[Nettime-bold] Re: <nettime> No Logo is a good Logo

["R.Anderson" <mail@theguy.org>]

The real problem with No Logo isn't the look of the thing, it's 
what's inside. Anyone involved with critical thinking or cultural 
production over at least the last 20 years knows everything that's 
inside the covers. I found it an homogenizing piece of work that 
packaged cultural criticism into neat sound bites for the media. It 
simply isn't interesting, unless you are looking for a glossy 
validation for what you may have been thinking for decades. Let's 
call it "criticism light". If that's what it has to be to reach the 
Starbucks set then it's unfortunate that the rest of us have to 
endure the author promoting it everywhere. Her claims that we are 
winning the good fight don't hold water. Just look around, hang out 
at the mall.

Randall Anderson


>I disagree with Mr. King. The book is sitting here on my coffee table,
>waiting for me to finish the latest Flashman book so I can get to it.
>
>Ms. Klein visited Seattle to promote her book recently and gave a
>discussion at the Seattle IMC.  So far as I am aware she is the first
>author to do this. We had about 40 people come and listen to her and ask
>questions.  It was a very lively interchange.
>
>matt king wrote:
>
>>  However I feel that the promotion of her work in the media has been given
>>  a one-dimensional branding all of its own. It seems that this book with
>>  its large flat coffee table form will become another piece of christmas
>>  present gloss that is talked about rather than read (I probably wont read
>>  it).
>
>I disagree here.  I am sick and tired of everyhting that speak to human
>dignity and the rights of consumers has to be published on the cheapest
>grey paper, with a cover that looks like a grammar school art project, and
>no pictures or art to break up the monotonous, droning, officious prose.
>
>>   Obviously there is no point publishing
>>  something that no one is aware of, but is it the issue that people like or
>>  the sound of the words "No Logo" and "Naomi Klein" tripping off their
>>  tongues, letting others know that they are down with the latest
>>  compassionate consumer zeitgeist.
>
>If this books becomes popular with the Starbucks crowd it would be the
>biggest culture jamming, subversive political event in years.  I don't
>think its likely, but since this book points an accusing finger at
>Starbucks it would be great if they even read a chapter of it.  At least
>they would be thinking...
>
>
>
>>  I would prefer it if this book was published as more of a pulp popular
>>  train station/airport book rather than a glossy Waterstones coffee table.
>
>Yeech.  Why does being progressive have to be ugly, boring, and dull. 
>And usually body odor, too.
>
>>  I'd rather see someone reading that on the tube than see it lying dead and
>>  unread on a glass coffee table. (apologies for saying coffee table too
>>  often)
>
>In the future, everyone in the revolution is going to be beautiful, well
>coifed, athletic, thin, tanned, and smelling of expense perfumed
>moisturizers.  The revolution will do that for you.
>
>
>--
>Please respond to:
>Mike Weisman
>popeye@speakeasy.org
>
>
>
>
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