by Eric Nelson
The Free Press
In an era when a few moguls control print and TV, a well-conceived piece of culture jamming can still capture the popular imagination. The pen may be mightier than the sword. But these days, a good web page projects global reach.
A case in point is a Seattle gang of artists calling themselves the NEA Army. Some months ago, they launched a campaign to allocate the entire National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) budget - $98 million - to purchase as much B-2 bomber as $98 million will buy. A wing and prayer? Maybe some landing gear too. The NEA Army calls its project Priorities, and plans parade the B-2 around country, culminating in monument on Washington, D.C.'s National Mall.
"Our Theatre of Operations is the United States of America. From our bunker on Capitol Hill, we strike at the heart of American national identity. We are artists, and we are patriots..."
"We at the NEA Army, propose that the B-2 Stealth Bomber is the highest expression of who we Americans are as a people. It represents American ingenuity, American might, American labor, American efficiency, and American priorities."
Yes, sir! This sly stunt makes a point. Readers from around the world have responded to the group's web page. Local papers and the Washington Post have covered their NEA grant proposal.
Moreover, the NEA Army even has an interactive web site. Visitors are invited to envision the "Priorities" project in its final stage at the Mall:
"Web Browser Users should 1.move your arrow-like cursor to the location on the Mall image above where you believe the Stealth Bomber should be displayed; 2.squint your eyes slightly; 3.imagine that your cursor arrow is the Stealth Bomber, in place among our other national treasures.
"Readers viewing this on Paper Copy should 1. cut out a teeny, teeny (very small) triangle of paper (black works best); 2. delicately lay it upon the printed image of the Mall; 3. while looking at the image, blink rapidly; 4. pretend that the paper triangle is the Stealth Bomber as seen from a Presidential helicopter flying over the mall.
"Users of Non-Graphical Interface tools (e.g. Lynx) should have realized by now that the visualization aids described above will not be of any use to them."
The site also boasts a fine collection of ant and insect "pornography," coyly labeled "Ants Without Pants." These photos are courtesy of Jason Hodin, a UW zoologist. Other members of this stealth army of grad students are David Feit, Dylan Clark, and Tim Osumi with the band Statamatic.
In Issue 31, he revealed his bottom line on the Paul Schell's plan to sell the Key Tower: "If I were a developer by profession and had been an entrepreneur, I think I'd be more inclined to ride the market. Perhaps my spirit of adventure has been curbed by sixteen years of working in the stodgy insurance business, but I keep asking myself what option has the lowest risk? And selling the Key Tower just doesn't seem to be the one."
Some of Nick's experiences as a new pol are down right strange. In one back issue, he recalls wandering into the wrong reception and scarfing sushi at a gathering of shippers. The Alki Foundation was down the hall and their food didn't measure up...
For more "mainstream" political fare, check out City Council Member Nick Licata's "Urban Politics." But make no mistake. This website is a bold stroke, and as long as Nick keeps writing it, its a significant move towards participatory democracy. Its not often we get an on-line guided tour of City Council politics from a liberal, but risk-averse, insurance broker.
[Home] [This Issue's Directory] [WFP Index] [WFP Back Issues] [E-Mail WFP]
Contents this page were published in the May/June, 1998 edition of the Washington Free Press.
WFP, 1463 E. Republican #178, Seattle, WA -USA, 98112. -- WAfreepress@gmail.com
Copyright © 1998 WFP Collective, Inc.