Author: André

André Gattolin is an independent researcher based in Paris and working on hybrid activism and unconventional forms of communication. A former research and marketing manager in media companies, he has concurrently contributed to the development of various contestational and underground movements against commercial propaganda. He regularly publishes essays on these subjects in Multitudes (a French critical review) and on alternative websites (www.hns-info.net & www.poptronics.fr). He is currently preparing a Phd at the University of Sorbonne Nouvelle on how hoaxes penetrate and modify the mediascape practices in Europe and in North America.
Posted on

Hacking “Harassment by Advertising”

French Protesters Wage War on Billboards
by Max Colchester
The Wall Street Journal
September 26th, 2008

Small Band of Activists Hopes Graffiti Campaign Will Prompt Government to Ban Large Outdoor Ads

Paris-On Friday, Alex Baret plans to board a train to central Paris, pull out a can of spray paint and deface a billboard, as he has done every last Friday of the month for more than two years. The slogan he prefers to leave scrawled on his targets: Harcèlement Publicitaire, or Harassment by Advertising.

The 34-year-old musician, who lives in the city’s suburbs, hopes such acts of vandalism will encourage the French government to ban large billboards, which he says “force messages onto unsuspecting passersby and ruin the landscape.” Just a handful of protesters join Mr. Baret in his monthly graffiti blitzes, but scores of sympathizers typically gather to watch. And he has rallied several French philosophers and intellectuals to his cause. Continue reading “Hacking “Harassment by Advertising””

Related posts:

  1. Improv Everywhere: No Pants Subway Ride 2012
  2. Improv Everywhere: No Pants Subway Ride 2012 Scheduled for Jan 8
  3. Panda-monium in China
  4. Edible Pranks
Posted on

Retour de Prosexion

From André Gattolin, September 13, 2008:

Paris is a very busy town at this moment, because Pope Benedetto XVI is visiting us, trying to meet young people (and more especially young boys – please don’t ask me why).

Last night, B16 gathered with thousands of pilgrims in the center of Paris under the protection of thousands of cops.

The Brigade Activiste des Clowns (the parisian section of Clown Army) decided to honored this popular event, offering to young pilgrims crucifixes made with blown up condoms (in honor of the stupid position of the Roman Catholic church about sex and contraception).

You can see that some Catholic pilgrims, ignorant about contraception, are unable to recognize a condom and chose to walk in the procession (prosexion!) with these very strange crucifixes.

Related posts:

  1. In a Troubled Country, a Novelty Candidate Gains a Following
  2. The King of Comment-Section Trolls Unveiled
  3. Banksy’s Dismaland Theme Park Opens
  4. Calling All Billboard Liberators!
Posted on

IBM Second Life Union Protest [in English, French & Italian]

Submitted by André Gattolin with thanks to Davide Barillari, the initiator of the successful IBM strike that took place in Second Life in September, 2007: Not so sure that it is the first action of this kind, but nevermind, it has to be noticed…

From NETXPLORATEUR VideoLab:

A l’appel de la Représentation Syndicale Unitaire (RSU) d’IBM Italie et avec l’appui de UNI Global Union, des salariés d’IBM mécontents de leur condition ont organisé en septembre 2007 une manifestation “virtuelle” dans Second Life, la première du genre. Les syndicats ont justifié cette initiative par l’échec des négociations traditionnelles, et par l’espoir de bénéficier d’une large publicité. / IBM employee members of the trade union RSU, supported by the federation UNI, called a one-day strike by their avatars in the virtual world Second Life. The aim was to protest against IBM’s intention to drop performance bonuses. The resulting talks led to the bonuses being reinstated. Takes labour-management relations into the digital age.

IBM Virtual Strike in Second Life!

For more information, visit these sites:

  • IBM SL Protest Organization, information and photos
  • IBM Strike: Intervista [in Italian]

    • Related posts:

    1. Panda-monium in China
    2. Anonymous No More?
    3. Obama Served Protest Song for Breakfast
    4. Edible Pranks
    Posted on

    Squat London: Connecting People to Empty Places [English & French]

    Submitted by André Gattolin — “A very nice initiative created by friends in London. It’s not a hoax, it’s real stuff!” Here are several interesting links. The last one is by André himself [in French]:

    Free Spaces London Events Listing for this weekend
    Squat the Lot
    8 April 2008

    395939.gif

    Space Is The Place – side stepping the property ladder

    This is a one-off series of events to coincide with the Europe-wide days of action in defence of free spaces and for an anti-capitalist popular culture. The events are based at a new squatted social centre in Shoreditch and other autonomous spaces around London.

    The themes for Space Is the Place are the appropriation of public space by big business through privatisation and speculation, the sell-off of council housing and how the current housing crisis affects the most disadvantaged, gentrification and redevelopment of East London for the Olympics in 2012, the mismanagement of land and its ownership by the wealthy elite…

    There will be an open access art-space themed as above, discussions and skill-sharing to bring people together and share ideas on how we can solve the problems we face, Continue reading “Squat London: Connecting People to Empty Places [English & French]”

    Related posts:

    1. Panda-monium in China
    2. Anonymous No More?
    3. Obama Served Protest Song for Breakfast
    4. Edible Pranks

    Back to top