Dan, David
Yes, of course there is an issue of interpretation, indeed of meaning
in individual lives. But this, perhaps reducto ad absurdum in the case
of diy stores, is no different from meanings and perceptions of people
we may say are so disabled disempowered by global finance capital. I
guess that is directly part of my toungue-in-cheek curiosity about who
for whom for what and where that may render running in the streets as
worthy fun but makes more confusion over what`s going on and its
popular interpretaiton. People with mortgages, with bank accounts, who
are bewildered on these issues. UNLESS it is possible to make popular
communication connect this is merely another [if totally honorable]
version [ie in different but outwardly percieved as weird gear] of
riding about with red coats after foxes, ie pursuing a closed interest
that most others dont get any positive idea of.
That ending is ironic, but ther is a genuine disturbing issue about
communication. Meanwhile, diy stores pose as saviours and offer choice
to those whose parents maybe had none. Well, the supermarkets are going
through acute crtical exposure. [I did one regional BBC programme on
these in January].
David
On Fri, 12 Nov 1999 13:11:20 GMT dan knox <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> * sorry to wade back in (and slightly off topic) *
>
> David and Others,
>
> I more than take your points but, perhaps in my ignorance, have been
> particularly intrigued by one theme that seems to be emerging
> currently. Both yourself and David Crouch mention DIY stores and I
> wonder if there is any particular significance attached to this. Are
> they being occupied merely as stores or as DIY stores ?
>
> To me DIY stores represent the pinnacle of the home invasion tactics
> of capitalism. Anything that we buy and take home takes up space in
> our houses but here we are encouraged to use their products,
> having paid for them, to modify or even build our personal
> spaces. The wallpaper hanging on our walls might not be so benign
> after all.
>
> But wait. Isn't there something almost offensive about occupying
> these spaces, or reclaiming them in whatever name, against the will
> of the majority of the people who do want to buy paint or shelving ?
> The people who see the commercial opportunities offered to them as an
> enablement ? Possibly the very people who are disempowered to the
> highest degree by the forces of global finance ?
>
> We use the streets as a metaphor, OK, but still we come to the point
> of reclaiming space (however it might be named). Any thoughts ?
> Perhaps colonising new spaces ? I like Ice-T's notion of a home
> invasion - the attempt to instill the anger of Black America into the
> white youth in preparation for the revolution (this is perhaps an
> aside)
>
> cheers
> dan
> --------------------------------------------------
> Dan Knox
> Research Postgraduate
> Department of Geography
> University of Durham
> South Road
> Durham
> DH1 3LE
> UK
>
> 0191 384 6213
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.dur.ac.uk/~dgg3dlk/
>
> Tell me what you gonna do,
> When the ending of time comes near,
> Whatever you do,
> Its gotta be funky !
>
> Flava Flav, Public Enemy
----------------------
David Crouch
Anglia Polytechnic University
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