Blog Post #7

What I gathered from the readings is that culture jamming is a reaction to the domination of society by consumer culture.  We are constantly exposed to advertisements whether it is when we’re watching TV, reading a magazine, driving along a highway, listening to the radio, etc.   Culture jamming is a way to make us stop and think about the constant advertisements aimed to make us consume more.  It is a movement that confronts and challenges consumer culture and attempts to put ideas in the spotlight rather than products.

            Culture jamming can take many forms.  One example is the campaign by Adbusters known as Buy Nothing Day which takes place on Black Friday, one of the largest shopping days of the year in the US.  Adbusters also creates a number of “spoof ads” (ex. Joe Chemo) that resemble those of large corporations but are twisted to send a message and make people think.   Culture jamming also includes media hoaxing, which tricks journalists into covering elaborately crated fake news stories, and billboard banditry, altering billboards whether it be with graffiti or with reworking the words or images on a billboard to create a new message. 

            I think that culture jamming can create a pretty powerful message to society.  The issue that I have with culture jamming as a tool for activism is that it makes a statement but it doesn’t necessarily provide a solution.  I also feel that culture jamming can be a little too “in your face”.  I agree that the consumer culture in the US is pretty out of control but I feel there are better and more appropriate methods to use to educate the public.