Church of Stop Shopping Tour
Ad Nauseum (Liverpool IMC) | 14.05.2003 11:03 | Liverpool
The Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping brought his flock to Liverpool yesterday, with a message that consumerism cannot fill the void in our hearts created by advertising.
The Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping brought his flock to Liverpool yesterday, with a message that consumerism cannot fill the void in our hearts left by advertising.
Following a successful event in Derby over the weekend, the Stop Shopping tour moved-on to the FACT on Wood Street. The tour, featuring the work of around a dozen anti-corporate artists, sparked passionate debate amongst those present, ranging from those who called it intellectual pornography to those who believed such art is an effective way of communicating political ideas to a public largely turned-off by politics.
After the presentation, many spectators decided to become performers, and joined the Reverend as he led us to John Lewis, where staff and shoppers were bemused by twenty minutes of 'not shopping'. The manager, security, and eventually the police were called, all helpless against the "weird" activity which broke no laws. For a few moments, they may have pondered the nature of consumerism, the nature of their roles within the system, and maybe the system itself. Or maybe not.
The tour moves-on to Newcastle tonight, but there's bound to be some 'reality tv' on...
Following a successful event in Derby over the weekend, the Stop Shopping tour moved-on to the FACT on Wood Street. The tour, featuring the work of around a dozen anti-corporate artists, sparked passionate debate amongst those present, ranging from those who called it intellectual pornography to those who believed such art is an effective way of communicating political ideas to a public largely turned-off by politics.
After the presentation, many spectators decided to become performers, and joined the Reverend as he led us to John Lewis, where staff and shoppers were bemused by twenty minutes of 'not shopping'. The manager, security, and eventually the police were called, all helpless against the "weird" activity which broke no laws. For a few moments, they may have pondered the nature of consumerism, the nature of their roles within the system, and maybe the system itself. Or maybe not.
The tour moves-on to Newcastle tonight, but there's bound to be some 'reality tv' on...
Ad Nauseum (Liverpool IMC)
Homepage:
http://www.revbilly.com
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Don't agree...
14.05.2003 12:56
Capitalist Running Dog
How much to get in
14.05.2003 13:15
yeh a great way of connecting with people who many dont
even think about spending. My son started work experience???in the ICA (institute contemporary arts) and brought back
May programme. The rev Billy will be appearing, great I might go along, guess what £5 concessions????????
Flyer states "Evangelical rousing from Rev Billy to cleanse
you all from your credit card addictions"
I take it this is only for spenders or can non consumerist
join in with him free?????
Just ice
Free speech not free beer
15.05.2003 07:19
The point about shopping is it's a mindless activity where the costs of the products are hiddden, and people are merely hypnotized by the glitz into adding value that isn't there.
goatchurch
Con sessions
15.05.2003 11:40
of shoes for me, or 2 and a half pair for my kids, yeh ok I splash out on them, but thats kids for you. I know costs have got to be covered, but who set the rates??
Just ice