Last week, comÂposÂer Philip Glass and rock legÂend Lou Reed embraced the OccuÂpy Wall Street moveÂment. IniÂtial video & audio clips capÂturÂing their appearÂances were shodÂdy at best. Now Jean Thevenin (who joined the protest at LinÂcoln CenÂter Plaza) has givÂen us a betÂter view, proÂducÂing a short, eleÂgant film simÂply called VisÂiÂble Shape. The accomÂpaÂnyÂing music is “Protest” from SatyaÂgraÂha, writÂten by Philip Glass and perÂformed by New York City Opera OrchesÂtra.
Crowded House: How the World’s Population Grew to 7 Billion People
This fall, the world’s popÂuÂlaÂtion reached sevÂen bilÂlion. A soberÂing thought. How did we get to this point? ProÂducÂer Adam Cole and phoÂtogÂraÂphÂer MagÂgie StarÂbard of NationÂal PubÂlic Radio have put the world’s accelÂerÂatÂing popÂuÂlaÂtion growth in perÂspecÂtive in a two-and-a-half minute video, above.
In those two and a half minÂutes, 638 babies will be born worldÂwide, accordÂing to staÂtisÂtics from the UnitÂed States CenÂsus Bureau, and 265 peoÂple will die. That’s a net gain of 373 peoÂple, just while you watch the film. The biggest growth, accordÂing to NPR, is hapÂpenÂing in sub-SahaÂran Africa, where access to famÂiÂly planÂning is low and infant morÂtalÂiÂty rates are high.
It may seem counter-intuÂitive that popÂuÂlaÂtion growth rates are high where infant surÂvival rates are low, but as Swedish globÂal health expert Hans Rosling put it durÂing a recent TED talk, “Only by child surÂvival can we conÂtrol popÂuÂlaÂtion growth.” Because popÂuÂlaÂtion growth and infant morÂtalÂiÂty rates are both corÂreÂlatÂed to poverÂty rates, he argues, elimÂiÂnatÂing poverÂty is the key to achievÂing a susÂtainÂable world popÂuÂlaÂtion. You can learn more in our NovemÂber 1 feaÂture, “Hans Rosling Uses IKEA Props to Explain World of 7 BilÂlion PeoÂple.”
Malcolm McLaren: The Quest for Authentic Creativity
In earÂly OctoÂber of 2009, MalÂcolm McLaren was nearÂing death but didÂn’t know it yet. He showed up at the 2009 HandÂheld LearnÂing conÂferÂence feelÂing fatigued, but manÂaged to delivÂer a provocaÂtive and heartÂfelt speech titled, “NevÂer Mind the BolÂlocks, Here’s the Txt PisÂtols,” in which he reflects on his life growÂing up in post-World War II EngÂland and expressÂes disÂmay over the rise of what he called “karaoke culÂture.”
“All popÂuÂlar culÂture today,” said McLaren, “goes to great lengths to proÂmote the idea that it’s cool to be stuÂpid.” He chamÂpiÂoned instead the “messy process of creÂativÂiÂty” in which strugÂgle, failÂure and the acquiÂsiÂtion of skill and knowlÂedge are valÂued above instant fame. You can watch the comÂplete speech above. A few days after it was givÂen, McLaren went into the hosÂpiÂtal and learned that he had canÂcer. He died six months latÂer, on April 8, 2010. The next day HandÂheld LearnÂing founder GraÂham Brown-MarÂtin wrote:
The talk from MalÂcolm at the HandÂheld LearnÂing ConÂferÂence 2009 will, I believe, stand the test of time. The speech doesÂn’t elabÂoÂrate about the periÂod of the Sex PisÂtols, New York Dolls, ViviÂenne WestÂwood, his impact on design, fashÂion and music culÂture and many othÂer imporÂtant achieveÂments of MalÂcolm’s life that will be reportÂed in obitÂuÂarÂies over the comÂing days. Instead and in keepÂing with the theme of the conÂferÂence, MalÂcolm disÂcussÂes in his inimÂitable style–his life, learnÂing, authenÂticÂiÂty vs karaoke culÂture and what we gain from the expeÂriÂence of failÂure. IronÂiÂcalÂly, failÂure was someÂthing MalÂcolm nevÂer achieved. The talk was anyÂthing but ordiÂnary, it polarised our audiÂence and instantÂly trendÂed globÂalÂly on TwitÂter but what else would you expect?
Philip Glass, Lou Reed Speak At Occupy Lincoln Center
Last night, two AmerÂiÂcan icons lent supÂport to the OccuÂpy Wall Street moveÂment, speakÂing at a protest held outÂside of LinÂcoln CenÂter in New York City. After a perÂforÂmance of SatyaÂgraÂha at the Met, Philip Glass spoke to demonÂstraÂtors. AccordÂing to Alex Ross, the music critÂic for the New YorkÂer, Glass recitÂed the closÂing lines of SatyaÂgraÂha (see around 3:00 minute mark in the video above), which come from the BhaÂgavad Gita:
When rightÂeousÂness withÂers away and evil rules the land, we come into being, age after age, and take visÂiÂble shape, and move, a man among men, for the proÂtecÂtion of good, thrustÂing back evil and setÂting virtue on her seat again.
He repeatÂed the sayÂing sevÂerÂal times, and the “human microÂphone” ampliÂfied the mesÂsage for him.
Lou Reed was also in attenÂdance and helped someÂone crawl over a police barÂriÂcade at one point, then said: “I was born in BrookÂlyn, and I’ve nevÂer been more ashamed than to see the barÂriÂcades tonight. The police are our army. I want to be friends with them. And I wanÂna occuÂpy Wall Street. I supÂport it.” A not-so-clear audio clip appears below:
via Gothamist and The Rest is Noise
More OccuÂpy Videos:
Noam ChomÂsky at OccuÂpy Boston
Slavoj Zizek Takes the Stage at OccuÂpy Wall Street
Joseph Stiglitz and Lawrence Lessig at OccuÂpy Wall Street
David CrosÂby & GraÂham Nash at OccuÂpy Wall Street; Echoes of WoodÂstock
Striking Posters From Occupy Wall Street: Download Them for Free
OccuÂpy Wall Street and the globÂal OccuÂpy MoveÂment have inspired some strikÂing artÂwork. GraphÂic artists from around the world (includÂing ShepÂard Fairey menÂtioned here earÂliÂer today) have conÂtributed their talÂents to the moveÂment. Many of their posters are availÂable for free or at low cost, either directÂly from the artist or through orgaÂniÂzaÂtions like Occuprint and OccuÂpyÂToÂgethÂer. You can post them in your town.
New YorkÂer covÂer artist and book illusÂtraÂtor Eric DrookÂer has creÂatÂed sevÂerÂal beauÂtiÂful posters, includÂing the one above. You can downÂload a high-resÂoÂluÂtion copy suitÂable for printÂing at OccupyTogether.org.
The notÂed Los AngeÂles graphÂic artist, carÂtoonÂist and radio perÂsonÂalÂiÂty Lalo Alcaraz creÂatÂed this parÂoÂdy of the topÂpling of the SadÂdam HusÂsein statÂue in BaghÂdad for OccuÂpy Los AngeÂles. In a mesÂsage on his webÂsite, Alcaraz invites peoÂple to disÂtribÂute the image.
AlexanÂdra ClotÂfelÂter is a stuÂdent of adverÂtisÂing design and illusÂtraÂtion at the SavanÂnah ColÂlege of Art and Design in GeorÂgia. Since donatÂing her design, “The BeginÂning is Near,” to Occuprint.org, it has become one of the most popÂuÂlar posters to emerge from the moveÂment. In response to requests, ClotÂfelÂter is offerÂing a high-qualÂiÂty Giclee print for sale, with a porÂtion of the profÂits going to supÂport OccuprintÂ’s project of disÂtribÂutÂing free posters worldÂwide.
In this poster, ZucotÂti Park is porÂtrayed as the “Tip of the IceÂberg.” Indeed, the OccuÂpy moveÂment extends to places like Lawrence, Kansas, where muralÂist, printÂmakÂer and writer Dave LoewenÂstein is based. LoewenÂstein’s design is availÂable for free at Occuprint.org.
Poster artist Rich Black of BerkeÂley, CalÂiÂforÂnia creÂatÂed this image for OccuÂpy OakÂland. It’s availÂable for free downÂload at Occuprint.org.
To see a variÂety of OccuÂpy posters by othÂer artists (and to downÂload them for free) you can visÂit Occuprint.org and OccupyTogether.org.
And don’t miss our post earÂliÂer today: ShepÂard Fairey Caves In, RevisÂes OccuÂpy Wall Street Poster.
Shepard Fairey Caves In, Revises Occupy Wall Street Poster
ShepÂard Fairey’s famous 2008 ObaÂma “Hope” poster has been the source of countÂless imiÂtaÂtions and parÂoÂdies. Last week Fairey released his own parÂoÂdy for OccuÂpy Wall Street, replacÂing ObaÂma’s head with a hoodÂed figÂure in a Guy Fawkes mask, along with the words, “MisÂter PresÂiÂdent, We HOPE You’re On Our Side.” As Fairey explained on his webÂsite, “I see ObaÂma as a potenÂtial ally of the OccuÂpy moveÂment if the enerÂgy of the moveÂment is perÂceived as conÂstrucÂtive, not destrucÂtive.”
Not everyÂone agreed. YesÂterÂday, after a series of disÂcusÂsions with one of the orgaÂnizÂers of the purÂportÂedÂly leadÂerÂless moveÂment, Fairey announced he was backÂing down and dropÂping the provocaÂtive mesÂsage to the presÂiÂdent and replacÂing it with “We Are The HOPE.” A few of the moveÂmenÂt’s orgaÂnizÂers reportÂedÂly thought Fairey’s poster implied that OccuÂpy Wall Street either supÂportÂed ObaÂma or was begÂging for his supÂport.
“As ObaÂma has raised more monÂey from Wall Street than any othÂer canÂdiÂdate in hisÂtoÂry, it would make us naive hypÂocrites to supÂport him under present cirÂcumÂstances,” the anonyÂmous orgaÂnizÂer wrote to Fairey. “As for the design, the fact that you put the 99% inside the ObaÂma O is crossÂing a sacred line. While it defÂiÂniteÂly looks cool, whether intendÂed or not, this sends a clear mesÂsage that ObaÂma is co-optÂing OWS.”
“I have no interÂest in panÂderÂing to ObaÂma,” respondÂed Fairey. “I see my image as a reminder to him that he has alienÂatÂed his popÂulist proÂgresÂsive supÂportÂers.”
But Fairey subÂmitÂted to the presÂsure and changed his design anyÂway. You can read more about the exchange here, and see the altered verÂsion of Fairey’s poster below.
For more OccuÂpy Wall Street posters, stay tuned for our post comÂing latÂer today.…
The Battle for LA’s Murals
Los AngeÂles has long been known as the street murÂal capÂiÂtal of the world. But in the past few years the city has paintÂed over more than 300 murals, accordÂing to the Los AngeÂles Times, enforcÂing a decade-old ordiÂnance that makes it a crime to creÂate murals on most priÂvate propÂerÂties. “The murÂal capÂiÂtal of the world is no more,” street artist Saber told the Times. “They buff beauÂtiÂful pieces, harass propÂerÂty ownÂers and threatÂen us like we are in street gangs.”
Some of the probÂlems startÂed in 1986, when the city was lookÂing for a way to alleÂviÂate the growÂing scourge of billÂboard blight. The city was being blanÂketÂed with unsightÂly comÂmerÂcial adverÂtisÂing, so the Los AngeÂles City CounÂcil adoptÂed a code to reduce comÂmerÂcial billÂboards. The new restricÂtions exemptÂed artÂwork. AdverÂtisÂers respondÂed by suing the city, arguÂing that they had the same right of free speech as the muralÂists. So in 2002 the CounÂcil “solved” the matÂter by amendÂing the code to include works of art. “The law left many murals techÂniÂcalÂly illeÂgal,” wrote the Times in an Oct. 29 ediÂtoÂrÂiÂal, “no matÂter how talÂentÂed the artist or how willÂing the ownÂer of the wall or how inofÂfenÂsive the subÂject matÂter.”
Since then, murals that were already in exisÂtence have come under increasÂing threat from two sides: from grafÂfiÂti “artists” who mark their terÂriÂtoÂry by defacÂing murals, and from a city that seems deterÂmined to find any preÂtext to paint over them. This is the subÂject of Behind the Wall: The BatÂtle for LA’s Murals (above), a six-minute docÂuÂmenÂtary by stuÂdents in the Film and TV ProÂducÂtion MFA proÂgram at the UniÂverÂsiÂty of SouthÂern CalÂiÂforÂnia. It was directÂed by OlivÂer Riley-Smith, shot by QianÂbaiÂhui Yang, and proÂduced and editÂed by Gavin GarÂriÂson.
WithÂout addressÂing the issue head-on, the film makes some progress toward illuÂmiÂnatÂing the disÂtincÂtion between street art and vanÂdalÂism. MuralÂists like Ernesto De La Loza, who is feaÂtured in the film, receive perÂmisÂsion from propÂerÂty ownÂers and then spend months creÂatÂing their art. LatÂer, someÂone comes along with a can of spray paint and tags it. Should the muralÂist and the grafÂfiÂti artist have equal culÂturÂal staÂtus?
RelatÂed ConÂtent:
Lt. John Pike Pepper Sprays His Way Into Art History
PepÂper spray stuÂdents in the face on FriÂday, and you wake up the face of evil on SatÂurÂday. Then, the brunt of some clever jokes on MonÂday. Look! There’s LieuÂtenant John Pike popÂping into the famous paintÂing, The SpirÂit of ’76, and macÂing a woundÂed solÂdier while he’s down. That’s low.
Now the symÂbol of French freeÂdom, Delacroix’s LibÂerÂty LeadÂing the PeoÂple. Is Pike using pepÂper spray? Or, on closÂer inspecÂtion, is that a shot of deodorÂant? Quel con ce mec.
FreeÂdom from Want is part of NorÂman RockÂwell’s Four FreeÂdoms series of paintÂings. And guess who is ruinÂing freeÂdom, ThanksÂgivÂing and everyÂthing wholeÂsome?
Yes, he evenÂtuÂalÂly desÂeÂcrates PicasÂso’s anti-war murÂal, GuerÂniÂca, too.
A baby seal? WTF Pike?!!
More art hisÂtoÂry fun awaits you at the PepÂperÂSprayÂingÂCop TumÂblr site.
H/T Heather and WashÂPo
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