Propaganda Mussolini: A Film by Massimo Balloi

Italian filmmaker Massimo Balloi has made an abstract film that attempts to explain the descent of Italy into modern fascism. The rapid turn of Western democracies toward a virulent corporate fascism does in fact resemble the ideas put forth by Mussolini in the 1930s and 40s. But his effort was to mimic the efficiencies of the corporation in government. The new effort currently underway is to replace government control with corporate control. The danger is real and it is extreme. Even in the United States we see a Supreme Court allying itself with corporations. In Italy, you have a very basic corporate buffoon running the country as if it were a criminal enterprise. In the U.S. you have completely false liberals maneuvering a corporate front man into the Presidency so that every decision is made with a seemingly logical inclination toward the interests of the large corporations. We are now fighting entire wars based solely on decisions by corporations.

The twenty first century will not be the century of war against terrorists. It will be a century of war against corporations. They will gain an upper hand initially, but this will be short-lived. I say this because once you get inside these corporate structures you can observe how shockingly weak they are. BP is your perfect example. A single broken valve can weaken the entire stack of cards. These corporate entities can only flourish while people are asleep.

So? Adventure in the Univerphone

This is an Italian animated TV series about an inventor who gets sucked into the virtual world inside his cell phone. You know… like most Americans do… while they are driving at 75 mph on the freeway and they smash into a concrete pylon, spattering their dull brains across five lanes of traffic. And most deservedly so. But this little animated preview looks inviting. I like it. The series is made by Marco Bigliazzi and Fabrizio Bondi of Toposodo Episodic Productions.  The series has its own web site.

William S. Burroughs Ditched Scientology

Here’s an article from I09.com about how William S. Burroughs was, for a period, fascinated by Scientology.  He joined and even used many of the group’s principals in some of his work.  But he eventually turned against the group because he recognized that they were more interested in maintaining a corporate hierarchy of secrecy than in pursuing genuine ideas.  It’s natural for a writer of Burroughs’ genius to be curious and to find the best in a group like Scientology.  It is also natural for him to see through the horse shit and ditch the idiots in a Hollywood Boulevard gutter.

Here’s a good read about Burroughs and Scientology from Dangerous Minds.

Shepard Fairey – Obey to be Better!

Here’s a very nice short film about artist Shepard Fairey whose Obama poster in 2008 became one of the most well-known symbols of the campaign. I started off not liking Fairey’s images even though I purchased one of the Obama posters. I saw lots of reuse and fascism. But I usually have great trouble with and distaste for things that I wind up genuinely admiring. I think Fairey makes absolutely stunning images.  I recently purchased a brand new signed print of his.  I can’t wait to hang it!  Their beauty is both easy and difficult. They are harsh and bombastic even while containing great subtlety. Fascinating artist. I think the statements he makes about copyright are generally correct. But I also think that he was rude in not crediting the original photographer behind the Obama poster image. But rudeness does not make for copyright infringement. I’m sure he’s a very nice guy and I’ve noticed that he has no problem with crediting photographers on his web site.  I also have a secret little reason for liking the T-shirt he’s wearing.

This film was made by Gestaltin TV in Germany.