The new issue of World War 3 Illustrated was released recently, and is excellent. If for nothing else, at least check it out for Peter Kuper’s journal of his stay in Oaxaca, Mexico, during the contentious teacher’s strike there. He offers a very personal narrative, detailing how the annual, and normally peaceful, teacher’s strike was turned into a violent standoff (including the death of American journalist Brad Will) due to the heavy-handed tactics of both the local and federal authorities.

Another highlight is a comic by artist Susan Simensky Bietila, who relates her experience at Brooklyn College during the Civil Rights/Vietnam War era. You may remember her from my earlier post about the book Art and Anarchy.

A more thorough synopsis of the issue’s contents can be found at WW3’s website. The current issue, as well as back issues, can be ordered online at Top Shelf. I recommend purchasing several, if you don’t have them already. They’re only $5 a piece!

// Top image is a cropped version from Peter Kuper’s Nov. 26, 2006 online journal entry.

First it was their rather positive coverage of 2007’s Anarchist Book Fair here in New York, and now it’s a somewhat lighthearted, yet provocatively titled, look at the shopdropping phenomenon: “Anarchists in the Aisles? Stores Provide a Stage.”

In truth, the article is only kinda sorta about anarchism. The title refers to artist Packard Jennings’ recent project, just in time for the Christmas shopping season, where he produced a series of Anarchist dolls, black clothing, Molotov cocktail and all, and placed them alongside other would-be presents in the toy aisles of unsuspecting stores. He then documented an attempt to purchase one of the dolls at a Target store, where the manager hilariously spots the unfriendly-to-families poleeemical text. Must be one of those crazy anti-globalization kids, he suspects!

And perhaps he’s right (although Mr. Jennings is much closer to 40 than 18). I love much of his work, especially the pamphlet for his “A Day at the Mall” project, but I’m still not even sure if his Anarchist doll is meant to be a stereotype-affirming, satirical ribbing of anarchists, or a genuine attempt at political (or economic) subversion. The packaging features some rather esoteric political commentary (for the lay-shopper), including such gems as:

“Pretend to denounce Kropotkin and the other prominent Anarchists who declared their support for the Allies in the First Imperialist World War.”

A rather insid-y, inside joke from one radical to another, to say the least. Apparently the whole thing is just meant to mess with the head of the average consumer, who couldn’t possible know (or care) what to do with this statement if it were even read in the first place. The article attempts to explain Jennings’ motives:

“When better than Christmas to make a point about hyper-consumerism?” asked Mr. Jennings . . . [he] said he hoped to show that even radical ideology gets commercialized.

Eh? Maybe I’ve had ten too many vegan egg nogs this holiday season, but it seems like the only one attempting to commercialize radical ideology in this situation was Packard Jennings (and why would that be such a bad thing, if sincere?). Last time I checked, radical ideologues only pop into the commercial realm when some hack director needs a paper-thin villain for a James Bond flick. Corporations are pretty good at aping the look and tactics of radical ideologies (most notably, the very concept of culture jamming itself — think the Aqua Teen fiasco), but if they ever actually embraced, say, radical libertarian or genuinely egalitarian ideology — let’s just say I’d like to see how that all plays out.

Nevertheless, Jennings’ Anarchist dolls are hilarious, if nothing else, and any time the New York Times mentions anarchism without either (a) linking it to destructive chaos, or (b) re-hashing the assassination of President McKinley, then it should probably be heralded as a resounding victory for the side of the anarchists. But sadly no, the Times isn’t quite ready to endorse a society without rulers just yet.

// image ripped from Packard Jennings’ website.

There’s a ton of military advertising out there in desperate need of subversion. For anyone that thinks that the military already has way too much influence on American culture, military billboard liberation can be a fun and effective, though slightly dangerous, activity. You don’t even need any artistic ability whatsoever, because if all you do is frustrate them enough so that they take the ad down (or do it yourself), you’ve been successful. Here are but three examples of worthy efforts, from the Army, the Navy, and the Marines, respectively. Anyone got one for the Air Force?

If you’re in NYC next Monday, you definitely don’t want to miss this. Actually, I was debating whether I should even post anything, considering that the more people who know about it, the less chance I’ll have of getting in!

Students for a Democratic Society: A Graphic History

December 10th, 6:30 - Recital Hall

The SDS Comic Show, a traveling exhibit drawing upon the book Students for a Democratic Society: a Graphic History, will be open at the CUNY Graduate Center in December. Come see the exhibit and join us for a book signing and panel discussion for Students for a Democratic Society: a Graphic History, scripted by Harvey Pekar and others and edited by Paul Buhle, editor of the 1960s SDS magazine Radical America. Harvey Pekar, real-life star of the award-winning film and the book series American Splendor (and sometime Letterman Show guest), will deliver a talk on comics and politics, followed by a panel including Buhle, former SDS-NY regional officer, Weatherman Jeff Jones, and members of the New SDS.