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Political Pranks: the Performance

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Political Pranks: the Performance POLITICAL PRANKS: THE PERFORMANCE OF RADICAL HUMOR by AUDREY L. VANDERFORD A THESIS Presented to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program: Folklore Program and the Graduate School of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts December 2000 ii "Political Pranks: The Performance of Radical Humor," a thesis prepared by Audrey L. Vanderford in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program: Folklore Program. This thesis has been approved and accepted by: Dr. Daniel N. Wojcik, Chair of the Exa ining Committee ' Date Committee in charge: Dr. Daniel N. Wojcik, Chair Dr. Suzanne Clark Dr. Carol Silverman Accepted by: Dean of the Graduate School I I I PJOJJ9pUO/\ 'l AeJpn'f OQQC; @ !!! ----· ---·---------- iv An Abstract of the Thesis of Audrey L. Vanderford for the degree Master of Arts in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program: Folklore Program to be taken December 2000 Title: POLITICAL PRANKS: THE PERFORMANCE OF RADICAL HUMOR · '-· Ap�oved: ·--�-- �aniel N. Wojcik This thesis examines the performance of political pranks by contemporary radical activists and anarchists. Pranks, used symbolically to subvert authority and collapse hierarchy, have become important tools for grassroots political movements. Activists utilize �anks as a form of "culture jamming" to undermine, humiliate, and educate. This thesis documents political prqnks pulled by Earth First!. the Yippies, the Biotic Baking Brigade, and the Eugene Anarchists for Torrey (EAT) Campaign to show how pranks are performed and narrated within anarchist subcultures. Drawing on cultural and performance studies, as well as on anarchist theories, this thesis demonstrates how pranks can become performances of resistance and criticism that disrupt the status quo. v CURRICULUM VITA NAME OF AUTHOR: Audrey L. Vanderford GRADUATE AND UN DERGRADUATE SCH OOLS ATTENDED: University of Oregon University of Wyoming The Johns Hopkins University DEGREES AWARDED: Master of Arts in Folklore, 2000, University of Oregon Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies, 2000, University of Oregon Bachelor of Science (Honors) in Social Science, with Minor in Women's Studies, 1996, University of Wyoming AREAS OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Cultural Studies, Feminist Theory, Performance Studies PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Graduate Teaching Fellow, conference assistant, Center for the Study of Women in Society, University of Oregon, Eugene, Winter - Fall 2000 Facilitator, "Introduction to Women's Studies," University of Oregon, Eugene, Fall 2000 Graduate Teaching Fellow, archivist, Randall V. Mills Folklore Archives, University of Oregon, Eugene, Winter - Spring 2000 Graduate Teaching Fellow, teaching assistant, "Introduction to Folklore," University of Oregon, Eugene, Fall 1999 Conference Coordinator, Conference Services, University of Oregon, Eugene, 1997-1999 PUBLICATIONS: Vanderford, Audrey L. "Women and the Bible: Nineteenth Century Perspectives." Challenge. 1.9 (1 995): 38-41 . vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The daughter and the granddaughter of unapologetic pranksters, early and repeated exposure to my father's tales of smoke-bombs and my grandfather's collection of hand-buzzers has obviously tainted both my intellect and my sense of humor. (Thanks Dad and Grandpa!) Although George W. Hayduke's Getting Even: The Complete Book of Dirty Tricks sat on the bookshelf in the house I grew up in, it wasn't until much later that I understood the literary significance of the author's name. Thanks to my little brother, whose activism and whose red nose were the Initial Inspiration for this project. The deepest, warmest thanks to my favorite pranksters-- Anthony and Isaiah-- who not only endured my journey through graduate school (motif J2346, "The Fools Errand"), but continue to have a good sense of humor about the whole academy. I would also like to express my appreciation for Professors Dan Wojcik, Carol Silverman, Suzanne Clark, and Dianne Dugaw for their encouragement Input, and guidance throughout this project. And of course, I must acknowledge my "informants"­ Agent Apple, Kooky, and Rotten- for without their words and actions, this thesis would be very dull indeed. vii DEDICATION Dedicated to all of us with a subversive sense of humor: Let's hope that everyone finally gets "the joke," and the system crumbles beneath our cacophonous, riotous, revolutionary laughter. ..-._--------------------------···--- --- viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION .................................. ,.,. , .. , ................................... , ...... Notes .................................................... ,,.................................... 5 II. TOWARDS A (DISCIPLINED) THEORY OF PRANKS....................................... 6 Literature Review .......................................................... ,,............... 7 Incongruity and Aggression: Theories of Humor. ........................... ,.... 9 Rituals and Rites of Passage: A Structural Analysis of Pranks............... 10 Performing the Political/Political Performances: Theories of Performance ................................................... .................... 11 Telling Jokes, Constructing Identities: Narrative Theories.................... 15 Making Meaning, Resisting Hegemony: (Sub)Cultural Studies............ 16 Notes........................................................................................... 20 Ill. ANARCHY AND THE TRANSGRESSIVE POLITICS OF PRANKS......................... 23 Anarchism: A Brief Overview........................................................... 23 "Propaganda by the Deed" and Other Anarchist Tactics.................. 25 Detournement: Towards Revolutionary Diversions............................. 27 Culture Jamming: "Semiological Guerilla Warfare".......................... 36 Poetic Terrorism and Temporary Autonomous Zones......................... 39 Theory and Praxis.......................................................................... 40 Notes ................................. ...................................,...................... 42 IV. "MIND BOMBS" AND MONKEYWRENCHING: PRANKS AND THE MEDIA........ 44 "The Whole World is Watching" Publicity and Pranks....................... 44 "Revolution for the Hell of It"- The Yippies .......................... ,....... .... 46 Monkeywrenching and Other Earth First! Pranks............................... 47 Irrational Performances, Unreasonable Politics................................. 50 Notes........................................................................................... 52 V. "SPEAKING PIE TO POWER": NARRATIVES FROM THE GLOBAL PASTRY UPRISING...................................................................................... 54 "The Pie is Cast"- A History of Pie Throwing..................................... 55 "If at First You Don't Succeed, Pie and Pie Again"- Post-Prank Discourse........................................................................... 60 Notes........................................................................................... 65 VI. SUBVERTING SPECTACULAR POLITICS: THE EUGENE ANARCHISTS FOR TORREY (EAT) CAMPAIGN............................................................... 66 """-- --- ix Page Background: The "Eugene Anarchists"............................................ 66 The Pra nk..................................................................................... 71 Getting the Joke.......................................................................... 75 Notes.......................................................................................... 82 VII. CONCLUSION................................................................................... 84 Anarchists, Pranksters, Tricksters, and Clowns.................................... 84 Some Thoughts on the Efficacy of Pra nks........................................ 86 The Last Laugh: An Endorsement................................................... 88 Notes........................................................................................... 90 APPENDIX A. METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDE RATIONS. ...................................... 91 B. PRANK ART............................................................................... 97 BIBLIOGRAPHY......................................................................................... 102 X LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Detourned Cartoon......................................................................... 31 2. Image from Paris 1968...................................................................... 31 3. "Joe Chemo," from Adbusters.......................................................... 37 4. "Obsession for Women," from Adbusters............................................ 37 5. "Liberated" Billboard....................................................................... 38 6. Anti-Feminist Phyllis Schaffly Receives Her "Just Desserts"........................ 56 7. EAT Flyer, circa December 1999......................................................... 74 8. Calvin Klein Advertisement from the Issue SPIN Magazine (March 2000) that Featured an Article on the "Eugene Anarchists"..................... 79 9. EAT flyer, Detourned SPIN Image....................................................... 80 l 0. Barbie Liberation Organization Instructions....................................... 98 11. Detourned Parking Ticket................................................................ 99 12. Stickers.........................................................................................
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