptive in it's quest for "street cred" and "fame." I do not agree that it is a direct representation of the decline of western civilization, at least not any more than the consumptive yuppies, materialistic gangster rappers or the apathetic grungers of the early 90's. I would say that the aforementioned groups are all equal in their materialism, consumption and apoliticalness, but I do not for one second believe that anyone of these groups or a sub-culture alone is any indication of the decline of western culture or civilization. Our culture as a whole is reflective of our decline: profits over people, material over emotional substance, amorality over ethics. What's the difference between a hipster male that lusts over a pair of $300 Nike Dunks with the yuppie female that spends $300 on Prada sunglasses? Is the former justified by the fact that it's considered "counter-culture" and the latter isn't? Aren't they both equally as materialistic and consumptive? Considering the levels of poverty in the world, how does one justify wearing a pair of sunglasses or a pair of shoes whos price in this country could buy a family in need groceries for a month, or in another part of the world, could feed a family for months? What's the difference between the "counter-culture" skinhead that gets drunk and assaults people from that of a jock who acts the same? Is counter-culture then just limited to that which is obscure, or not the norm in a purely fashion sense? Does growing a mohawk, dyeing it green and putting a safety pin in your ear make you counter-culture even though your actions are in accord with the main culture? Does being "punk rock" and volunteering your self to poverty for the sake of poverty make you marginalized, poor? Of course it doesn't. Banksy said it best: Why act like revolutionaries, when we can just dress like them. In defense of the hipster sub-culture, some people have mentioned how the contempt held for hipsterdom is just that of an older generation looking down at the newer generation. This is true to an extent, seeing as how previous generations tend to think that their generation did everything the best way possible, and the newer generation is just running amok: Chuck Berry was loud, Janis Joplin was a druggie, The Rolling Stones were suggestive, punk was too weird, etc. My qualm with hipsters isn't their style, music, mode of transportation or apoliticalness, millions of people in this country are apolitical, it also isn't their materialism, millions more are obscenly materialistic. My problem with hipsterdom is the conflict of a group of people deluded into thinking that they are counter-culture when they are in fact blatantly mainstream in their materialism, excess and individualism. To an extent everyone values, has and needs material possesions, but as with everything in this world, there is a point where you run the risk of becoming excessive. What we have here is the marketing and consumption of "cool." Our counter-cultures have been subverted and most of us don't even know it.

Adbusters article on Hipsters

Books:
Lula and the Workers Party-Sue Branford
Understanding The Venezuelan Revolution-Marta Harnecker
Conversations With Durito-Subcomandante Marcos

Demographics

I've been back in Chicago for a a little over two months now and so far so good. I managed to get a good job, through a good friend, working for the city and teaching kids art. With all that said, money is still short. I haven't received a first check yet and the bills are pilling. Another good friend, with good intentions, informed me of a "street team," wheatpasting job. I was hestitant at first, with just cause. I'm not to fond of marketing or advertising, with most of it having a target audience. The first deterrent was the fact that the street team leaders wanted me to paste 300 posters in 5 days. Riiiiight. The second deterrent was that the job involved advertising liquor. I like liquor, but I don't necessarily want to advertise it. But the thing that did me in, the factor that broke the camels back was WHERE I would be pasting said advertisements. Here's a quote from the "informative email" I received:

"Target locations

Wild-posting locations are more prevalent in urbanized zones that are under development, going through expansion, or have a high-concentration of abandoned buildings. There are many designated boards in the targeted areas, but in some cases it helps to get innovative on how you can post in these areas."

It's pretty common knowledged that most of any citys' abandoned buildings or under-development, expansion zones tend to be located in neighborhoods of color; hispanic or black. Now, as if that wasn't enough, I was also emailed a list of 35 desired locations for pasting the liquor advertisements. These are areas where the highest level of poster-pasting was to be done: The target zones. Here's a link to the list. I believe that alcoholism in neighborhoods of blight is a huge problem, one that is greatly promoted by target marketing, all in the name of profit. Why would I want to perpetuate a problem that destroys families and generates more poverty in neighborhoods already stricken with lack of resources and opportunities? Especially if I truly believe that a better world is necessary. I could use "the profit," but mostly I feel the need to live in accordance with what which I believe to be true. I refused to the job. Pinnacle Vodka and Street Attack can go fuck themselves.

Digesting

I've been digesting the events that took place the last few months and gathering thoughts. I'll start blogging soon.