Take a look at this jacket.
It’s $375, there’s (supposedly) only one in stock anywhere, and it’s probably the silliest thing ever made.
This jacket is not emblematic of everything wrong with punk rock. It’s not even emblematic of everything “wrong” with consumer culture.
It’s just a silly jacket.
This Facebook post, by Boots Riley of the Coup, would have you believe that this silly jacket – $375 – is, in fact, emblematic of everything wrong with punk, music, culture, aesthetics and ideology.
Boots:
Punk and “Underground” Hip-Hop is simply indie capitalism.
Indie capitalism is not an answer to our problems – even if it didn’t develop into this.
A rebellious aesthetic is not an actual revolutionary movement.
An aesthetic is always absorbed and used by the class which is in power.
This is why we must have a radical movement that builds it’s numbers for revolution by using mass direct action to make material changes in the lives of those involved, while making it clear that we are out to create a new system – showing the class structure of the current system, while teaching through example that there is power in numbers and that we can win.
Next up for urban outfitters: whatever revolutionary uniform we’re wearing right now.
Man, shit.
I saw this reposted without credit on the Central Oklahoma Red/Black Alliance’s Facebook page, and I was mad before I knew who said it. Now I’m just tired. I like Boots. I like the Coup. I haven’t the years or experience he has at organizing anything and in the past he’s had some really great things to say about anarchists. But this is just…
It’s a bunch of truisms strung together in various paragraphs with an inherent double-standard baked in. Watch yr step into parodyland:
“Punk and “Underground” Hip-Hop is simply indie capitalism – but you should buy my rap group’s latest album and support the TRUE REVOLUTION.”
“Indie capitalism is not an answer to our problems – even if it didn’t develop into this. I’m a Marxist rapper! Isn’t that so totally ungimmicky and definitely not designed to make me interesting so you can buy my revolution?”
“A rebellious aesthetic is not an actual revolutionary movement. Now everybody dance to The Guillotine!”
“An aesthetic is always absorbed and used by the class which is in power. Look! Patton Oswalt!”
“This is why we must have a radical movement that builds it’s numbers for revolution by using mass direct action to make material changes in the lives of those involved, while making it clear that we are out to create a new system – showing the class structure of the current system, while teaching through example that there is power in numbers and that we can win. Have you met Bob Avakian? I was on Carson Daly! Buy my album!”
“Next up for urban outfitters: whatever revolutionary uniform we’re wearing right now. Maybe that really cool jacket my buddy TOM MORELLO – did you hear his addition to the score in the Hit Summer Blockbuster Pacific Rim? – and I wore in ‘Promenade.’ That would sell for a LOT.”