very interesting read
Love it or hate it, if you think its art or havoc, cultural jamming makes us take a double look. Anita Harris referred to it " as a number of techniques that use the vary material of consumer culture to undermine its messages and power" (Jamming Girl Culture:Young Women and Consumer Citizinship, P, 168). However you see it, either on the internet or street signs you'll take a mental picture because your not used to it. The idea that people are used to a certain thing and will feel threatened when shown the true colours of what they believe in. In our society its either your in or out of what is considered a social norm, and if your out your less heard and excepted. Our society follows a certain standard of living and some of us need it to feel normal. Cultural jamming threatens the normality of the society. It is not something you see everyday so i don't think it has an effect at the moment because not everyone is aware of it, and it only effects those who see it and understand it. culture jamming is the creation of a contrast between corporate and mass media images and the realities or perceived negative side of a corporation or media. It could be done symbolically through the internet with videos, or by street grafitty. Cultural jamming reawakens a sense of wonder it makes you think about the society and the environment you live in as well as the products and services you buy. Its ideas stimulate personal interpretation and independent thinking. Culture jamming is intended to expose it is a reaction against social conformity, Many culture Jams are simply aimed at exposing questionable political assumptions behind commercial culture so that people can momentarily consider the branded environment in which they live. Websites like Adbusters, which consideres itself as an activists magazine known for its anti branding campaigns, yet its black spots sneakers which is a shoes with a black spot instead of a logo where a corporate logo is expected. To me a black spot is still a logo and still recognizable like a Nike logo. Adbuster is encouraging it's readers to help spread the "black spot" just like Nike encourages it's consumers to buy their shoes. Which leads to my point in that Adbusters just like Nike in ways are both selling a symbol and a product. I believe Adbusters adds have become the opposite, their resistance to adds has become a form of advertising itself. I don't believe culture jamming is considered elicit, that involves how well and widely it's message is being received, and if whoever is viewing it is understanding it's content. It also has to think of the individuals social location since for example i live in Thunder Bay, a small city we are not aware of cultural jamming. It is present in larger cities and its absencent in small communities. Even in bigger cities it is harder for a culture jam message to reach an audience. Even taking all of todays technologies like youtube and blogs it is still hard for cultural jam to reach a mass audience. I for one never knew what cultural jamming was or meant until taking this course, and i have lived in a big city before Thunder Bay, even tho it is present on a global scale not everyone who views it will be able to appreciate it's meaning. Since educated individuals are part of the elite in our society, cultural jamming can not deny it's elitism. As persons socio economic background will bring different understanding to culture jams. A middle class individual who can afford to go to university is more likely to be exposed to knowledge that a person from a less class will not be. And the individuals who are knowledgable will understand the artsy messages of cultural jamming where as others will find it atrocious, in his article Ryan Moore explained how "Although problems of consumer capitalism are being addressed, many people consider culture jamming not only personally offensive, but also offensive to the vendors". (http://canadiandimension.com/articles/3998/). Culture jamming is not a good feminist tool because it is Elicit and does not reach a big audience. Women need to find a better tool that can reach a wider audience in order to have their messages reached for everyone and specially in every socio economic background.
"Fiesty"
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