Post by Maz on Mar 17, 2006 13:58:16 GMT -5
Okay, I'm bringing some of this over from Red Flags cause it seems better to talk about it here. And Godammit I'm going to bring AWIP back by myself if i have too!
So. Fashion. Most people think of opulent runway shows, vapid magazines and masturbatory self-indulgence. However, I would argue that fashion, that is, the way we dress, the design of our book covers, the brands we rock, etc. all in fact are part of the superstructure, and therefore are in fact an arena of superstructural contention in which battles get waged with the bourgeoisie.
There's a long history of fashion playing an important role in politics: The bolsheviks and their leather jackets, Chinese communist cutting their ponytails, and of course the hippies and the black panthers - where people would literally carry their particular politics on their sleeves. Or check the Progressive Labour Party in the 60s, or so many Trotskyists today: Their conservative fashion sense was/is tied into to tailing the spontaneity of the "average worker".
None of this should really suprise us. If we go up against the ruling class in *all* spheres, then why should we stop short and dress just like them?
So the question arises, just what is a correct revolutionary fashion? Can there be such a thing?
Me and my comrades discussed this a while back and concluded, as others have in the past, that there are so many diverse scenes and styles in North America that it would awkward and wrong to try and develop a single "style". Rather, revolutionary fashion sense here is more about transforming the terrain within each style or scene.
For example, my friend is really into hip hop, so that grounds where he's at for clothes. However, he shuns the bling bling aspect of it and tries to bring some politics into it. think oversized zip-open hoodie with a mao shirt underneath, and no fucking jewelry. I'm into different music and whatnot, so you can usually catch me wearing a bright eyes shirt with a bob avakian button on my chest. and no fucking jewelry.
That's just the day to day. For political events we take a lot of inspiration from the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade. Their camo pants and group shirts are on point. We feel that often it's important to portray a militant and disciplined vibe, yet at the same time, express through style that our discipline is not some kind of fascistic yes-sirring cold and brutal bullshit. So there is cohesion, but a lot of roughness around the edges, and a ton of room for individual flourishes, as well as heart and warmth. Think "solid core with a lot of elasticity" .
Well, those are my thoughts...I know y'all out there have some.
So. Fashion. Most people think of opulent runway shows, vapid magazines and masturbatory self-indulgence. However, I would argue that fashion, that is, the way we dress, the design of our book covers, the brands we rock, etc. all in fact are part of the superstructure, and therefore are in fact an arena of superstructural contention in which battles get waged with the bourgeoisie.
There's a long history of fashion playing an important role in politics: The bolsheviks and their leather jackets, Chinese communist cutting their ponytails, and of course the hippies and the black panthers - where people would literally carry their particular politics on their sleeves. Or check the Progressive Labour Party in the 60s, or so many Trotskyists today: Their conservative fashion sense was/is tied into to tailing the spontaneity of the "average worker".
None of this should really suprise us. If we go up against the ruling class in *all* spheres, then why should we stop short and dress just like them?
So the question arises, just what is a correct revolutionary fashion? Can there be such a thing?
Me and my comrades discussed this a while back and concluded, as others have in the past, that there are so many diverse scenes and styles in North America that it would awkward and wrong to try and develop a single "style". Rather, revolutionary fashion sense here is more about transforming the terrain within each style or scene.
For example, my friend is really into hip hop, so that grounds where he's at for clothes. However, he shuns the bling bling aspect of it and tries to bring some politics into it. think oversized zip-open hoodie with a mao shirt underneath, and no fucking jewelry. I'm into different music and whatnot, so you can usually catch me wearing a bright eyes shirt with a bob avakian button on my chest. and no fucking jewelry.
That's just the day to day. For political events we take a lot of inspiration from the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade. Their camo pants and group shirts are on point. We feel that often it's important to portray a militant and disciplined vibe, yet at the same time, express through style that our discipline is not some kind of fascistic yes-sirring cold and brutal bullshit. So there is cohesion, but a lot of roughness around the edges, and a ton of room for individual flourishes, as well as heart and warmth. Think "solid core with a lot of elasticity" .
Well, those are my thoughts...I know y'all out there have some.