They're pretty stylin', ain't they? Surely, they're thankful for the progression of technology that capitalism has wrought, elsewise how would their hair stay so stylishly tousled or their clothing be rendered from the finest synthetic material? Thankful, did I say thankful? Of course, I didn't. How could I?
Anyway, while immersed in this sonic soup several thoughts struck me. Naturally, I'm struck by the preponderance of collectivist views in supposedly individualist spheres like the arts. I'm far from the first to notice this contradiction but to the best of my knowledge I'm one of the few to agitate for a response to the call.
One of my favorite bands to this day is English Anarcho-Punk agit-prop superstars CRASS. What Crass are largely responsible for is codifying the punk equation with Anarchy, at least of the Kropotkin variety. To this day, the genre of "crust punk" or "peace punk" persists, though next to none of the new school approaches the cunning and brilliance of Crass (even the new projects of ex-Crass members, projects like Conflict and Schwarzeneggar). Punk has since it's generally accepted infacy flirted with politics of all kinds, but Crass were, for my tastes, the first to exemplify a consistent train of co-ordinated political thought and, most importantly, actually strove to live by those values.
Today, on a more mainstream front, we have Rage Against the Machine prior to their break-up and The (International) Noise Conspiracy selling Marxism to the kids and selling it well. Both bands compile in their liner notes "further reading" for their fans on the issues that concern them, a bibliography of Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky readers for the market to digest. I disagree, vehemently, with the political and economic ideals of these bands, but respect their way of doing the thing they love (which I defy them to do in their chosen economic systems were they to ever be implemented) and sharing their beliefs with their consumer base. This has been incredibly effective, even though both bands have been derided from certain sectors for being "sell-outs" for their appearances on MTV and, in the case of Rage, distributing their records through corporate conglomerate Sony.
Today, the classically liberal minarchist or anarcho-capitalist philosophies are in a kind of upswing. Our views have gained credence in sectors once thought unheard of and, as Lew Rockwell points out often, those in the know in "bureaucracy" tremble at the name "Rothbard". Mises.com sees tremendous amounts of web traffic and as I peruse over Amazon.com Lists, I find many that recommend a bibliography of liberty. I could almost say that I am truly optimistic.
But then, I consider art. Art is inextricably tied to commerce. Art is commerce. It wouldn't be there were there not a market and a supply for it. Governments deem it vital (to it's propagandistic end, sure). Art is, thankfully, everywhere. Yet it persists that art is linked to leftist causes and visions. Artists expound at length about their "visions", even as they tow a political line that is collectivist in nature and not traditionally (try ever) kind to individual points of view, especially as regards art.
The struggling artist today would do well to consider the fates of the fabulous achievements of the Soviet Avant-Garde in the 1920s. An outpouring of artistic brilliance and technical virtuosity flowered in the immediate days after the collapse of the Tsar. Dziga Vertov and V.I. Pudovkin and Sergei Eisenstein pushed the boundaries of film and their work stands as brilliant to this day. The Suprematicists pushed the boundaries of architecture and, even as socialists, made valuable contributions to Futurism. Agit-prop derived it's strengths from the diversity of the artists who contributed to it. While not at all Communists, Mikhail Bulgakov and Yevgeny Zamyatin were banging away at typewriters creating works of amazingly precient fiction (which of course led to their suppression later). Within a decade, all of this was gone. All art, as is the case in the hard left reality of bad ideas made policy, had become "state" art. Individualism was frowned on as a matter of policy and "Socialist Realism" was the only accepted standard. The danger to art that statism proposed was realized in the worst of ways as many artists faced imprisonment and destitution (destitution, it must be noted, that they shared with the rest of their countrymen) or, perhaps worst of all to the mind of the artists, were forced to create art they would never put name to in a free society.
Yet, strangely, artists continue to agitate for this kind of tyranny.
The Mises site is a true treasure. While simultaneously selling printed copies of works such as Mises' "Human Action", the site also offers such works for free as downloads. What fantastic altruism! The Mises Institute puts it all on the line for it's beliefs. Recognizing that, sadly, the Austrian School of economic thought remains an obscure curio of academia even as it gains new adherents every day, the Institute deflects the prospect of continued obscurity by actually, wonder of wonders, getting the word out.
But how effective is all this when the Left maintains a near-monopoly on the arts? Recognizing that the arts is truly the most public mouthpiece for getting their ideas across to a public at large that will consume socialist agit-prop as readily as it will a can of cola, Statism has gained the upper hand through it's feigned patronage of the arts. I truly believe that. More than any other resource, it is art that firmly cements the support for Statism in the mainstream. It is rare that I see the Mises contributor suggest or the liberty blogger actually suggest countering this stranglehold with an effluence of agit-prop art swinging the other way. Of course, that has everything to do with their own interests which may not coincide with a desire to manufacture art. Understandable.
Which is why I today issue a call to arms. The Austro-economic, classically liberal ethos needs a public face. Our views are as revolutionary and as radical as that of a band like Crass' anarcho-socialism was. So, like the flyer you'll find in any Indie record store, I'm putting out an advertisement.
SEEKING: Austro-economic classical liberals with a modicum of musical talent to play BASS, GUITAR, and DRUMS... and provide SAMPLES... for shit-kicking poli-rock band. Vocalist/lyricist frontman entrenched.
Remember the familiar visage of Che Guevera on a red background? The best-selling (ironic) poster of the Vietnam-era? Picture a Pop Art visage of Mises peering down regally from a college dorm room poster because some fantastically creative and popular band, at least on college radio playlists, promoted the writings he so selflessly left us.
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