5/30 John Fiske's and John Jordan's Readings

 Angel Truong 5/30 Fiske’s and Jordan’s Readings Journal

            This week’s article conveys how forms of resistance are most efficient when it tackles the issue without violence or capitalism. John Jordan’s readings on the Reclaim the Streets movement illustrates how protest can be acknowledged without violence. The movement includes parties in the streets to fight political issues such as the car industry. This typed of protest reminded me of the one we watched in class about flash mobs in India that protest for LGBT rights. In the end, both used art and popular culture to fight for political issues and it was effective since both are recognized without major criticism compare to violent protests. However, nonviolent acts can also be ineffective especially if they deal with capitalism. In the article, “Shopping for Pleasure”, John Fiske’s argues that shopping is not a form of everyday resistance for women to fight against patriarchy because in the end, the market wins and it is known to be dominated by males. Stereotypically, shopping is deemed a female activity where women assert all the power making it a hobby that promotes feminism. However, shopping is a capitalistic leisure where everyone, especially women, are consumers that feed the economy and market. In other words, shopping manipulates women to believe it is where they dominate the world but in the end, the market wins allowing private corporates to exploit laborer and run the economy by drawing in consumers. So, even everyday forms of resistance, such as shopping, can be ineffective if it involves the market. Therefore, when it comes to fighting with culture, whether through subtle everyday resistance or open protests, the best way to do so is through culture itself away from capitalism and power control. 

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