A poetics of resistance : the revolutionary public relations of the Zapatista insurgency : being a true tale of a possible better world in its first untamed imaginings

Part literary criticism, part media analysis, and part marketing handbook, __A Poetics of Resistance__ provides a refreshingly new take on the Zapatistas. While much has been written on the history of the Zapatista insurgency and on the communiqués of Subcomandante Marcos, very little has been said about __Zapatismo__: the ideologies, organizing methodologies, and communications strategies of the movement. The appeal of the Zapatistas, and their survival, has as much to do with their goals as with the compelling and wildly effective language and aesthetics they’ve used to convey their vision. Weaving together varied elements of poetics and symbolism, __Zapatismo__ has emerged as something entirely new: a resolutely radical public relations campaign for human liberation. The first “postmodern revolution” presented itself to the world through a complex and evolving web of propaganda, using a wide range of media: the colorful communiqués of Marcos; the ski masks, uniforms, toy dolls, and other accoutrements of the insurgent or sympathizer; and murals, songs, and other popular cultural forms. Employing persuasive publicity, myths, and symbols, the Zapatistas both communicated their message and developed a clear aesthetic that could contain many messages at once and self-replicate on a global scale. Jeff Conant offers an engaging and innovative tool for organizers and educators to understand how the Zapatistas' strategy works, and to continue developing and refining their effective messages of participatory, bottom-up revolution. **Jeff Conant** is a writer and activist in the San Francisco Bay Area and the author of __A Community Guide to Environmental Health__. Conant Has An Ear For Story, Poetry, And Wonder, His New Telling Of The Zapatista Struggle Is Full Of Delights. R︣aj Patel, Author Of Stuffed And Starved Conant's Engrossing Book Distills Critical Lessons About The Zapatistas Use Of Storytelling, Spectacle, And Truly Revolutionary Marketing. Whether You're Already Deeply Immersed In Zapatismo Or New To This Profoundly Important Social Movement, A Poetics Of Resistance Is Essential Reading.'p︣atrick Reinsborough, Co-founder Of Smartmeme Ivan Illich Once Said: 'through Arguments You Can Only Come To Conclusions. Only Stories Make Sense.' Near The End Of His Life, Ivan Also Said That Only A Poetic Language Can Express Today What We Need To Say. Considering The Current Challenges And Risks, A Fresh, Poetic Look At The Zapatistas, To Clear Our Vision, Is Badly Needed. This Is A Useful Book For Those Looking For Sense In These Dark Times.g︣ustavo Esteva, Founder Of Universidad De La Tierra In Oaxaca, Mexico A Valuable Exploration Of The Literary And Cultural Context Of The Zapatista Struggle In Mexico. A Poetics Of Resistance Captures An Essence Of Revolution Only Revealed Through Word And Poetry.o︣scar Olivera, Author Of Cochabamba! The Zapatistas' Famous Ya Bastae︣nough Already!w︣as The First Uttering Of A New Story: A Story About Unbinding The Ties Of Official History, Uncovering Buried Seeds Of Popular Resistance, And Revealing The Glimmerings Of A Truly Insurgent Modernity. Combining Narrative History, Literary Criticism, Ethnography, And Media Analysis, A Poetics Of Resistance Is A Refreshing Take On Mexico's Zapatista Movement By Examining The Means, Meanings, And Mythos Behind The Zapatista Image. The First Postmodern Revolution Presented Itself To The World Through A Complex Web Of Propaganda In Every Available Medium: The Colorful Communiques Of Subcomandante Marcos, The Ski Masks, Uniforms, Dolls, Murals, Songs, And Weapons Both Symbolic And Real. By Proliferating A Profound And Resonant Set Of Myths, Symbols, And Grand Historical Gestures Calculated To Reflect Their Ideologies, Organizing Methodologies, And Cultural Values, The Zapatistas Helped Set Into Motion A Global Uprising, And The Awareness That Behind This Uprising Is A Renewed Vision Of History. This Engaging And Innovative Examination Of The Zapatistas Communication Strategies Will Be An Important Tool For Movements Everywhere Engaged In Creating A World Where Many Worlds Fit; In Demolishing History In Order To Construct Histories; And In Unseating Not Only The Powerful, But Power Itself.--jacket. World Made Of Stories -- Living Myth, Reviving History -- Of Masks, Mirrors, And Metamorphosis -- So That The True Tongue Is Not Lost, Or The Story Of The Words -- Tilting At Windmills -- One No And Many Yeses. Jeff Conant. Being A True Tale Of A Possible Better World In Its First Untamed Imaginings. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

Part literary criticism, part media analysis, and part marketing handbook, A Poetics of Resistance provides a refreshingly new take on the Zapatistas. While much has been written on the history of the Zapatista insurgency and on the communiqués of Subcomandante Marcos, very little has been said about Zapatismo: the ideologies, organizing methodologies, and communications strategies of the movement. The appeal of the Zapatistas, and their survival, has as much to do with their goals as with the compelling and wildly effective language and aesthetics they’ve used to convey their vision. Weaving together varied elements of poetics and symbolism, Zapatismo has emerged as something entirely new: a resolutely radical public relations campaign for human liberation.

The first “postmodern revolution” presented itself to the world through a complex and evolving web of propaganda, using a wide range of media: the colorful communiqués of Marcos; the ski masks, uniforms, toy dolls, and other accoutrements of the insurgent or sympathizer; and murals, songs, and other popular cultural forms. Employing persuasive publicity, myths, and symbols, the Zapatistas both communicated their message and developed a clear aesthetic that could contain many messages at once and self-replicate on a global scale. Jeff Conant offers an engaging and innovative tool for organizers and educators to understand how the Zapatistas' strategy works, and to continue developing and refining their effective messages of participatory, bottom-up revolution.

Jeff Conant is a writer and activist in the San Francisco Bay Area and the author of A Community Guide to Environmental Health.

"Part literary criticism, part media analysis, and part marketing handbook, A Poetics of Resistance provides a refreshingly new take on the Zapatistas. While much has been written on the history of the Zapatista insurgency and on the communiqués of Subcomandante Marcos, very little has been said about Zapatismo: the ideologies, organizing methodologies, and communications strategies of the movement. The appeal of the Zapatistas, and their survival, has as much to do with their goals as with the compelling and wildly effective language and aesthetics they've used to convey their vision. Weaving together varied elements of poetics and symbolism, Zapatismo has emerged as something entirely new: a resolutely radical public relations campaign for human liberation. The first 'postmodern revolution' presented itself to the world through a complex and evolving web of propaganda, using a wide range of media: the colorful communiqués of Marcos; the ski masks, uniforms, toy dolls, and other accoutrements of the insurgent or sympathizer; and murals, songs, and other popular cultural forms. Employing persuasive publicity, myths, and symbols, the Zapatistas both communicated their message and developed a clear aesthetic that could contain many messages at once and self-replicate on a global scale. Jeff Conant offers an engaging and innovative tool for organizers and educators to understand how the Zapatistas' strategy works, and to continue developing and refining their effective messages of participatory, bottom-up revolution. Jeff Conant is a writer and activist in the San Francisco Bay Area and the author of A Community Guide to Environmental Health."-- Provided by publisher "Conant has an ear for story, poetry, and wonder, his new telling of the Zapatista struggle is full of delights. Raj Patel, author of 'Stuffed and starved'. Conant's engrossing book distills critical lessons about the Zapatistas use of storytelling, spectacle, and truly revolutionary marketing. Whether you're already deeply immersed in Zapatismo or new to this profoundly important social movement, A Poetics of Resistance is essential reading. Patrick Reinsborough, co-founder of smartMeme. Ivan Illich once said: 'Through arguments you can only come to conclusions. Only stories make sense. Near the end of his life, Ivan also said that only a poetic language can express today what we need to say. Considering the current challenges and risks, a fresh, poetic look at the Zapatistas, to clear our vision, is badly needed. This is a useful book for those looking for sense in these dark times. Gustavo Esteva, founder of Universidad de la Tierra in Oaxaca, Mexico. A valuable exploration of the literary and cultural context of the Zapatista struggle in Mexico. A Poetics of Resistance captures an essence of revolution only revealed through word and poetry. Oscar Olivera, author of Cochabamba! The Zapatistas' famous "Ya basta" enough already! was the first uttering of a new story: a story about unbinding the ties of official history, uncovering buried seeds of popular resistance, and revealing the glimmerings of a truly insurgent modernity. Combining narrative history, literary criticism, ethnography, and media analysis, A Poetics of Resistance is a refreshing take on Mexico's Zapatista movement by examining the means, meanings, and mythos behind the Zapatista image." Annotation Part literary criticism, part media analysis, and part marketing handbook, A Poetics of Resistance provides a refreshingly new take on the Zapatistas. While much has been written on the history of the Zapatista insurgency and on the communiqués of Subcomandante Marcos, very little has been said about Zapatismo: the ideologies, organizing methodologies, and communications strategies of the movement. The appeal of the Zapatistas, and their survival, has as much to do with their goals as with the compelling and wildly effective language and aesthetics theyve used to convey their vision. Weaving together varied elements of poetics and symbolism, Zapatismo has emerged as something entirely new: a resolutely radical public relations campaign for human liberation. The first "postmodern revolution presented itself to the world through a complex and evolving web of propaganda, using a wide range of media: the colorful communiqués of Marcos; the ski masks, uniforms, toy dolls, and other accoutrements of the insurgent or sympathizer; and murals, songs, and other popular cultural forms. Employing persuasive publicity, myths, and symbols, the Zapatistas both communicated their message and developed a clear aesthetic that could contain many messages at once and self-replicate on a global scale. Jeff Conant offers an engaging and innovative tool for organizers and educators to understand how the Zapatistas' strategy works, and to continue developing and refining their effective messages of participatory, bottom-up revolution. Jeff Conant is a writer and activist in the San Francisco Bay Area and the author of A Community Guide to Environmental Health