Thom Yorke and 3D
Always my hero, Thom Yorke, frontman for Radiohead; and 3D from Massive Attack DJ’ed a Christmas Party for OccupyLondon on December 6th for a crowd of about 100 people.
In an interview, Thom and 3D asserted their support of the movement and gave an expressive glimpse of their political views in elucidating their opinion of the banks, media, and the governments method of addressing protestors.
Ever passionate about the state of political affairs, evident in his bemoaning, one gets a sense that Thom really shares in this collective consciousness that is enveloping our generation.
What is interesting for me as a design student is that I’m finding myself really fixated on the changing image of revolution wherein we are finding that history repeats itself but with a different cause. In a different time, we would be adorned in suits walking into a cafe in Nashville and asking to be served lunch, sitting-in until being courteously escorted out in handcuffs. Now we raid Dick’s Sporting Goods for enough equipment to endure an extended hike through the Adirondacks. One could argue that it is a question of scale; the substance of the occupy movement is that which, in the face of a global capitalist society, effects every world being.
Another interesting point that 3D came close to making is the potential for a rise in mob mentality and riots if the passive movement is skirted under the table and unheeded by government. As we saw at Occupy WallStreet, the gathering was dismantled by local officials. In speaking with some friends yesterday, I expressed to them the nature of my concerns for the inevitable path to resolution with this movement, as we have seen countless precedents in which the follies of aristocracy not heeding the plebeian voices led to escalated violence. I would argue that it often takes acts of violence to communicate that there is cause for the expedition of change. Marie-Antoinette is often attributed to the statement “Let them eat brioche” after being told of the effects of the bread famine amongst the French working-class. And we all see where that got her headed.
Get it? Headed? Ahh, that would have killed in Paris. HA!! There I go again!
Anyway, check out the video. It’s dope.