I will probably end up buying this Capitalist Realism book, as I'm sure it includes plenty of good analysis, clever arguments, and amusing concepts. But reading
Woebot's review of it, 1 passage stood out more than the others (some of which were also eyebrow raising), and fits all too well with what i have been thinking for a long time:
People used to make music because they wanted to touch the stars, stick it to the man, tear up the place, chant down Babylon, explore new possibilities**, or to lose themselves in Dionysian abandon on the dancefloor. Now they do it to be a "big man" or "a famous person" or "rich" or - and this is the most pervasive and specious example of Capitalist Realism with regards to music- "a career".
The "non-mainstream" has been afflicted with its own strain of Capitalist Realism. The extremely unhealthy embrace of business concepts like "the long tail" and "narrow-casting" has wiped out the underground's ability to communicate universally, fostering as it does self-serving enclaves ever decreasing in scale. We might not sell shed-loads of records - but we know what our market is! So many small label bosses now view themselves with a certain amount "professional" pride as respectable small businessmen.
It is actually not quite clear if this was a paraphrase of the book, or Woebot's own woeful moan inspired by K-Punk. The latter seems more likely, but it doesn't matter for what I am about to say. More important than the obvious questions such as which People-Who-Wanted-to-Touch-the-Stars and Left-Lipstick-Traces he is idealizing ---- does this passage not
exactly describe the motive and modus operandi of these "Anti-Capitalist" bloggers and theorists??
The K-Punk brand is instantly recognizable, friendly in that "yes everything sucks, i know how you feel" kind of way (not to mention oversized type), and non threatening with plenty of low-culture entry points. It integrates multiple components (other related critical projects), facilitates communication within a synergetic network (of bloggers), and has been carefully built over the years, carving out and cornering a niche market, gaining momentum and strength. Well aware of the dangers of Brand Dilution, K-Punk realized that it was necessary to distance himself from and discredit those with different ideas on how to combat Capitalism, and especially those who are less bitter and miserable: all these "pot smoking dads". Brand consistency throughout all levels of operation has helped the one man organization grow and prosper, driving an ever increasing readership, toward the kind of return that the publishing of this book or the praise from Zizek represents.
There is of course absolutely nothing wrong with utilizing what ever means necessary to get your ideas out there, and corporate marketing and branding strategies are some of the best means available given the context. But to use them while condemning others for using them, assuming a smug air of superiority, this is simple hypocrisy.
It is shaping up to be a real success story indeed: one anonymous blogging entrepreneur pulls himself up from the bootstraps, and through hard, persistent work, was able to stand out from the riff raff, gain notoriety in the public sphere, credibility within academia, as well as praise from the heavy weights. ( even though I haven't yet read the book I have followed enough of the blog to know a thing or 2 about how it works, and has worked)
So are there no alternatives*? According to K-Punk and his ilk, pretty much no (besides a bit of obligatory verbiage about "intellectual improvement" -- in order to even better articulate the lack of alternatives, no doubt).
Because ultimately they are of course not interested in real rebellion, revolution, changing the world, or alternative methods of existence. They are not interested in solutions, only in convolutions. In fact, the last thing they want to do is point to any ways out. Quite the opposite: the obsessive analysis of Capitalism and its omnipotency is designed to be solipsistic, to exist within a closed system. For only when there is no way out can the theorizing continue. Only when there are no alternatives can they keep crying wolf about the lack of alternatives.**
The world is a huge place, with countless different philosophies and ways of life, innumerable realities. But it is in the interest of these theorists to discount all of them except theirs, and paint a claustrophobic view of a dark world dominated by Capitalism. All the while reveling in the trashiest hollywood and honey mooning in Euro Disney.
A friend all of you know said the last time i saw him: what would K-Punk do if another May 68 was to happen? Or if he was somehow made to confront the realities of what is happening in the Congo, instead of sitting in the comfort of his home playing "i am cleverer than you" games? the only answer, the only thing he would and can do, is to shut up and disappear.
At the end of the day, it is a Big Lie. Even more hypocritical than the US leftist intellectuals Chomsky called out a while back (they wave Open Border flags fully knowing, and are only willing to do so fully knowing, that what they say they want will never become reality),
"critical" theorists like K-Punk are themselves 100% Capitalist, depend on Capitalism for their survival, and deifies Capitalism in the name of criticality. The well built machine of circular logic makes perfect sense within its own frame work. It skillfully seduces you, and makes you blind to the emptiness and profound lack of meaning in its center. But a few of us see through the clever Bullshit: his real goal is self agrandizement -- to be a "big man" or a "famous person" or "rich" or "a career"***.
*Of course there are. Creativity can transcend; spiritual disciplines can get rid of psychic vampires, end addictions, build true independence; direct grass roots political action can have positive effects; new organizational models hint at the obsolescence of old power structures; love breaks down all barriers... But most of these the critical theorists are not interested in. The opposite: they are against many of these things, especially spiritual disciplines and other "New Age Kooky Kalifornia Bullshit".
**Again, not saying that K-Punk's stuff is completely without value. (Entertainment value)
***Nothing wrong with these motives what so ever. We all want attention, me and my own ego certainly not excepted. But when considered with K-Punk's project, the disingenuousness is a little hard to swallow.
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unless unflinching tough solidarity, image of the lone blogger, is an essential part of the brand.
When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion. ~Ethiopian Proverb but K-Punk and his kind are not interested in building community of like minded people to fight Capitalism or create viable alternatives is he? the only thing he is interested in is Self Agrandisement. that and deifying Capitalism as an invincible sky-net-esque Super Monster which is IMPOSSIBLE to defeat -- so long as he can convince people of this, he can continue bitching about it all the while reveling in it.
but like i said, i don't think K-Punk's work is without value. and i hope my pointing out of its hypocrisy and fraudulent aspects does not take away from anyone's enjoyment of it, or keep anyone from being inspired by it.
the activities i listed were meant to be examples of alternatives to the behavioral modes proscribed by commodity culture. they are concrete things in opposition to Capitalist Mind Control, activities which can help to cleanse ourselves of artificial desire, rid our bodies of alien entities, and overcome enforced alienation. for example ancient spiritual teachings of the world supply each one of us with powerful weapons to combat oppressive systems (Captialism is by far not the first oppressive system people fought against).
the point is that there are many many real physical things we can do to become free, or at least free-er, of Capitalism -- but people like K-Punk are more than disinterested: they are against them, ignorantly writing them off as "new age fads". Preferring to revel in Capitalism instead while endlessly bitching about it.