"Capitalism is a Pyramid Scheme" was produced by the Crimethinc Ex-Workers' Collective, who describe themselves as a "decentralized anarchist collective composed of many cells which act independently in pursuit of a freer and more joyous world." I've never really ascribed to the philosophy that Crimethinc espouses, but have always found their materials rhetorically fascinating. While there is some explanatory prose in the top left corner, the intricately designed and organized image(s) carry the text's intended message.
Crimethinc's image is an updated version of a "Pyramid of Capitalisim" that first appeared in a 1911 issue of Industrial Worker, publication of the Industrial Workers of the World labor union:
Inspired by this image, Crimethinc is drawing upon the tradition of 20th century labor movements that adhered to Marxist and/or Anarchist philosophies. While the 1911 pyramid focuses mainly on economic relationships of power, 2011's pyramid vilifies several power dynamics and practices of exploitation, such as factory farming, the criminal justice system, sweatshop labor, and systematic poverty. The list goes on and on as you look at each "cell" of the pyramid, but I don't think a full explication is appropriate for the SRR.
I think what fascinates me most about "Capitalism is a Pyramid Scheme" is the sheer volume of images that are working together to create this "Military-Industrial-Infotainment-Telesector" complex/structure. Considering each and every cultural practice or institution that is admonished in the Pyramid, it is very similar to Occupy Wall Street's first "Officially Released" statement, which to my mind, incorporated every leftist radical thought into a manifesto of sorts (FYI, Crimethinc is not officially related to the Occupy movement, but they do share some philosophical common ground).
Given that there is so much going on in this image, most of my questions are broad, but feel free to ask bring up specifics:
1) Who are the vandals on the 4th tier of the pyrmaid? Are they reckless criminals? Are they "revolutionaries?"
2) What sort of response is Crimethinc trying to spark in the viewer? Without an explicit prescription of action, how are we supposed to interpret and respond to the image?
3) As already noted, the Pyramid tries to illustrate as much oppression as it can in a single image, drawing on a number of different power relationships. What effect does this inclusivity have on the image's overall message?
Travis,
ReplyDeleteI liked these two images. I've seen the 1911 version before, although I can't remember where, but I've never seen the newer version. I think the original one is a bit more effective, because, as the adage goes, less is more. I think the newer one is too cluttered, so your eyes get lost in everything that's going on, whereas the original one allows you to spend more time on what's in the images.
In response to your first question, my guess is that it's a jab at the occupiers and/or the anarchists. I think it's comparing them pseudo-intellectuals in a coffeeshop, and conspicuous consumers. Meaning they're not doing anything except supporting capitalism.
That's just my guess though.