This page seeks to offer music, literature and any other cultural references to liberationist ideas and the consequences of oppression.
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"Rich"
"Rich"
Creating Freedom (Film Trailor)
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An excellent new film that challenges the preconceptions that many people have and invites us to think more deeply and to continuously ask 'why'.
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Privatisation of the Police Force: The visionaries that are Fry & Laurie
Battle in Seattle - Highly Recommend
Read More...
Bill Hicks: Genius or What
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How Soon is Now: The Smiths to Morrissey
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The Libertines 2011
Arctic Monkeys: Summer 2011
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Bill Carroll
Nicky Wire: 'We have got to stop talking about Thatcher's children. It's New Labour's
children. This passive consumerism is New Labour...'
Extended pop up version
Folk music at the cutting edge
The Bible According to Rupert Murdoch by Attila The Stockbroker
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was GOTCHA! And the Lord Rupert said let there be a Royal Family, and let enormous quantities of trivia and drivel be written about them, yeah even unto the po...int where a lobotomised amoeba couldn’t find it interesting any more, and let babies be born unto this Royal Family, and let the huge swathes of sycophantic, nauseating sludge written about them surpass even that written about their parents, even though these babies and their parents are about as interesting as a wet afternoon watching an endless slow motion loop tape of Phil Collins live at Selhurst Park.
And the Lord Rupert said let there be soap operas, and reality TV shows, and let each and every one be so mind-numbingly moronic as to make a wet afternoon watching an endless slow motion loop tape of Phil Collins live at Selhurst Park seem a truly uplifting experience, and let entire forests be destroyed and the very existence of our planet jeopardised in the endless vistas of retarded outpourings about these unspeakable transmissions.
And let there be enormous breasts, and endless bonking, and days and weeks and months and years of chauvinistic right wing propaganda, so that the people who like the bonking and the soap operas and the breasts and the royal stories get the politics as well.
And let any journalist who tries to stand up to the proprietor and editor in the name of truth, and integrity, and intelligence, and journalistic standards, be summarily dismissed, and cast into a bottomless pit of decomposing chimpanzee smegma, and let those journalists who suffer this fate rejoice at the great career move they have just made.
And the Lord Rupert looked at his work, and even he saw that it was a load of crap, but this was the enterprise culture and it sold millions so it was good. And on the same basis he decided to buy the whole world, and the earth itself wept, and little robins vomited, and cuddly furry animals threw themselves under trains, and the whole thing was filmed by Sky Channel for a horror nature programme, and the most awful thing was that this was just the beginning……
And the Lord Rupert said let there be soap operas, and reality TV shows, and let each and every one be so mind-numbingly moronic as to make a wet afternoon watching an endless slow motion loop tape of Phil Collins live at Selhurst Park seem a truly uplifting experience, and let entire forests be destroyed and the very existence of our planet jeopardised in the endless vistas of retarded outpourings about these unspeakable transmissions.
And let there be enormous breasts, and endless bonking, and days and weeks and months and years of chauvinistic right wing propaganda, so that the people who like the bonking and the soap operas and the breasts and the royal stories get the politics as well.
And let any journalist who tries to stand up to the proprietor and editor in the name of truth, and integrity, and intelligence, and journalistic standards, be summarily dismissed, and cast into a bottomless pit of decomposing chimpanzee smegma, and let those journalists who suffer this fate rejoice at the great career move they have just made.
And the Lord Rupert looked at his work, and even he saw that it was a load of crap, but this was the enterprise culture and it sold millions so it was good. And on the same basis he decided to buy the whole world, and the earth itself wept, and little robins vomited, and cuddly furry animals threw themselves under trains, and the whole thing was filmed by Sky Channel for a horror nature programme, and the most awful thing was that this was just the beginning……
Probably the most inspiring book in the world
Land and Freedom
Land and Freedom is a 1995 film (alternative title: Tierra y Libertad) directed by Ken Loach and written by Jim Allen. The movie narrates the story of David Carr, an unemployed worker and member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, who decides to fight for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War. The movie won the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival.
FARENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury: IS IT A BOOK, IS IT A PLAY, IS IT A FILM? YES ACTUALLY IT IS AND VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING IT IS TOO
At the beginning of the novel, Montag develops a friendship with his 17 year old neighbour, Clarisse McClellan, whose humanistic outlook and inquisitive nature prompt Montag to examine his life. Soon, he realizes he is unhappy and no longer loves his wife, Millie. Meanwhile, Millie is unwilling to deal with reality and instead chooses to immerse herself in interactive television, seashell radio, and an addiction to tranquilizers. Unfulfilled by his occupation and discontent with a society unconcerned with reports of an impending atomic war, Montag begins to question the ways of the world. Specifically, Montag wonders why books are perceived to be so dangerous and why some people are so loyal to them. What power lies in books? Driven by his increasing uneasiness, Montag steals a book from a collection he is sent to burn. At the scene of the burning, Montag is shaken when the owner of the books, an older woman, refuses to leave her home. Instead, the woman sets fire to her kerosene soaked house and remains there as it, and she, are destroyed by flames. The woman's dedication to her books makes Montag realize that perhaps the happiness he lacks can be found in books. After the burning, Montag returns home, feeling ill as he relives the woman's horrific death. He begins to realize that although, over the past ten years, he thought he was serving society as a fireman, he was actually purely an instrument of destruction. That night, in a discussion with Millie, Montag learns that his friend Clarisse was killed by a speeding car more than a week earlier. Upon hearing this news, Montag feels even more ill. He falls asleep that night with his stolen book hidden underneath his pillow.
The next day, Montag refuses to attend work, claiming that he is sick. His boss, Captain Beatty, visits Montag that morning, and appears to somehow be aware of the internal struggle Montag is suffering through, and that Montag might possess books. Beatty lectures Montag about the offensiveness of books and the superiority of their current society, where homogeneity and structure are mandated, to the old society where free thought was encouraged and people were permitted to express differing opinions. During Beatty's visit, Millie nervously organizes the bedroom and tries to pull Montag's pillow away. When he won't let her, she puts her hand underneath it and finds the hidden book. Millie is astonished, and although she does not directly give up her husband, she asks Beatty what would happen if a fireman brought a book home. Beatty says firemen are allowed to bring a book home, but must burn it within 24 hours.
When Beatty departs, Montag retrieves some 20 books that he has stolen from alarms over the years and begins to read. Unsure as to what to do next, Montag recalls meeting a retired professor, Faber, a year earlier and discussing with the old man the value of ideas. He decides to visit Faber, who is at first afraid to speak with him, fearing that he will be the fireman's next victim. However, as the two men grow to trust one another, Faber becomes a mentor to Montag, sharing insight with the fireman and conspiring with him to have copies of his books made. Faber gives Montag a small two-way radio of his own invention to insert in his ear so that the two men will always be in communication.
At home, Montag becomes disgusted with his wife and her friends as they sit idly, watching television and engaging in gossip that reveals their selfishness and lack of awareness or concern for the impending atomic war. Against Faber's objections streaming through the secret radio echoing in his ear, Montag engages the women in a debate about family and politics. Next, he reads to them from a book of poetry. Mildred's friends react emotionally to Montag's reading, crying and not understanding the source of their tears. When Mildred's two shaken friends depart, she retires to her room to take some sleeping pills and Montag hides his books in the backyard before heading off to work, where Beatty engages in more anti-book, anti-intellectual rhetoric. The firemen are called to an alarm, and Montag is dismayed to discover that it is his own house that is to be burned. His wife Millie reported him.
After burning his home and possessions by himself, room by room, as ordered by Captain Beatty, Montag is chided by his boss, and the two men engage in a scuffle, during which Faber's radio is knocked from Montag's ear. When Beatty remarks that both Montag and his "friend" (Faber) will be dealt with severely, Montag threatens him with the flamethrower. When Beatty continues to verbally abuse him, Montag flips the switch and kills the chief. At once, the Mechanical Hound, a computerized attack dog that can track down any human being by scent, pursues him. The Hound stabs him in the leg with a procaine needle, but Montag is able to annihilate it with the flamethrower before it can do more damage. Montag retrieves his remaining books from the yard before running to Faber's. On the way, he pauses to plant the books in the home of fireman Black, briefly collects himself at a gas station where he hears reports that war has been declared, and when crossing the road is nearly run over by a reckless driver.
Faber provides refuge for Montag, who is being hotly pursued by a second Mechanical Hound and the authorities. Faber provides Montag with some old clothes (masking his scent and thus impeding the Mechanical Hound), and tells him to go to the river and float downstream to the train tracks, where he will hopefully find a hobo camp of intellectual outlaws who can help him. In turn, Montag encourages Faber to turn on all of his sprinklers to throw the Hound of his scent. Montag departs, Faber heeds his advice, and then sets off for St. Louis to commission a former printer he knows to print some books. Montag floats down the river, successfully avoiding the Hound, and comes upon a group of former writers, clergymen, and academics by the riverbank. The leader of the group, an author named Granger, welcomes Montag and offers him a concoction to change his pH so that the Hound cannot detect his presence. The men then use a portable television to watch the police chase Montag's escape has caused. Montag is shocked to see the Mechanical Hound kill another man as the announcer proclaims, "Montag is dead!" The police, not wanting to lose the confidence of the public, set the Hound after an innocent man when it lost Montag's scent.
Granger tells Montag how the men in his camp have each memorized literary works so that someday, when it is safe to do so, they can again print books, recreating them from memory. When atomic bombs destroy the city, the men set out to sift through the rubble and begin anew. They plan to foster a society where books and free thought can flourish.
Via Youtube below the whole film can be accessed.
The next day, Montag refuses to attend work, claiming that he is sick. His boss, Captain Beatty, visits Montag that morning, and appears to somehow be aware of the internal struggle Montag is suffering through, and that Montag might possess books. Beatty lectures Montag about the offensiveness of books and the superiority of their current society, where homogeneity and structure are mandated, to the old society where free thought was encouraged and people were permitted to express differing opinions. During Beatty's visit, Millie nervously organizes the bedroom and tries to pull Montag's pillow away. When he won't let her, she puts her hand underneath it and finds the hidden book. Millie is astonished, and although she does not directly give up her husband, she asks Beatty what would happen if a fireman brought a book home. Beatty says firemen are allowed to bring a book home, but must burn it within 24 hours.
When Beatty departs, Montag retrieves some 20 books that he has stolen from alarms over the years and begins to read. Unsure as to what to do next, Montag recalls meeting a retired professor, Faber, a year earlier and discussing with the old man the value of ideas. He decides to visit Faber, who is at first afraid to speak with him, fearing that he will be the fireman's next victim. However, as the two men grow to trust one another, Faber becomes a mentor to Montag, sharing insight with the fireman and conspiring with him to have copies of his books made. Faber gives Montag a small two-way radio of his own invention to insert in his ear so that the two men will always be in communication.
At home, Montag becomes disgusted with his wife and her friends as they sit idly, watching television and engaging in gossip that reveals their selfishness and lack of awareness or concern for the impending atomic war. Against Faber's objections streaming through the secret radio echoing in his ear, Montag engages the women in a debate about family and politics. Next, he reads to them from a book of poetry. Mildred's friends react emotionally to Montag's reading, crying and not understanding the source of their tears. When Mildred's two shaken friends depart, she retires to her room to take some sleeping pills and Montag hides his books in the backyard before heading off to work, where Beatty engages in more anti-book, anti-intellectual rhetoric. The firemen are called to an alarm, and Montag is dismayed to discover that it is his own house that is to be burned. His wife Millie reported him.
After burning his home and possessions by himself, room by room, as ordered by Captain Beatty, Montag is chided by his boss, and the two men engage in a scuffle, during which Faber's radio is knocked from Montag's ear. When Beatty remarks that both Montag and his "friend" (Faber) will be dealt with severely, Montag threatens him with the flamethrower. When Beatty continues to verbally abuse him, Montag flips the switch and kills the chief. At once, the Mechanical Hound, a computerized attack dog that can track down any human being by scent, pursues him. The Hound stabs him in the leg with a procaine needle, but Montag is able to annihilate it with the flamethrower before it can do more damage. Montag retrieves his remaining books from the yard before running to Faber's. On the way, he pauses to plant the books in the home of fireman Black, briefly collects himself at a gas station where he hears reports that war has been declared, and when crossing the road is nearly run over by a reckless driver.
Faber provides refuge for Montag, who is being hotly pursued by a second Mechanical Hound and the authorities. Faber provides Montag with some old clothes (masking his scent and thus impeding the Mechanical Hound), and tells him to go to the river and float downstream to the train tracks, where he will hopefully find a hobo camp of intellectual outlaws who can help him. In turn, Montag encourages Faber to turn on all of his sprinklers to throw the Hound of his scent. Montag departs, Faber heeds his advice, and then sets off for St. Louis to commission a former printer he knows to print some books. Montag floats down the river, successfully avoiding the Hound, and comes upon a group of former writers, clergymen, and academics by the riverbank. The leader of the group, an author named Granger, welcomes Montag and offers him a concoction to change his pH so that the Hound cannot detect his presence. The men then use a portable television to watch the police chase Montag's escape has caused. Montag is shocked to see the Mechanical Hound kill another man as the announcer proclaims, "Montag is dead!" The police, not wanting to lose the confidence of the public, set the Hound after an innocent man when it lost Montag's scent.
Granger tells Montag how the men in his camp have each memorized literary works so that someday, when it is safe to do so, they can again print books, recreating them from memory. When atomic bombs destroy the city, the men set out to sift through the rubble and begin anew. They plan to foster a society where books and free thought can flourish.
Via Youtube below the whole film can be accessed.
Interview with Ray Bradbury (Paris Review)
Sometimes Mournful; Sometimes Scornful, But Always Wonderful. Mr Ray Davies
In some ways, Ray Davies is testament to the cruelty of music being yoked to youth marketing. He is an extremely articulate musician who continues to write and perform. A recent solo album, Working Man's Café, was well-received, while his current collaboration, See My Friends, serves as a reminder of his extraordinary back catalogue.
At the age of 66, Davies remains a prickly, almost confused outsider, a state not lessened by a recent brush with mortality, when he was shot in New Orleans. It is who he is, and the source of his art. As announced last week, next June, he will curate the Meltdown festival at the Southbank in London – a reminder of his work ethic and restless curiosity, as well as his status as a national treasure.
At the age of 66, Davies remains a prickly, almost confused outsider, a state not lessened by a recent brush with mortality, when he was shot in New Orleans. It is who he is, and the source of his art. As announced last week, next June, he will curate the Meltdown festival at the Southbank in London – a reminder of his work ethic and restless curiosity, as well as his status as a national treasure.
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Desolation Row - Budding songwriters look no further
Desolation Row from Paul Tattam on Vimeo.
Morrissey and a free spanish lesson
An Encounter with Simone Weil: trailer (documentary feature)
See Review of Simone by Susan Sontag
More St George
Afrika Bambaataa ft John Lydon
Terror, Robespierre and the French Revolution
Robespierre or the "Divine Violence" of Terror
The Lost Interview JL: I think it wouldn’t take much to get the youth here really going. You’d have to give them free rein to attack the local councils or to destroy the school authorities, like the students who break up the repression in the universities. It’s already happening, though people have got to get together more.
And the women are very important too, we can’t have a revolution that doesn’t involve and liberate women. It’s so subtle the way you’re taught male superiority.
It took me quite a long time to realise that my maleness was cutting off certain areas for Yoko. She’s a red hot liberationist and was quick to show me where I was going wrong, even though it seemed to me that I was just acting naturally. That’s why I’m always interested to know how people who claim to be radical treat women.
Journalism Warning Labels
Warning Signs: Help yourself and make your own
Many thanks to Tom Scott for access to this site and labels
A Lost Moment in Socialist History?
After the First World War, Europe’s working class went on a massive radicalisation process. Union membership exploded with strikes, demonstrations and uprisings increasing with it. Italy was no exception. Its workers were angry with the fall-out from the war and were getting increasingly militant. A perfect example of this can be found in the factory occupations of 1920. Read More...
Philosophy Football
The Wonderful Jello Biafra (and the equally wonderful Dead Kennedys)
I am the Owl
We've got a Bigger Problem Now
Bleed for Me / Holiday in Cambodia (double header)
Moon over Marin
The Enigmatic Genius that is Harold Pinter
Funk, Electronica & Alternative Rock by Steve Cooke (click to enter)
Luke Wright (Performance Poet)
George Orwell: The Road to Airstrip One
This article explores the passage taken by Eric Blair on his way to producing the last of his masterpieces. Blair died 60 years ago but is as relevant now as he was then. However, with all classic endings their is usually a classic journey.
the_road_to_airstrip_one.pdf File Size: 183 kb File Type: pdf
Download File
Dennis Potter
The the - Depict the narrative of the 1980's and thus the present like few others.
Nature Giveth and Nature Taketh Away
Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros
London Calling
Straight to Hell
White Man in Hammersmith Palais
Rudie Can't Fail
Joe and Johnny - Redemption Song
Boys From the Blackstuff
Snowy Malone articulated the despair and hope of the working classes and like many of them died prematurely. Oppression got the better of him as it does for numerous others. Unfortunately, things that we need the most, tend to be the first thing that too many reject. This series written by Alan Bleasedale sums up the effects of monetarist policies of the 1980's on the people of Liverpool. The clip below is as relevant now as it was then.
Existential Self Indulgence
The Real St George
Christopher Hitchens: Post ideology or No ideology?
Today, his criticisms of political figures are entirely post-ideological. I asked him for his opinion of David Cameron, hoping for a robust critique, but he replied: "He seems content-free to me. Never had a job, except in PR, and it shows. People ask, 'What do you think of him?' and my answer is: 'He doesn't make me think.'" Read more...
Joy Division - Enjoy
Audiotech.org.uk is an independent music site containing files in a variety of formats including: Mp3, Wav, Real Audio and MIDI. Please click here for more.
And the women are very important too, we can’t have a revolution that doesn’t involve and liberate women. It’s so subtle the way you’re taught male superiority.
It took me quite a long time to realise that my maleness was cutting off certain areas for Yoko. She’s a red hot liberationist and was quick to show me where I was going wrong, even though it seemed to me that I was just acting naturally. That’s why I’m always interested to know how people who claim to be radical treat women.
Many thanks to Tom Scott for access to this site and labels
After the First World War, Europe’s working class went on a massive radicalisation process. Union membership exploded with strikes, demonstrations and uprisings increasing with it. Italy was no exception. Its workers were angry with the fall-out from the war and were getting increasingly militant. A perfect example of this can be found in the factory occupations of 1920. Read More...
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Philosophy Football
The Wonderful Jello Biafra (and the equally wonderful Dead Kennedys)
We've got a Bigger Problem Now
Bleed for Me / Holiday in Cambodia (double header)
Moon over Marin
Funk, Electronica & Alternative Rock by Steve Cooke (click to enter)
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George Orwell: The Road to Airstrip One
the_road_to_airstrip_one.pdf | |
File Size: | 183 kb |
File Type: |
Dennis Potter
The the - Depict the narrative of the 1980's and thus the present like few others.
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Nature Giveth and Nature Taketh Away
London Calling
Straight to Hell
White Man in Hammersmith Palais
Rudie Can't Fail
Joe and Johnny - Redemption Song
Boys From the Blackstuff
Existential Self Indulgence
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Christopher Hitchens: Post ideology or No ideology?
Joy Division - Enjoy