Culture Jamming : Activism and the Art of Cultural Resistance

A collaboration of political activism and participatory culture seeking to upend consumer capitalism, including interviews with The Yes Men, The Guerrilla Girls, among others. Coined in the 1980s, “culture jamming” refers to an array of tactics deployed by activists to critique, subvert, and otherwise “jam” the workings of consumer culture. Ranging from media hoaxes and advertising parodies to flash mobs and street art, these actions seek to interrupt the flow of dominant, capitalistic messages that permeate our daily lives. Employed by Occupy Wall Street protesters and the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot alike, culture jamming scrambles the signal, injects the unexpected, and spurs audiences to think critically and challenge the status quo. The essays, interviews, and creative work assembled in this unique volume explore the shifting contours of culture jamming by plumbing its history, mapping its transformations, testing its force, and assessing its efficacy. Revealing how culture jamming is at once playful and politically transgressive, this accessible collection explores the degree to which culture jamming has fulfilled its revolutionary aims. Featuring original essays from prominent media scholars discussing Banksy and Shepard Fairey, foundational texts such as Mark Dery’s culture jamming manifesto, and artwork by and interviews with noteworthy culture jammers including the Guerrilla Girls, The Yes Men, and Reverend Billy, __Culture Jamming__ makes a crucial contribution to our understanding of creative resistance and participatory culture. "Culture Jamming is a must for modern day activists who want to overturn the status quo, and fast, and who embrace the creativity and interconnectedness of modern life." ― __Foreword Reviews__ "A vivid picture of significant episodes along a timeline spanning more than two decades . . . This book represents a collection of mostly successful cultural resistance tactics . . . hopefully inspiring new effective strategies for the times ahead." ― __Neural__ "The essays, interviews, and creative work assembled in this unique volume explore the shifting contours of culture jamming by plumbing its history, mapping its transformations, testing its force, and assessing its efficacy. Revealing how culture jamming is at once playful and politically transgressive, this accessible collection explores the degree to which culture jamming has fulfilled its revolutionary aims. . . . a crucial contribution to our understanding of creative resistance and participatory culture." ― __We-make-money-not-art.com__ "Culture Jamming subverts an engineered ‘culture of consumption,’ identifying the oppressive relationships upon which knowledge creation is founded and taking steps to emancipate society from false narratives of creativity." ― __Political and Legal Anthropology Review__ **Marilyn DeLaure** is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of San Francisco. She has published essays on dance, civil rights rhetoric, and environmental activism. **Moritz Fink** is a media scholar and author. He holds a doctoral degree in American Studies from the University of Munich. **Mark Dery** is a cultural critic. His writings on media, technology, pop culture, and American society have appeared in __Artforum, Cabinet, Elle, The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Salon, Spin__, and __Wired__, among others. His books include __Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing, and Sniping in the Empire of Signs__, __The Pyrotechnic Insanitarium: American Culture on the Brink__, and __Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the End of the Century__, which has been translated into eight languages. He edited the scholarly anthology __Flame Wars: The Discourse of Cyberculture__. His latest book is the essay collection __I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts__. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction—Marilyn DeLaure and Moritz Fink Roots and Routes Defining Culture Jamming’s M.O. Critiques and Limitations Notes References Part I. Definitions and Debates 1. Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing, and Sniping in the Empire of Signs—Mark Dery I. The Empire of Signs II. Culture Jamming Sniping and Subvertising Media Hoaxing Audio Agitprop Billboard Banditry III. Guerrilla Semiotics IV. Postscript from the Edge Note References 2. Pranking Rhetoric: “Culture Jamming” as Media Activism—Christine Harold Intensifying Media Forms: A Theory of Culture Jamming Pranking as Rhetorical Appropriation Hacking Gender: ®TMark and the Barbie Liberation Organization Pie Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Biotic Baking Brigade INFKT Truth: Pranking Big Tobacco Conclusion: Pranking Rhetoric in the Commercial Mediascape Notes References 3. The Faker as Producer: The Politics of Fabrication and the Three Orders of the Fake—Marco Deseriis Subliminal Fakes Subversive Fakes Mythmaking Fakes Notes References 4. Putting the “Jamming” into Culture Jamming: Theory, Praxis, and Cultural Production during the Arab Spring—Mark LeVine Expanding Theory and Praxis Empathy, Aesthetic Embeddedness, and Revolutionary Jamming Jamming and the Return of the Aura of Music—and Protest Music, Global Youth, and the Road to Revolution Tahrir and the Search for the Perfect Jam Joy amidst the Tear Gas Postscript, May 2015 Notes References 5. From Culture Jamming to Cultural Acupuncture—Henry Jenkins From No Logo to Beautiful Trouble Participatory Politics The Harry Potter Alliance, Cultural Acupuncture, and Fan Activism Not in Harry’s Name The Limits of Attention-Based Activism Note References Part II. Critical Case Studies 6. Radical Scavenging Revisited: Emile de Antonio and the Culture Jamming of Compilation Film—Christof Decker On the History of Assembling “Found Footage” The President as an Object of Satire An Attempt to Attack the “System” Techniques of Culture Jamming in Millhouse Evaluating the Efficacy of Culture Jamming Notes References 7. Never Mind the Bollocks: Shepard Fairey’s Fight for Appropriation, Fair Use, and Free Culture—Evelyn McDonnell Anarchy in the Public Domain The Clampdown “Hope” Backlash Does Shepard Have a Posse? Free Speech + Free Culture = Democracy Notes References 8. Facing: Image and Politics in JR’s Global Street Art (2004–2012)—Michael LeVan Note References 9. Answering Back! Banksy’s Street Art and the Power Relations of Public Space—Benedikt Feiten Who Do We Talk about When We Talk about Banksy? Banksy’s Graffiti Roots You Wanna Take This Outside? “Answering Back”: Advertising and Its Critical Companion Conclusion: Ambiguous Images and Semiotic Interventions Notes References 10. Co-Opting the Culture Jammers: The Guerrilla Marketing of Crispin Porter + Bogusky—Michael Serazio References 11. Culture Jamming in Prime Time: The Simpsons and the Tradition of Corporate Satire—Moritz Fink MADison Avenue: Corporate Satire as Cartoon Tradition A Society of Brands: Springfield, USA Sprawl-Mart, Mapple, and McKrusty: Brand Parodies on The Simpsons Demystifying the American Dream: Advertisement Parodies Culture Jamming and Commercial Television Notes References 12. The Poetics of Ruptural Performance—Tony Perucci Ruptural Performances Are Interruptive Ruptural Performances Are Becoming-Events Ruptural Performances Are Confrontational Ruptural Performances Are Baffling and Confounding Ruptural Performances Enact Becoming-a-Problem Ruptural Performance Gives Rise to the Virtuosic Multitude Notes References 13. Turning Tricks: Culture Jamming and the Flash Mob—Rebecca Walker Trick Shots Bag of Tricks: Tactics and Resistance Tricks of the Trade: Assemblage and Power Relations Tricking the Eye: Multiplicity and Visibility Trick Turning: The Lessons of the Flash Mob Notes References 14. Memes, Movements, and Meteorology: Occupy Wall Street and New Mutations in Culture Jamming—Jack Bratich Convergence and Polemology Flash Mobs and Beyond Cooptation: Commercial and Political Beyond Cooptation: Repression and Antagonism Culture Jamming as Metamorphosis-Machine Notes References 15. Jamming the Simulacrum: On Drones, Virtual Reality, and Real Wars—Wazhmah Osman The Dominant US Narrative Simulacra and Representation #NotABugSplat The Logic and History of Racism and Sexism #BringBackOurGirls, Malala, and Nabila Disposable Journalists and the Robo-Reporter Jamming the Simulacra of War Notes References 16. Balaclavas and Putin: Pussy Riot, Carnivalesque Protest, and Political Culture Jamming in Russia—Anna Baranchuk The Tragedy of the National Brand: The Russian Case Pussy Riot and Political Culture Jamming in Russia Toward a Comic Burlesque Notes References Part III. Culture Jammers’ Studio 17. The Day I Killed Freedom of Expression—Kembrew McLeod References 18. Notes on the Economic Unconscious from a Billionaire for Bush—Andrew Boyd References 19. Artwork and Commentary—The Guerrilla Girls Do Women Have to Be Naked to Get into the Met. Museum? Billionaires Hijacking Art/Income Inequality, 2015 The Birth of Feminism Movie Poster, Rotterdam, 2007 The Anatomically Correct Oscar, 2002 Do Women Have to be Naked to Get into Music Videos, 2014 20. Delocator.net: Using the Web to Organize and Promote Alternative Behaviors—xtine burrough Culture Jamming and Tactical Media Delocator.net Dominant Paradigm: Starbucks Resistant Message Challenges and Outcomes Conclusion Notes References 21. The Yes Men: An Interview—Marilyn DeLaure Notes 22. Networked Reality Flow Hacks—Paolo Cirio 23. IOCOSE: Art, Authority, and Culture Jamming—Paolo Ruffino, Matteo Cremonesi, Filippo Cuttica, and Davide Prati (IOCOSE) 24. “Say Yes”: An Interview with Reverend Billy and Savitri D—Marilyn DeLaure Note References About the Contributors Index A collaboration of political activism and participatory culture seeking to upend consumer capitalism, including interviews with The Yes Men, The Guerrilla Girls, among others. Coined in the 1980s, “culture jamming” refers to an array of tactics deployed by activists to critique, subvert, and otherwise “jam” the workings of consumer culture. Ranging from media hoaxes and advertising parodies to flash mobs and street art, these actions seek to interrupt the flow of dominant, capitalistic messages that permeate our daily lives. Employed by Occupy Wall Street protesters and the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot alike, culture jamming scrambles the signal, injects the unexpected, and spurs audiences to think critically and challenge the status quo. The essays, interviews, and creative work assembled in this unique volume explore the shifting contours of culture jamming by plumbing its history, mapping its transformations, testing its force, and assessing its efficacy. Revealing how culture jamming is at once playful and politically transgressive, this accessible collection explores the degree to which culture jamming has fulfilled its revolutionary aims. Featuring original essays from prominent media scholars discussing Banksy and Shepard Fairey, foundational texts such as Mark Dery’s culture jamming manifesto, and artwork by and interviews with noteworthy culture jammers including the Guerrilla Girls, The Yes Men, and Reverend Billy, Culture Jamming makes a crucial contribution to our understanding of creative resistance and participatory culture. "Culture Jamming is a must for modern day activists who want to overturn the status quo, and fast, and who embrace the creativity and interconnectedness of modern life." ― Foreword Reviews "A vivid picture of significant episodes along a timeline spanning more than two decades . . . This book represents a collection of mostly successful cultural resistance tactics . . . hopefully inspiring new effective strategies for the times ahead." ― Neural "The essays, interviews, and creative work assembled in this unique volume explore the shifting contours of culture jamming by plumbing its history, mapping its transformations, testing its force, and assessing its efficacy. Revealing how culture jamming is at once playful and politically transgressive, this accessible collection explores the degree to which culture jamming has fulfilled its revolutionary aims. . . . a crucial contribution to our understanding of creative resistance and participatory culture." ― We-make-money-not-art.com "Culture Jamming subverts an engineered ‘culture of consumption,’ identifying the oppressive relationships upon which knowledge creation is founded and taking steps to emancipate society from false narratives of creativity." ― Political and Legal Anthropology Review Marilyn DeLaure is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at the University of San Francisco. She has published essays on dance, civil rights rhetoric, and environmental activism. Moritz Fink is a media scholar and author. He holds a doctoral degree in American Studies from the University of Munich. Mark Dery is a cultural critic. His writings on media, technology, pop culture, and American society have appeared in Artforum, Cabinet, Elle, The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, Salon, Spin , and Wired , among others. His books include Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing, and Sniping in the Empire of Signs , The Pyrotechnic Insanitarium: American Culture on the Brink , and Escape Velocity: Cyberculture at the End of the Century , which has been translated into eight languages. He edited the scholarly anthology Flame Wars: The Discourse of Cyberculture . His latest book is the essay collection I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts . Coined In The 1980s, Culture Jamming Refers To An Array Of Tactics Deployed By Activists To Critique, Subvert, And Otherwise Jam The Workings Of Consumer Culture. Ranging From Media Hoaxes And Advertising Parodies To Flash Mobs And Street Art, These Actions Seek To Interrupt The Flow Of Dominant, Capitalistic Messages That Permeate Our Daily Lives. Employed By Occupy Wall Street Protesters And The Russian Feminist Punk Band Pussy Riot Alike, Culture Jamming Scrambles The Signal, Injects The Unexpected, And Spurs Audiences To Think Critically And Challenge The Status Quo. The Essays, Interviews, And Creative Work Assembled In This Unique Volume Explore The Shifting Contours Of Culture Jamming By Plumbing Its History, Mapping Its Transformations, Testing Its Force, And Assessing Its Efficacy. Revealing How Culture Jamming Is At Once Playful And Politically Transgressive, This Accessible Collection Explores The Degree To Which Culture Jamming Has Fulfilled Its Revolutionary Aims. Featuring Original Essays From Prominent Media Scholars Discussing Banksy And Shepard Fairey, Foundational Texts Such As Mark Dery S Culture Jamming Manifesto, And Artwork By And Interviews With Noteworthy Culture Jammers Including The Guerrilla Girls, The Yes Men, And Reverend Billy, Culture Jamming Makes A Crucial Contribution To Our Understanding Of Creative Resistance And Participatory Culture. Foreword / Mark Dery -- Introduction / Marilyn Delaure And Moritz Fink -- Part I. Definitions And Debates. Culture Jamming : Hacking, Slashing, And Sniping In The Empire Of Signs / Mark Dery -- Pranking Rhetoric : Culture Jamming As Media Activism / Christine Harold -- The Faker As Producer : The Politics Of Fabrication And The Three Orders Of The Fake / Marco Deseriis -- Putting The Jamming Into Culture Jamming : Theory, Praxis, And Cultural Production During The Arab Spring / Mark Levine -- From Culture Jamming To Cultural Acupuncture / Henry Jenkins -- Part Ii. Critical Case Studies. Radical Scavenging Revisited : Emile De Antonio And The Culture Jamming Of Compilation Film / Christof Decker -- Never Mind The Bollocks : Shepard Fairey's Fight For Appropriation, Fair Use, And Free Culture / Evelyn Mcdonnell -- Facing : Image And Politics In Jr's Global Street Art (2004-2012) / Michael Levan --^ Answering Back! Banksy's Street Art And The Power Relations Of Public Space / Benedikt Feiten -- Co-opting The Culture Jammers : The Guerrilla Marketing Of Crispin Porter + Bogusky / Michael Serazio -- Culture Jamming In Prime Time : The Simpsons And The Tradition Of Corporate Satire / Moritz Fink -- The Poetics Of Ruptural Performance / Tony Perucci -- Turning Tricks : Culture Jamming And The Flash Mob / Rebecca Walker -- Memes, Movements, And Meteorology : Occupy Wall Street And New Mutations In Culture Jamming / Jack Bratich -- Jamming The Simulacrum : On Drones, Virtual Reality, And Real Wars / Wazhmah Osman -- Balaclavas And Putin : Pussy Riot, Carnivalesque Protest, And Political Culture Jamming In Russia / Anna Baranchuk -- Part Iii. Culture Jammers' Studio. The Day I Killed Freedom Of Expression / Kembrew Mcleod -- Notes On The Economic Unconscious From A Billionaire For Bush / Andrew Boyd -- Artwork And Commentary / The Guerrilla Girls --^ Delocator.net : Using The Web To Organize And Promote Alternative Behaviors / Xtine Burrough -- The Yes Men : An Interview / Marilyn Delaure -- Networked Reality Flow Hacks / Paolo Cirio -- Iocose : Art, Authority, And Culture Jamming / Paolo Ruffino, Matteo Cremonesi, Filippo Cuttica, And Davide Prati (iocose) -- Say Yes : An Interview With Reverend Billy And Savitri D / Marilyn Delaure. Edited By Marilyn Delaure And Moritz Fink. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.