This has been around, but for those who haven’t seen it or want to see it again, it’s certainly worth sharing! Created by Jamal N. Qutub, who is a director, designer and animator (see http://nimpsy.com) and written by James Huber (see http://www.jhuger.com/kisshank.php). -JS
Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing and Sniping in the Empire of Signs by Mark Dery
In 1993, Mark Dery wrote this seminal discourse coining the phrase Culture Jamming. I think it’s a must read for anyone interested in the subject. This is an open source document and is available on Mark Dery’s Web site. JS
“Culture jamming,” a term I have popularized by articles in The New York Times and Adbusters, might best be defined as media hacking, information warfare, terror-art, and guerrilla semiotics, all in one. Billboard bandits, pirate TV and radio broadcasters, media hoaxers, and other vernacular media wrenchers who intrude on the intruders, investing ads, newscasts, and other media artifacts with subversive meanings are all culture jammers. Continue reading “Culture Jamming: Hacking, Slashing and Sniping in the Empire of Signs by Mark Dery”
Reality Hacking Defined
Here’s a definition of “reality hacking” from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia -JS
Reality hacking is an artistic practice that emerges from the intersection of hacking and hacker culture, contemporary art, activism, and net culture. Reality hacking takes as its basis a broad, phenomenological point of view of the world, and considers (often unorthodox) investigations into everyday objects and situations a meaningful way of probing into the working of varied social contexts.
Reality Hacking as Political Activism
“Reality hacking” is a form of activism that relies on tweaking the every-day communications most easily available to individuals with the purpose of awakening the political and community conscience of the larger population. The term first came into use among New York and San Francisco artists, but has since been adopted by a school of political activists centered around Social Redemption. Continue reading “Reality Hacking Defined”
Celebrate April Fools’ Day With a Cement Mixer
This story is from Wireless Flash News, March 27, 2007. -DM
SAN DIEGO (Wireless Flash) — Champagne is the drink for New Years’ Eve and the margarita is made for Cinco De Mayo, and now one mixologist hopes to make the “Cement Mixer,” the No.1 cocktail for April Fools’ Day. Continue reading “Celebrate April Fools’ Day With a Cement Mixer”
Press Releases
3/26/07
PRWEB Press release with downloadable podcast featuring Joey Skaggs
Joey Skaggs, Notorious Artist and Satirist, to Launch The Art of the Prank Blog at ArtofthePrank.com on April 1, 2007
Summary: A new Web site and Blog all about pranks, hoaxes, culture jamming and reality hacking launches on April Fools Day. Honest!
New York, NY, (PRWeb) March 26, 2007 — Artist and satirist Joey Skaggs is proud to announce the debut of his new blog The Art of the Prank at ArtofthePrank.com on April Fools Day, April 1, 2007. Here visitors will find insights, news and discussions on everything to do with pranks, hoaxes, culture jamming and reality hacking around the world – past, present and future – mainstream and counter culture.
With Skaggs as editor, the site will have submissions from many known and not so known pranksters, artists, performers, activists and writers. The Art of the Prank, launching April Fools Day, will provide a continuing and growing exploration into the art of the prank; the role of the prankster as artist, activist and social observer; and the contribution of the prank to society.
Pranks have traditionally been relegated to the realm of the juvenile bad-boy or special occasions, like April Fools Day. People typically think of the word prank as referring to funny, embarrassing, humiliating, non-redeeming acts of just plain silliness or revenge. And while this may represent the majority of pranks in the world, the role of the prankster throughout history has been quite significant and influential. Mythic archetypes such as the trickster and coyote; the jester in the royal court; and pranksters throughout literature will all be explored.
In addition, topics such as pranks in the news, the sociology and psychology of pranks; political pranks; First Amendment issues; hoax etiquette; publicity stunts; urban legends; illusion and magic; fraud and deception; hype; spin; and propaganda will all be fodder for thought. As will, of course, all sorts of practical jokes and mischief…
“April Fools Day, my favorite holiday, is the perfect launch date. This site will provide one stop shopping for anyone interested in mounting an insurrection, over-throwing a government, crashing a stock market, creating global chaos, growing hair, losing weight or keeping their horny dog satisfied. It will provide a sure way to get the federal government to tap your phone line, or, at the very least to embarrass and humiliate yourself, says artist, Joey Skaggs.”
Pranks offer an alternative palette for criticism and dissent, as well as a looking-glass into the human gullibility that results when critical analysis is suspended for wishful thinking. “I challenge personal belief systems that sustain status-quo thinking and that support close-mindedness, bias and prejudice, says Skaggs.” Key motives running throughout his personal work are to inspire people to question authority in all of its guises and to ultimately think for themselves.
With this new endeavor, launching April Fools Day, Skaggs hopes to reach a broad audience of people interested in the intersection of reality and illusion. Those interested in contributing content will be invited to do so once the blog launches.
The Art of the Prank blog, at ArtofthePrank.com, will shed light on all aspects of the topic, examining the intent, content, technique, and the magic that makes a prank live. It will even include tutorials and how-to instructions. Although the site will not encourage or condone irresponsible, misguided, unlawful or unethical practices, some meaningful pranks rightfully test the limits and cross the boundaries of lawfulness. To trivialize, ignore or dismiss them for this reason would be a disservice to everyone.
About Joey Skaggs: Joey Skaggs has been a doctor, a lawyer, and an Indian chief. Hailed as an entrepreneur extraordinaire, he created a bordello for dogs, was the proprietor of a celebrity sperm bank, and founded an organization to wipe out fat. He has saved the world with his cockroach vitamin elixir and was the first and only person to ever windsurf from Hawaii to California. As a pedaling priest with a confessional booth mounted on the back of a tricycle, he took confessions from politicians at the Democratic National Convention. As a real estate developer, he created the Final Curtain cemetery theme park mall and time share program for the dead. And as a computer scientist, he revolutionized the American Judicial System using a series of super computers that meted out equal justice to all.
Although these and other illustrious activities have been presented as truth in the annals of the international news media, in reality they have all been hoaxes, products of his imagination. For over 40 years Skaggs has been an artist and a satirist with a serious message. He has used the media as his canvas, creating performances to bring to light many of the difficult and complex socio-political issues of our day.
A life-long educator and performance art practitioner, Skaggs has taught at the School of Visual Arts and Parsons/New School and he lectures and does presentations at schools, festivals and conferences around the world. His commentaries on media literacy and creative independent thinking are hilarious and thought provoking and have reached millions of people on a global scale. He has been hailed as The World’s Greatest Hoaxer.
To add to his bag of tricks, he recently designed and manufactured the Universal Bulls**t Detector Watch (a real product) to enable people to humorously call it as they see it. Available online at www.bswatch.com, it flashes, moos and poops. It also tells time.
And, if that”s not enough, New Yorkers are encouraged to attend prankster and performance artist Joey Skaggs” 22nd Annual April Fools Day Parade. The press release is available in the News Flash section of joeyskaggs.com.
About The Art of the Prank blog: The ArtofthePrank.com blog is designed by David Bunde of DGB Design using WordPress software, and hosted, by Laughing Squid.
Download Portofess Photo
Photo caption: Father Anthony (aka Joey Skaggs) pedals Portofess, his portable confessional booth, because the church must go where the sinners are. Religion on the move for people on the go!
Contact:
Joey Skaggs
212-254-7878
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