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Lighting Fires for Freedom with the Flotsam of Culture
Summary statement by Tom Jennings and full list of texts
As everyday life becomes increasingly colonised and ruined by capitalism, society is saturated with trivial pursuits. It is as important as ever to offer a clear understanding of the suffering wrought by exploitation and repression, but without reproducing the divisiveness and elitism of the powerful. From a lifelong commitment to struggles against domination reflected in past and present forms of grass-roots direct action worldwide, these essays and reviews are inspired by the political principles and practices of anarchism and libertarian marxism. In the belief that those who are poor and oppressed need to mobilise their collective emotional as well as intellectual resources if the world is to be changed for the better, the writing is also energised by passion, love and rage, along with all of the traditions of cultural subversion - from carnival to the dancehall, surrealism to situationism, and satire to insurrection.
With its promiscuous and irreverent borrowing from, for example, cultural and critical social theory, postmodern philosophy and psychoanalysis, this unconventional method yields useful insights into the political significance and social effects of our immersion in media commodities as well as the relevance of art and ideas in the modern age. More or less accessible, often straightforward common sense, sometimes sophisticated, usually controversial, but always original - the results demonstrate that, if unencumbered by the constraints imposed by institutional or subcultural affiliation, this sort of critical thinking can contribute to and enrich contemporary movements for radical change in their engagement with wider publics.
You won't find these kinds of discussions and conclusions anywhere else in print or virtual media - and even (or especially) when they are less than earth-shattering, the question arises of why that should be the case ...Tom Jennings: LIGHTING FIRES FOR FREEDOM WITH THE FLOTSAM OF CULTURE: Selected Cultural Criticism
The essays and reviews listed here are roughly categorised into four sections and numbered in chronological order of publication:
[NB. recently published essays and reviews, along with drafts not yet published, can be found at: www.starandshadow.org.uk and www.variant.org.uk (search: Tom Jennings).
Part I. Narratives of Now and Then: Representing the Real [current affairs, documentary, television]
Part II. Wild Screens and Spectacles: Representing Experience [cinema]
Part III. Music and Movement: Representing Embodied Culture [music]
Part IV. The Art and Craft of Imagination: Representing Ideas [art, philosophy, theory]Selected Texts:
I. Narratives of Now and Then: Representing the Real [current affairs, documentary, television]
1. A Hall of Mirrors: Television News and Social Reality [essay on urban riots and their reportage]. December 1992.
13. A Low Down Dirty Lack of Shame [television review of Shameless, by Paul Abbott, Channel 4].
published in Variant, 19, February 2004.
18. Slurs and Stereotypes [film review of Fahrenheit 9/11, dir. Michael Moore].
published in Freedom, 65 (15), August 2004.
18. Extracting the Michael [film review of Fahrenheit 9/11, dir. Michael Moore].
published in Variant, 21, September 2004.
22. A Pair of Right Scares [television review of The Power of Nightmares, by Adam Curtis, BBC 2].
published in Freedom, 65 (22), November 2004.
29. The Maybe Men [film review of The Yes Men, dirs. Dan Ollman, Sarah Price & Chris Smith].
published in Freedom, 66 (7), April 2005.
30. The Gutter Snipes Back [television review of Shameless, series 2, by Paul Abbott, Channel 4].
published in Freedom, 66 (7), April 2005.
37. Gene Genies [review of anti-GM event, RISK: Creative Action in Political Culture, CCA, Glasgow].
published in Freedom, 66 (14), July 2005.
38. Breaking Cover [essay on documentary representations of European Muslim women].
published in Variant, 24, September 2005.
40. Barmy Liberation Army [film review of Guerilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst, dir. Robert Stone].
published in Freedom, 66 (20), October 2005.
50. Likely Lads in the Global Gulag [film review of The Road to Guantanamo, dirs. Michael Winterbottom & Mat Whitecross].
published in Freedom, 67 (8), April 2006.
52. Documents of Dissentiment [DVD review of London Counterculture & People Power of the 90s, by Stefan Szczelkun].
published in Freedom, 67 (12), June 2006.
64. Riodemption Songs [film review of Favela Rising, dirs. Jeff Zimbalist & Matt Mochary].
published in Freedom, 68 (3), February 2007.
69. Lost in La Manchesta [television review of Shameless, series 4, Channel 4].
published in Freedom, 68 (8), April 2007 (in press).II. Wild Screens and Spectacles: Representing Experience [cinema]
6. Natural Born Cultures [essay review of Natural Born Killers, dir. Oliver Stone].
published in Here & Now, 16/17, December 1995.
8. Class-ifying Contemporary Cinema [essay on David Lynch, contemporary cinema and film criticism].
published in Variant, 10, March 2000.
11. A Cut Above? [film review of In The Cut, dir. Jane Campion].
published in Freedom, 64 (22), November 2003.
14. Dogville Rendezvous [film review of Dogville, dir. Lars Von Trier].
published in Freedom, 65 (7), April 2004.
19. On Yer Bike, Che! [film review of The Motorcycle Diaries, dir. Walter Salles].
published in Freedom, 65 (20), October 2004.
23. New Age Paranoia [film review of The Manchurian Candidate, dir. Jonathan Demme].
published in Freedom, 65 (24), December 2004.
24. Dilemmas Of A Bleeding Heart [film review of Vera Drake, dir. Mike Leigh].
published in Freedom, 66 (3), February 2005.
31. Going Through the Motions [film review of 9 Songs, dir. Michael Winterbottom].
published in Freedom, 66 (8), April 2005.
32. Same Difference? [essay on film representations of European Muslims].
published in Variant, 23, May 2005.
33. Hackney(ed) Crossroads [film review of Bullet Boy, dir. Saul Dibb].
published in Freedom, 66 (10), May 2005.
34. Moral Politics at Play School [film review of The Edukators, dir. Hans Weingartner].
published in Freedom, 66 (11), June 2005.
39. Bad Taste and Good Sense [film review of A Dirty Shame, dir. John Waters].
published in Freedom, 66 (19), October 2005.
41. What a Man's Gotta Do [film review of A History of Violence, dir. David Cronenberg].
published in Freedom, 66 (21), October 2005.
47. The Discreet Karma of the Bourgeoisie [film review of Hidden, dir. Michael Haneke].
published in Freedom, 67 (5), March 2006.
48. The Empire's New Clothes [book review of Hollywood's New Radicalism, by Ben Dickenson].
published in Freedom, 67 (5), March 2006.
49. V Signs and Simulations [film review of V for Vendetta, dir. James McTeigue].
published in Freedom, 67 (7), April 2006.
51. The Hard Labour of Love [film review of Lower City, dir. Sérgio Machado].
published in Freedom, 67 (11), June 2006.
53. Clarifying the Muddle East [film review of Paradise Now, dir. Hany Abu-Assad].
published in Freedom, 67 (13), July 2006.
54. Grace, Favour and Farce [film review of Manderlay, dir. Lars Von Trier].
published in Freedom, 67 (15), July 2006.
56. Rose-Coloured Spectacles [essay on political themes in mainstream cinema].
published in Variant, 27, September 2006.
58. Women's Troubles [film review of Volver, dir. Pedro Almodóvar].
published in Freedom, 677 (21), November 2006.
60. Slouching Towards Bexhillem [film review of Children of Men, dir. Alfonso Cuarón].
published in Freedom, 67 (22), November 2006.
62. A Midautumn Night's Dream [film review of Mischief Night, dir. Penny Woolcock].
published in Freedom, 68 (1), January 2007.
63. Between a Roc and a Hard Place [film review of Pan's Labyrinth, dir. Guillermo del Toro].
published in Freedom, 68 (2), January 2007.
68. A World Within Ear Shot [film review of Babel, dir. Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu].
published in Freedom, 68 (7), April 2007 (in press).
70. Blackboard Whitewash [film review of Freedom Writers, dir. Richard LaGravenese].
published in Freedom, 68 (9), May 2007 (in press).III. Music and Movement: Representing Embodied Culture [music]
9. Br(other) Rabbit's Tale [essay on hip-hop, Eminem and 8 Mile, dir. Curtis Hanson].
published in Variant, 17, May 2003.
12. Return of the (Black) Panther [music review of Sonic Jihad, by Paris].
published in Freedom, 65 (3), February 2004.
15. Revolutionary But Gangsta? [music review of Revolutionary But Gangsta, by Dead Prez].
published in Freedom, 65 (10), May 2004.
16. Dancehall Dreams [essay on contemporary urban music, gender and class].
published in Variant, 20, June 2004.
17. Pass the Homegrown [music review of Council Estate Of Mind, by Skinnyman].
published in Freedom, 65 (16), August 2004.
21. Conscious Heartbeats [music review of The Beautiful Struggle, by Talib Kweli].
published in Freedom, 65 (21), October 2004.
26. Beautiful Struggles and Gangsta Blues [urban music review of the year 2004].
published in Variant, 22, February 2005.
28. A New Message from Rudy [book review of Sound Clash: Jamaican Dancehall Culture at Large, by Carolyn Cooper].
published in Freedom, 66 (6), March 2005.
35. Slam Dunk Funk Sunk by Clunky Punk Junk [music review of Saul Williams].
published in Freedom, 66 (13), July 2005.
42. MsJudged Blandishments [music review of Judgement Days, by Ms Dynamite].
published in Freedom, 66 (23), November 2005.
44. Can't Knock the Hustle [book review of Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang: The Culture & Commerce of Gangsta Rap, by Eithne Quinn].
published in Freedom, 66 (24), Dec. 2005.
46. At The Crossroads [essay on trends in contemporary urban music].
published in Variant, 25, February 2006.
55. Weapons-Grade Funk [music review of Pick A Bigger Weapon, by The Coup].
published in Freedom, 67 (16), August 2006.
59. Zero Sum Game [music reviews of Confidential, by M-1; and Can't Sell Dope Forever, by Dead Prez & Outlawz].
published in Freedom, 67 (22), November 2006.
65. Premature Ejaculations [music review of Hip Hop is Dead, by Nas].
published in Freedom, 68 (4), February 2007.IV. The Art and Craft of Imagination: Representing Ideas [art, philosophy, theory]
2. The Hidden Injuries of Theory [essay on Class War, left communist critique, and Dream On, Amber Films].
published in Here & Now, 14, July 1993.
3. Corrupting Left Intellectual Culture [essay on contemporary radical politics and philosophy].
published in Here & Now, 15, October 1994.
4. Nature Read in Truth and Straw [art review of Hot House Cold Storage, by Sally Madge, Isis Gallery, Melmerby, Cumbria].
published in Versus, 4, Feb. 1995.
5. Common Sense: Golden Goose or Propaganda? [essay on Noam Chomsky and the politics of rationality].
published in Anarchist Studies, 3 (2), April 1995.
7. Warts and All: Limits of Humans [essay on humanism, postmodernism and ideology].
published in Here & Now, 18, May 1997.
10. Blood Curdling [art review of Resist: Protest Art, Crescent Arts, Scarborough].
published in Variant, 18, September 2003.
25. AeroSoul [review of stencil graffiti by Arofish].
published in Freedom, 66 (4), February 2005.
27. The Art of Brill o' Pads [art review of Help Build the Ruins of Democracy, Bob & Roberta Smith, Baltic, Gateshead].
published in Freedom, 66(5), March 2005.
36. Rodent's Eye View [art review of A Gerbil's Guide to the Galaxy, by Sally Madge, Bookville, Newcastle upon Tyne].
published in Freedom, 66 (14), July 2005.
43. Random Signage and Secret Acts of Beauty [art/book review of Wall and Piece, by Banksy].
published in Freedom, 66 (23), November 2005.
45. Exchanged and Marked [book review of Class, Self, Culture, by Beverley Skeggs].
published in Freedom, 67 (3), February 2006.
57. Ghetto Fabulous [art review of Küba, by Kutlug Ataman, Waygood Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne].
published in Freedom, 67 (19), October 2006.
61. High Street Art-Lite [art review of Spank the Monkey, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead].
published in Freedom, 67 (24), December 2006.
66. Bombing Babylon [art review of The 'G' Word, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Gateshead].
published in Freedom, 68 (6), March 2007 (in press).
67. Pearls Before Swine [book review of The Hive of Liberty: The Life and Work of Thomas Spence, ed. Keith Armstrong].
published in Freedom, 68 (6), March 2007 (in press).
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