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TAKASHI MURAKAMI ABOUT THE FINANCIAL CRISIS, THE ART MARKET AND THE ORIGIN OF OTAKU
EXCERPT: “Now, we’re seeing cracks develop in the global economic structure. A structure built by rich people for the benefit of rich people.
For many years, art has been thought of mainly as a luxury for these same privileged few. Those who seek to understand the history of museums would do best to look at the Louvre Museum as a guide. In other words, during the French Revolution, the conventional hierarchy of rich and privileged people on the top and less privileged people on the bottom was overturned, and forms of entertainment once thought of only as a luxury for royal consumption became open for all people to enjoy.
I, too, as a Japanese, began my work as an artist with the belief that making works accessible to the general public was an idea at the very core of art itself. But the fact is that my work as well has largely served as a luxury for those who find themselves ahead in our capitalist system, for the rich.
In Japan, it is very difficult for artists to grow and thrive. The reason lies in the country’s post-war tax system. Before WW II, a great number of our wealthy could be relied on as collectors of Japanese art but after the war, the powerful conglomerates were broken up and it became nearly impossible to retain expensive works for more than a generation. Foundations, as well, began to lose their merit and it became harder and harder for them to function. It was under these circumstances that Manga, Anime, Games and the entire Otaku world that surrounds them came to be.
Not a luxury made for the consumption of those who can afford it, but something made for everyone. That’s otaku culture. The Superflat concept that I refer to is simply the setting aside of economic considerations in order to preserve the context provided by that culture.
But now, even Superflat has gradually become a luxury. However, I would remind you of the example that the Louvre provides. Art may travel a long road but it always returns eventually to the hands of the people. In Japan, it is very difficult for artists to grow and thrive. The reason lies in the country’s post-war tax system. Before WW II, a great number of our wealthy could be relied on as collectors of Japanese art but after the war, the powerful conglomerates were broken up and it became nearly impossible to retain expensive works for more than a generation. Foundations, as well, began to lose their merit and it became harder and harder for them to function. It was under these circumstances that Manga, Anime, Games and the entire Otaku world that surrounds them came to be."
Takashi Murakami
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THE GEEK FACTOR - OBAMA COMES FROM KRYPTON
The Senator posing with the Superman statue in downtown Metropolis, Illinois
Barack Obama at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City: "Contrary to the rumors you have heard, I was not born in a manger. I was actually born on Krypton and sent here by my father, Jor-el, to save the planet Earth."
Comicbookresources.com: "The Democratic Senator from Illinois also referenced geek paragon Mad Magazine, remarking, “It’s been said that I share the politics of Alfred E. Smith and the ears of Alfred E. Neuman.”
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LIFE IMITATES ART AGAIN
Belfasttelegraph: The parallels have been drawn between Barack Obama and President Matt Santos – the Hispanic who broke through the colour barrier on The West Wing. Now Rahm Emanuel, the man who was the real-life inspiration for Santos's wing man Josh Lyman, has been named as Obama's chief of staff. Is life imitating art or art imitating life?
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FEAR YOU CAN BELIEVE IN
Via Superpunch
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WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT
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PUMPKIN PREDATOR
Via Shoutwire
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SHEIKH AL-MUNJID WANTS TO KILL MICKEY MOUSE
Menassat: "In the most recent fatwa circulating on the Internet, Sheikh Muhammad Saleh Al-Munjid, who is associated with the Sunni Islamist Al-Majd (The Glory) satellite TV channel, is seen warning viewers not to watch channels that "mix poison with honey, presenting a fragile version of true Islam, resorting to unvirtuous paths."
The fatwa, or religious edict, made by Sheikh Al-Munjid was just the latest example of a complicated religious media war that has been raging in the Muslim world. It was in fact clearly directed towards Al-Majd's rival satellite channel, Al-Risala (The Message).
Al-Akhbar was unable get a reaction or a confirmation from Sheikh Al-Munjid about this most recent fatwa because he was apparently busy defending himself from criticism about an undisputedly real fatwa he issued calling for the assassination of one of the West's most beloved symbols: Mickey Mouse.
WATCH SHEIKH AL-MUNJID DISCUSS MICKEY MOUSE
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BIBLE SPICE
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MEANWHILE IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE
Spider-Man disses Batman in an interview with "Time Out"
Talking about Colbert, read this: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert: Mock the Vote - With just five weeks left until Election Day, our favorite pundits discuss the power of Sarah Palin, why TV news is about as credible as Muzak, and whether Barack Obama is going to be ''sworn in on a gay baby''
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"STAR WARS CULTURE" WILL NEVER DIE
Lots of groovy stuff you probably haven't seen yet at abduzeedo.com: "Visiting big sites such fffound, Flickr and others, it becomes really obvious how huge Star Wars culture is. This is a friggin' endless source of inspiration."
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AUSTRALIAN CHIEF JUSTICE QUOTES JUDGE DREDD: "I AM THE LAW"
Unbelievable story in the Sydney Morning Herald: "Robert French is unapologetically bringing a touch of Hollywood to the High Court of Australia. Not the gargantuan budgets - he is uncomfortable with the rising cost of justice - but the popular culture of Harry Potter, The Simpsons and even the sci-fi future justice of Judge Dredd."
Via Io9 - Judge Dredd Inspires A Different Kind Of Australian Justice:
New Chief Justice Robert French, a self-confessed science fiction fan, tells the Sydney Morning Herald about his recent speech where he inserted clips of the Judge Dredd movie:
I was quoting Montesquieu about separation of powers and how when you combine the functions of judge and executive, you get a tyrant. And I suggested here's a Hollywood picture of what this looks like and it's Sylvester Stallone as Judge Dredd saying 'I am the law,' " he says in chambers on the ninth floor of the High Court building in Canberra.
You want a soundtrack with that? Try Anthrax - I Am the Law (Live 2005)
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"STAR WARS MEETS FINE ART" - ANOTHER FINE WORTH 1000 PHOTOSHOPPING CONTEST
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STEPHEN COLBERT, KING OF POPCULTURE
You have to see this: Stephen Colbert vs Rain - Dance Off
Colbert vs. the biggest superstar in the world! Dance until you die!
Colbert looks like "Plasticman". Maybe because the brother and sister who made "Matrix" just announced to do a movie starring Keanu Reeves as Eel O' Brien, the living rubberband. The Captain America-shield, the official "easter egg" from "Iron Man", is pretty funny too.
How it all started: South Korea lashes out at Stephen for his Korean R&B music video.
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GROWING UP WITH STAR WARS (1977-1985)
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THE INCREDIBLY GREAT STAR WARS CRAWL GENERATOR
See it in the comments....
Make your own Crawl and send it out as a flyer or whatever....
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GRAPHJAM - POP CULTURE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN CUBLICLES
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SCENT OF A WOOKIE
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JABBA THE CAT
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JABBA, THE CAT - PART 2
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CHEWBACCA THROWS LIKE A GIRL!
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INDIANA JONES
Where did I put that damned hat?
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FUCKING SEQUELS
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YOGA ZOMBIES
The invite said, "Bring a Yoga Mat, Dress Like a Zombie"...
From the incredible The Naked Lunch Radio Show. Produced by Zen of Zombie
Found by Kim
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WHO WANTS TO BE A PRESIDENT?
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HOBBIT NAME GENERATOR
I'm Mungo Maggot. I kind of like the sound of that....
My elvish name would be Finrod Telperiën.
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TOTALLY NERDCORE CALENDAR
Naked Superheroes For Your New Year (NSFW)
-Tut sich jetzt wohl jemand ärgern.
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DIE MUSIK DES TEUFELS
"Er war plötzlich da, und in Soho begann das große Zittern. Wer seine höllische Musik hörte, geriet in den Bann des Teufels. Der war schon gestorben, aber er hatte seinen Sarg verlassen, um das Grauen zu verbreiten. Ein alter Stadtteil sollte unter seiner Knute zittern, und er fand auch die richtigen Helfer - Skinheads. Sie hatten schon lange nach einem wie ihm gesucht, und sie gaben ihm den Namen Tiger Diabolo, der Hard-Rock-Zombie!"
(Aus der Inhaltsangabe auf Seite 3)
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WENN IN DER HÖLLE KEIN PLATZ MEHR IST...
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MARK HELLMANN, ERFOLGLOSER GEISTERJÄGER AUS DER EHEMALIGEN DDR
Findelkind aus Weimar kämpft gegen allerhand Monster, die sich hinter der Mauer unauffällig breit gemacht hatten. Obskure Serie im Kielwasser von "John Sinclair", die es zwischen '98 und '99 auf 56 Hefte brachte. Irgendwie schien die Zielgruppe im Osten keinen Gefallen an diesem Unsinnn zu finden.
Einige der besten Titel:
Bd. 03: Der Satansrächer von Greifswald Br. 04: Das Blutbad von Usedom Bd. 08: Das Blutgericht von Jena Bd. 13: Ghul-Alarm in Ostberlin Bd. 20: Die Werwolfs-Brut von Weimar Bd. 38: Inferno über Weimar
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PUNKLAND: BACK IN THE AGE OF REAL TIME
The "New Links" and the YouTube-Widget on the right are back! The archives, the archives, save the island, save the island!
It's the lifestream, stupid! Faster than light! Only for you puny humans out there.
2008 years in the cave. Monkeys can talk now! And they figured out that thing with the bits and the bytes! They even stopped smoking!
Excerpt from "Punkland", a fanzine I published in 1995: "Join the ranks of the young and exotic! Make love with your ego! Speed Up Now! COME ON! What's the matter with you, Bunky? All that merchandising got you in it's grip? Those warm fuzzy feelings you used to associate with your toys been corrupted by crass commercialism? Are the heroes you once held so dear now poisoned by over-heated hype? Well, welcome to the "Ozon Zombies Club", love it or leave it or get the fuck out in time because the red dreaming is happening and the voices from the future are calling. Be a rebel if you dare!"
A big hand to Jason and "The Pink Skulls" for putting the punk back into Punk! This one's for you! And thanks for all the cigarettes back in the old days when Kneipen allowed smoking. Now I go and listen to a lot of David Bowie and old "Social Unrest"!
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ID - Stefan Ernsting - I have two books out, I work on cool movies and I've been blogging for 7976 days.
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Grosser Apfel mit Stellen Aus aktuellem Anlass und weil zahlreiche...
Wait for the orientation videos over at my Homepage or...
had many technical problems this year and it doesn't look...
Over at popmoderne.wordpress.com! Tränen, Danksagungen, Kommentar zur Zukunft von Antville...
FREE Harry says: "Our friends at Cinetic Media are doing...
DER PHANTASTISCHE REBELL ALEXANDER MORITZ FREY oder Hitler schießt dramatisch in die Luft
(Atrium Verlag, Februar 2007)
DER ROTE ELVIS oder Das kuriose Leben eines US-Rockstars in der DDR
(Aufbau Verlag/Gustav Kiepenheuer)
Taschenbuch (7,95 € / 14,80 Sfr /3-7466-2261-1)
(Hardcover, 314 Seiten, 34 Abbildungen, 22,50 €)
Übersetzung:
David Wojnarowicz
Closes to the Knives
"Von Stefan Ernsting hervorragend übersetzt." (Bayrischer Rundfunk))
...Playlist: Songs for the Sun
...Story: Jobs - Work in progress
...Buffalo Bill und der Western als Weltanschauung
...Comics: Animal Man & the Meta-Fiction Discussion
...Buch: Tomte - Die Schönheit der Chance
...Comics: Nach der Krise ist vor der Krise
...Politik: Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
...Art: Destino - The Disney/Dali-Project
...Medien: Lost: Mindfuck Marketing
...Musik: Kettcar: Im Bett mit Marcus Wiebusch
