Although I think there is some irony here with Banksy’s now superstar status and the fact some could compare having his street art pop up is also like someone throwing a brick to your head (and I won’t even go into the copyright controversy from the Bristol Museum exhibition) I think the message is a good one.
The corporate media landscape is one where you have to be a passive consumer but any response is deemed illegal due to copyright and trademark laws – but as Banksy and this video maker points out these adverts are interfering and imposing into your psyche and mental and psychical space at every opportunity, it should not be wrong to fight back with parody, subvertisment or media manipulation. In fact it is your right.
Remember the Occupy movement was actually started by Adbusters (!), it does have wider consequences, although like with mashups there is a danger that people are just playing with what they secretly love, and not wanting to subvert but join the status quo. It’s a hard line to walk – because the advertisers have propaganda and 100+ years on their side and every trick in the book, so your message can be swamped or co-opted rather easily. (video via Mike Woods)
Leave a Comment! Be nice….