On Counterculture and Culture Jamming - Curious Economics: Media, Commodities, Markets

On Counterculture and Culture Jamming - Curious Economics: Media, Commodities, Markets 1. Introduction 2. Conceptions of counterculture and culture jamming 2.1 Definition of counterculture 2.2 Definition of culture jamming 2.3 Relationship between counterculture and culture jamming 2.4 Actual situation of counterculture and culture jamming 3. Influences of counterculture and culture jamming 3.1 Functions of counterculture and culture jamming 3.2 Influences of counterculture and culture jamming on the society 4. Conclusion On Counterculture and Culture Jamming 1. Introduction Heath and Potter argue that Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain might be interpreted as "the victim of a false idea-the idea of counterculture." Using Cobain's suicide as an opening anecdote to dramatize their argument, they then proceed to argue that culture is not a reliable vehicle for political change. In other words, countercultures are not themselves productive means to change the world for the better. On the other hand, Kalle Lasn, argues the opposite in his book, Culture Jam. In this excerpt from the book, he cites the 1960s Situationists and other counterculture heroes as inspiration for contemporary culture jamming. Countercultures, he argues elsewhere, are defined by their use of culture-jamming techniques to make social change possible. Based on the above two opinions on counterculture and culture jamming, this essay will discuss the situation contemporary culture. . Heath and Potter argue in their AC640 reading, "The Birth of Counterculture, that Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain might be interpreted as "the victim of a false idea-the idea of counterculture." Using Cobain's suicide as an opening anecdote to dramatize their argument, they then proceed to argue that culture is not a reliable vehicle for political change. In other words, countercultures are not themselves productive means to change the world for the better. Vancouver-based writer Kalle Lasn, publisher of Adbusters magazine, argues the opposite in his book, Culture Jam. In this excerpt from the book, he cites the 1960s Situationists and other counterculture heroes as inspiration for contemporary culture jamming. Culture jamming refers to the use of various creative techniques-such as political theatre and independent media-to expose the ideological content of popular culture, and to oppose the creeping commercialization of the public sphere. Countercultures, he argues elsewhere, are defined by their use of culture-jamming techniques to make social change possible. http://uk.geocities.com/balihar_sanghera/prodchan.html The Grant and Wood chapter on the nature of the cultural commodity, "Curious Economics," is a very thorough discussion of what cultural goods are and how the cultural marketplace behaves. Use this knowledge of the cultural commodity and the market to evaluate the potential of counterculture as an agent of political and social change. Demonstrating understanding of the arguments from The Rebel Sell chapter, the "Curious Economics" chapter, and the Culture Jam excerpt, answer the following question: Is counterculture viable and culture-jamming effective in our time? Or are these capacities in our society either unnecessary or, alternately, neutralized within our liberal, plural, and capitalist culture?