Culture jamming, Adbusters and The Yes Men

[The Idler]

Are they (Culture jamming activists, Adbusters and The Yes Men) just anti-corporations/anti-consumerism or anti-capitalist? Are they involved in any left-wing political parties?

[Invincible Summer]

I used to read Adbusters until I got tired of their "counter-culture" rhetoric.

If I remember correctly, they state that they are not anti-capitalist, but they are against the way in which capitalism has manifested itself in mass-consumerism and neo-liberalism. They advocate for what is essentially a better capitalism, but not in those words.

In my opinion, it's just bullshit and a cheap way of not being accused of being Communists or something.

Their heavy focus on "Culture jamming" is also ridiculous. I mean, it's good that they're trying to get people to think about consumerism in a critical way, but they act like they're changing society by painting up a billboard.

[Bilan]

I don't know.
AFAIK they do a lot of anti-consumerism, and 'defend public space'.

[bretty]

I dig the magazine because it is critical of consumerism, lifestyles, and culture. It's a good magazine and is generally thoughtful.

[Invincible Summer]

I wonder if Adbusters is consciously being ironic - they critique mass consumerism culture, yet they sell glossy magazines with ads (albeit they're "culture jammed", yet the brand name is still clearly visible) and they sell Converse All-Star style shoes.

[The Idler]

The Yes Men have released a sequel called The Yes Men Fix the World (http://theyesmenfixtheworld.com/). They even have a Teachers Guide (http://theyesmenfixtheworld.com/teachers.htm).

[gorillafuck]

Culture Jamming seems very useless to me. So does anti-consumerism (not buying that iPod for the sake of not having a popular item won't accomplish anything)

[Asoka89]

I wonder if Adbusters is consciously being ironic - they critique mass consumerism culture, yet they sell glossy magazines with ads (albeit they're "culture jammed", yet the brand name is still clearly visible) and they sell Converse All-Star style shoes.

... you mean their... spoof ads?

[KurtFF8]

Well I actually really like the Yes Men. Their tactics of exposing contradictions of capital certainly raise awareness to those contradictions themselves and that is quite valuable to the left I would say. I'm sure they're not even anti-capitalist, but that doesn't mean that we should reject those tactics.

[ellipsis]

Such tactics seems as though they would be effective as part of a broader range of revolutionary activity and the raising of class consciousness.