Culture Jamming: response to Mark Dery writings

Dery wrote this article in the mid 90's when this concept was still fairly new.  Though I think the web has taken the lead of influence over the TV, it is still a good reference for early developments of the movement.  15 years later it is, as Paula suggests, difficult to "see the forest through the trees," but not because we simply accept our culture, probably the opposite actually.  I think the reason this movement has been so adaptable is because of the collective mental shift that has taken place.  Because more and more people view mainstream media skeptically, we are less apt to simply trust what advertisers are telling us.  I think now everyone is somewhat leery of being sold.  Rather than taking the former, anarchist approach, which is simply a rejection of the system of oppression, we realize that it is more effective to work within the system to implode it on itself.  You could call it Post-Structuralist Anarchism.  

Since the late 70's, when graffiti started to become prominent in America, this new approach/aesthetic entered into our conscious.  Gradually we've changed our minds about graphic public statements, their purpose, and who can make them.  As commercial tactics infiltrate so do our reactions against them.  It's a co-evolution.  At this point even the advertisers are using guerrilla marketing tactics ..meaning culture jammers will only continue to up their game.

Here is a good example from Las Vegas where someone successfully undermined McDonald's billboard messages.  I think it's pretty ballsy and effective I also think McDonald's is a horrible institution, so I'm into it.  And, by reporting on it, the news media does a great job propagating its influence that much more.  Well done Dave and Kathy.  Now a word from our sponsors: