[kj] Killing joke and Communism

[ade]

Fashion victims!

-----Original Message-----
From: gathering-bounces at misera.net [mailto:gathering-bounces at misera.net]On Behalf Of Alexander Smith
Sent: 21 August 2007 22:32
To: ssssssssss at fsmail.net; A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)
Subject: Re: [kj] Killing joke and Communism


Che Guevara shirts are ubiquitous here in the States, yet quiz the average person wearing one about who he was and/or what he represents (let alone what his name was or where he was from) and you'll probably be met with a blank stare.

I blame Rage Against the Machine.

Alex in NYC




On Aug 21, 2007, at 5:07 PM, Mister Black wrote:


Che Gue Vara :
  Where does he fit in? Is his image rebellious or offensive or is it something that is adhered to? Does anyone own a Che Gue Vara T-shirt? I think  that they look so naff , I cant see anyone on this list owing a Che Gue Vara t-shirt or poster , except for maybe Tin  .



========================================
Message Received: Aug 21 2007, 09:55 PM
From: "B. Oliver Sheppard" 
To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" 
Cc: 
Subject: Re: [kj] Killing joke and Communism

I like the Killng Joke hammer & sickle logo. I'm pretty sure Alex is 
right that it is an ultimately meaningless thing, a kind of punk-era 
playing with ideological symbols of the past to be provocative -- the 
Sex Pistols wore swastikas, they did also wear commie symbols (and not 
just in the Alex Cox movie) while bands like Durruti Column were named 
after an anarchist band, and Crass of course employed the crossed-out 
cross and circle-A, though, dammit, they were serious. Punk started all 
that "let;s use provocative political symbols to get a rise out of 
people" stuff.

A few years ago there was a trend of army green messenger bags with red 
stars on them, or black shirts with a big red star on the, probably 
intended to invoke associations w/ communism and/or anarcho-syndicalism. 
Of these are all made by capitalist outfitters. It's one of those 
punk-started things that percolated up into mass market conusmerist culture.

Jaz's political statements have been so wild and varied over the years I 
dunno where to consistently place him on any scale.

They also used Nazis saluting a pope! One of my fave band-appropriated 
images ever used. :)

-Oliver


Frank Frik wrote:

> And perhaps British labour goverment wouldn't be offended...lnew 

> labour from communists is not that far....swastica defended/and do 

> the ''conservationist democrat centrist right wing. partys''. 

>

> */Mister Black /* wrote:


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