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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...

Ad Nauseum (Liverpool IMC)
- Homepage: http://www.revbilly.com

Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

Don't agree...

14.05.2003 12:56

I'm not sure I agree with your basic premise. I was really depressed over West Ham being relegated, but went to buy a BMW on Monday and have felt great since.

Capitalist Running Dog


How much to get in

14.05.2003 13:15

When I read about this a couple of days ago, I thought
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

Indeed, if United airlines gave Rev Billy a free ticket, and Virgin trains waived the fare, and the venue they speak in didn't get charged for the electricity, then the Church of Stop Shopping could afford to give free tickets. But why not stop shopping for a day and then you could afford it.

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

Yeh but some of us dont spend, except food, £5= 10years
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