What I've Always Feared
Posted by: steve | From: August 9, 2006
I've always been afraid to include any political statement in projects that I've been involved with. Worried about as coming off as naive, or making bad political art, or even being exclusionary with my statements and therefore I have avoided it like the plague.
Inspired by Rebecca's recent statements and words along with Jona's newest post I realized it was time to break the political vacuum.
I have gone as far into the feared void as possible. Not having any experience with subtly marrying politics and art I have gone for the didactic, anvil falling on your head approach. I hope by showing myself I can say this stuff and everything will be okay, actually everything will be better because I'm being more complete and honest, that I can get to a point that actually combines my aesthetic and what I believe in. Sometimes artistic merit (not that I think what is normally on this blog has lots of artistic merit) doesn't matter and things just need to be said.
(CLICK ON PICTURE FOR VIDEO)
This video is big in size (36 MB). Had to make it that way so the things could be read. It will take a minute but let it load all the way.
Music is: David Bazan "Backwoods Nation," Lil' Wayne "Georgia Bush" (It is lame that Lil Weezy is denigrating the President by calling him a woman's name, but I wanted some popular rap and this is some good political disses), Adrian Orange "I Don't Know."
so nice, Steve. Made me feel real bad but in a good way. Or in a way where it is good to know there is solidarity for me in this world.
Posted by: ritchey at August 9, 2006 10:42 AM
it is wise to make sure you know what you are talking about before opening your mouth. but you also make a statement every time you choose to keep your mouth shut. in a comment on jona's blog, i mentioned how bummed i am about the whole 'political art isn't cool' vibe that seems to exist in many music and art scenes. that really needs to change, because it is the heated political conversations at parties and softball games that will help people articulate their ideas, which will then in-turn lead to better (political) art, which will then lead to more discussions, etc. learning about what is going on is really difficult and hard to process, but it becomes much easier when we all help each other out.
the most successful artists that i know are also the most politically + socially engaged people that i know, and i don't think that is a coincidence.
Posted by: matt mc at August 9, 2006 10:53 AM
GOOD ON YOU. KEEP IT GOING.
You might want to consider "that's life" by killer mike, downloadable from sean fennessey's hardly art blog and/or streamable from xxlmag.com:
http://hardlyart.blogspot.com/
Posted by: jshep at August 9, 2006 11:27 AM
well done. i'm really psyched that lots of UrHo ppl are deciding to express their political views. there are a lot of superficial things we could be making (videos about farts, songs about cocaine parties), and i'm really proud of the fact that these responsible descisions are being made. IT'S COOL TO CARE!
Posted by: dalas v at August 9, 2006 12:15 PM
This is good political art, which is to say that it's effective. Now I want to do something too. Even if it primarily involves construction paper.
U.S. out of America! And maybe I WON'T get married until everyone can. That's a good idea.
Posted by: marcus at August 9, 2006 12:55 PM
I love it. I feel compelled to make some poli-art myself now. Thank you Steve and other friends for this cool chain of consciousness raising.
Posted by: willow at August 9, 2006 1:55 PM
What about marriage as political protest? Let's all get married and divorced over and over to show the idea of "government approved" weddings is just ridiculous.
Posted by: Mikey at August 9, 2006 3:54 PM
Very moving, Steve. I respect so much the doing something uncomfortable, especially to effect change.
I tried to make a blog about peace today too, after watching this.
Posted by: sarah at August 9, 2006 7:00 PM
This movie has a great feeling.
Emily & I were in this park yesterday, and there was a big map of the world painted on the b-ball court, & we were trying to name all the countries. Over at a picnic table sat a guy with a baseball cap, at work at his computer, looking focused and peaceful. Was that guy you? I hope you were there, working on this video, and that you somehow instilled us with a spirit of solidarity that made us want to lovingly reach out with our feet to all the peoples of the world. Thank you!
Posted by: David at August 9, 2006 8:58 PM
Thank you for this video, it was really good. It encourages me to make more "political" art and stuff, and write more songs, etc. I think this kind of stuff not only educates people who don't know about it but also encourages people who do to keep thinking about it and do something about it. It's important to just talk and think about this stuff.
Posted by: Alexander Arvelo McQuaig at August 12, 2006 11:31 PM
It is good. I am glad this is here. Thank you. It raises a few questions in my life and I think I'll be talking to people about them. Good thing
Posted by: Cole at August 15, 2006 12:02 PM
It is good. I am glad this is here. Thank you. It raises a few questions in my life and I think I'll be talking to people about them. Good thing
Posted by: Cole at August 15, 2006 12:09 PM
Post a comment:
as t. bloozy says
lets take it back
WTO
BLACK HOODIES
fuckin' up the starboo
jyeah.
Posted by: adam Forkner at August 9, 2006 10:27 AM