>>Ian Murray wrote:
>>
>>>Globalization is a theory?
>>
>>No, it's a propaganda word. Or an empty signifier.
>>
>>Doug
>
>What's a leftist to do when the word arises? Point out
>it's a propaganda word, or at most an empty signifier?
>I believe the word is gaining wider usage.
>
>From an August 20 & 27, 2001 New Yorker article on Radiohead:
>"On the other side of the table, Yorke, whose meal consisted
>of a bowl of bean soup, started complaining about pop-music
>conglomerates. He and the rest of the band have become
>politically outspoken, protesting globalization and corporate
>capitalism. The previous night, he had dedicated "No Surprises"
>--which contains the lines "Brind down the government / They
>don't speak for us--to George W. Bush. this summer, Radiohead
>have chosen to play a number of open-air venues---such as
>Liberty State Park, in Jersey City, where they are appearing on
>August 16th and 17th--because these sites have so far escaped
>the tentacles of an aggressive promotion company called S.F.X.,
>whose parent corporation, Clear Channel, also operates more than
>a thousand radio stations.
> "S.F.X. is a parasite that needs a host to feed on," Yorke said.
> "It's effective only as long as it keeps growing," O'Brien
>[guitarist-pk]
>added. "At some point, it will cease growing, and then its reason to exist
>will disappear."
> "No," Yorke replied, "it's a virus that's just going to keep
>spreading
>forever."
> Chris Hufford, one of the band's managers, who has to negotiate
>with viruses on the phone, grew impatient. "This is reality, Thom," he
>said. "This is the marketplace we're in."
> "No," Yorke replied, "the marketplace is where we sell records.
>This isn't the marketplace. It's an area of, I don't know, oversight."
> "Come on," Hufford said, "it's capitalism, it's what we have to
>work with."
> "Bollocks!"
> "Capitalism!"
> "Bollocks!" York yelled. He got up in a mock huff to go to the
>bathroom. Colin looked up from his steak and gestured toward the
>wine in the middle of the table. "Brilliant!" he exclaimed. "Booze in
>the afternoon!"
>
>[clip]
>
>Something about Radiohead inspires a disorienting kind of hope.
>Unlike so many professional cynics in the business, these musicians
>believe that their art can go still higher. They have promoted dozens
>of lesser-known, musically inventive acts, including Autechre, the Beta
>Band, Clinic, Kid Koala, Lali Puna, Sparklehorse, and, of course,
>Christoph de Babalon. They have also boosted their favorite authors,
>helping them to sell thousands of copies of Naomi Klein's
anti-globalization
>screed "No Logo."
>--------
>Peter
>