community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Art Regurgitates Life (Watch Where You Step!)
by Blogfodder
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 2:53 AM
'Virtual Agit-prop Theater' - News, Art, Propaganda or Entertainment? None of the above?
Art Regurgitates Life (Watch Where You Step!)
Blogfodder: Independent, Roving 'Arts & Culture Critic'
'Virtual Agit-prop Theater' - News, Art, Propaganda or Entertainment? None of the above?
In case you missed it, one of New York City's most eclectic sources of on-line activist news, information, social commentary and political satire - the NYC indymedia collective ( http://nyc.indymedia.org/ ) - staged a mesmerizing performance of 'Virtual Agit-prop Theater' last Thursday morning [September 11], worthy of an Academy Award; that is, if they had a category for that kind of thing.
How about a 'Google' nomination for NYCIMC? Anybody? No. Okay.
ACT I: Collision Course
About a week and a half ago, I received an anonymous e-mail invitation urging (threatening?) me to participate in a 'Free-Speech Convergence' on the NYCIMC. And let me tell you, I am so sick of free-speech, I'm beginning to think it might be better for everybody if we all had to pay for it.
Anyhow, the electronic card came complete with stamps depicting a sharply-dressed, skeletal orator -- ranting from an amplified podium -- only the stamps were canceled with an American flag, post-marked, SEPT 11 2003; the circular part resembling an 'Anarchist' bomb type-icon, with its fuse lit.
"Okay,' I thought, 'jaded I may be, but still; I'm slightly intrigued." Free's free, after all.
So, despite a blossoming migraine -- or was it a residual hangover? -- on 9.11, as usual, I spilled my coffee, said my curses, had a smoke, popped a Pea, booted-up my aging clunker and headed down to NYC indymedia to see what all the fuss was all about.
With increasing astonishment, I watched as the lazy sludge of a virtual Hudson, choked and polluted with conspiracy theories, denouncements, unsubstantiated allegations and character assassinations, was interrupted with a ground-breaking piece of laser-guided satire -- and synchronized, surprise-attack fashion -- that floated to the surface like a bloated corpse.
Heralded by a test pattern, an audience notification to, 'PLEASE STAND-BY,' was accompanied by an obviously sleep-deprived, de-caffeinated announcer, anemically intoning, "testing, testing, one, two, three..." -- headed right between my bloodshot eyes and ringing ears, courtesy of the 'IMCLF NETWORK' (Indy Media Collective Liberation Front); a 'shadowy' band of 'radical satire-orists,' consisting of writers, audio-visual artists, poets and miscellaneous trouble-makers.
ACTS II, III, IV, V, VI & VII: We Won't Get Fooled Again?
Immediately following the announcement, a furious mob began assembling and chanting at the NYCIMC gates, carrying banners and slogans, proclaiming 'FREE VINCE!, theconstitutionrules@hotmail.com,' FREE THE THREE!'
A list of grievances was hammered to the web-site door, demanding: the release of an alphabet soup of individual 'political' prisoners -- with names like Johnny Wizard and Israel Deaf Messenger -- from consignment to the bowels of the editorial collective's 'hidden' post region: the immediate right to return of the exiled: equal treatment of the marginalized, and free-speech for all.
As I mulled over the list of demands, suddenly things turned ugly, and a flaming version of the same invitation I had received was hurled at the editorial collective walls; captioned, "SAVE THE SPEECHES!"
Amidst the clamor, an emergency siren wailed, and just as I heard the sound of a modem connecting, and read: 3, 2, 1... I noticed the appearance of a Latuff cartoon of an airliner, labeled 'CENSORSHIP,' heading straight for the NYCindymedia logo -- looking eerily similar to the WTC towers.
Apparently, a fanatical crew of box-cutter wielding, newswire hijackers, inspired by an near-lethal overdose of Brecht, Wells, Orwell and Chomsky, had commandeered the newswire in a desperate act of political satireorism.
Next, as if overseeing the hysterics and pandemonium, a demoniacal looking portrait appeared out of nowhere; a freakish visage bearing a striking resemblance to both George Bush and the ventriloquist-dummy, Howdee Doodee -- evil and dopey looking at the same time. Inscribed beneath the portrait: "Money Talks"
All I could think was, "Man, forget about that idea of paying for free-speech." I better take notes! But, the antics weren't over yet.
In an effort to calm and reassure traumatized spectators, during the broadcast of an 'Audio-Puppet Theatre" interview -- with a respected investigative journalist -- the so-called 'Omnipotentate' issued a confident assertion, that the Benevolent Occupational Government (B.O.G.) would inevitably subdue the chaos and liberate all of humanity, through a relentless campaign of brutal military conquest.
I know I was reassured.
As suddenly as he first appeared, without explanation, the Omnipotentate vanished, only to return later, shrouded in black and yellow emergency tape, labeled 'NYCIMC IS OCCUPIED TERRITORY.'
The ringleaders were arrested, the demonstration was repressed, the crowd was gassed and quickly dispersed.
Presumably, that was the end of the show, because not long after, the wire began to look like its old familiar self again.
I haven't seen anything like it since I discovered my dad's aging collection of Nation Lampoon's gathering mold and rotting in the basement. But I know I'll be keeping an eye out for more, and I know where I'll be looking: http://nyc.indymedia.org/
It was an amazingly choreographed performance of free-association that could only have been accomplished through an incredible amount of cooperation between the unbridled minds of voluntary contributors and a free-thinking editorial collective.
The show may be over, but if you didn't get invited you can still go -- anytime -- it's always open, everybody's welcome.
The chronological links are posted below in order of their appearance.
If you decide to go and you're having technical difficulties, contact the NYCIMC editorial collective, they'll be happy to help.
http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=73631&group=webcast
http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=73632&group=webcast
http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=73633&group=webcast
http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=73636&group=webcast
http://nyc.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=73637&group=webcast
A note for late-comers: this kind of theater isn't sanitized like T.V., so watch out for the rotten tomatoes!
*********
Neat!
by laura
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 7:48 AM
How exciting!
More...
by echo
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 10:33 AM
check out the discussion at infoshop.org...
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=03/09/19/5552512
Sick of Nuts
by Sick of Nuts
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 1:46 AM
FYI, folks, the folks who put this up and are supporting it are wingnuts who've spammed the NYC IMC newswire. I don't work in the editorial collective, but I can assert that the criticisms of them are baseless.
not wingnuts
by peacey_nyc
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 6:05 AM
Although I understand why one could get that impression, I do believe these are people who have sincere issues with the moderation of nycimc.
I'm torn on the issue. I like having a relatively troll-free and cerebral imc, but I do think IMC's suffer without free expression.
Perhaps a Brooklyn IMC with a much less stringent moderation policy would be a reasonable solution.
The spam attack...
by Why
Saturday, Oct. 04, 2003 at 10:55 AM
... on NYC IMC continues. Check out nyc.indymedia.org. Why?! What are they trying to prove? That the left can eat itself? Get a life and start attacking the right. If there's been moderation of the newswire at nyc.indymedia, all I can see is that it's made it easier to read and see just the news and opinions that people put up without all the selfish garbage put up (some jackass was posting panda photos every day during one month last year).
Spam My Panda?
by Why Not
Saturday, Oct. 04, 2003 at 4:01 PM
So what do yo have against pandas? I like Pandas. Pandas are an endangered species because of people like you who would rather not see Pandas. We could all learn from the Pandas. The Zen of the Panda could benefit you. Please please stop this senseless assault on Pandas. Please stop, for you can not ignore the Panda. The Panda will not be religated to your ignorance. We are only trying to make known the struggles of the Panda. In the Mykau culture of the Chinese moutnain provinces it is a blessing to receive a depiction of a Panda. By turning away the gift of the Panda likeness you have insulted not only the gift-giver, but also the several thousand practicing Mykauists who regard the Panda as sacred.
PANDAS RULE
by Ying Ying
Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 at 3:53 AM
Just Try and censor a Panda you fools. We will descend upon your apartment and eat all of your houseplants. Power to the Pandas. No Power to the Panda Haters.
GGRRRRRRLLLLLL
by Ying Yang
Thursday, Oct. 16, 2003 at 1:41 PM
Flip You Da Panda
by One Bad Panda Jamba
Monday, Oct. 27, 2003 at 3:37 PM
They're really cute, but....
by 2Beers
Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003 at 6:16 PM
what's with all the Pandas. Is there some hidden political statement that I am missing, or is this some sort of IMC protest. Because if it is, I want in. But I don't get the whole Panda thing. Help me out here. I could write a haiku about pandas if you would like.
Who are you calling cute, Skippy??
by 3Pepsis
Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003 at 5:41 PM
![[masthead]](/images/masthead_140.png)