This is something that
has come out of the Ritual Exchanges project on vernacular and
ritual.
Flypaper is a quarterly
(at least) foldout newsprint tabloid.
Each ish looks at 1
topic, and combines text with a 2-page poster-image.
This first 3 look at clunky
right-wing memes, the folk process as seen
in school playgrounds and comment / dissent and otherwise in football zines and forums (hence salmon pink paper, older readers.) I've tried a demo out on a few people, had some good suggestions and ideas so its probably ready. Not like anyone has anything else to concern them right now, is it?
It's not an open forum as such, but the plan is to do them in collaboration where possible. Of these first three, the second was done with poet Kate Davis. Possible future issues...garden shed into Tiki lounge, online folklore and fbook / forum moderation, Hallowe'en, fairgrounds and outdoor celebrations....
There is a full colour Flypaper in the works as part of Ritual Exchanges, but I
want to do the tabloid separately and without applying to funding organisations. I'm looking
for collaborators , subscribers and outlets. A tenner ( minimum??)
gets you a minimum four issues plus postage and other stuff I put in
the envelope. Otherwise, 2 quid a copy at events - as and when, and if - and any outlets I can find. It's a bit glitchy and it'll probably stay that way. I'm hoping eventually for a maximum run of 200 in order to keep space under the bed for other follies.
Intrigued? Contact me
at bifocals2013@gmail.com and we can discuss it and, if you're interested in subscribing I'll send a paypal link or arrange a dead-drop or similar.
cheers one and all
John
cheers one and all
John
But I saw another side to Trump in Tulsa. The triumphal - unaided - sip from the water glass, and then the casting down of the glass...here surely Trump was host to the preening, self-basted psyche of Brett Michaels? Here surely was a reference to Poison's ground-breaking video for "Every Rose has Its Thorn"?
Here is Greil Marcus describing Michaels in that same video...(just go with it, ok?)
"Though nothing is really happening, tension builds..the disdain on Michaels'
face, in his walk, is precise and studied, a parody of every rock star swagger..The pose is too obvious. One more gesture is called for. Michaels is carrying a drink in a big paper cup; he tosses it against the wall. Theres no anger in his movement, merely contempt. In your minds eye you can glimpse the bottomless well. As in almost any video, symbolism is the currency, as the clenched fists symbolize self affirmation...the visible cameras that what youre seeing is important enough to be filmed..the meaning is equally plain; the star pIsses on his fans and they are blessed"
Replace the glistening corndog fed face of Michaels with the sweaty human bullhorn that hangs from the front of Trumps head, and you've got yourselves a media studies project.
And dont forget,,
Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn.
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song.