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    Uncut Flashmobs: Undermining the Power Structure Through Humor and Humiliation

    The so-called ‘Father of the Egyptian Revolution’ was the shy and relatively unknown former peace activist now turned orchid-grower Gene Sharp.  Now 83, Sharp is slowing down, but is about to publish another book, and must marvel at the success his writings on nonviolent revolution and especially “From Dictatorship to Democracy,” which was used as an overarching guide to revolutions, both successful and failed, around the world, including Serbia, Myannmar, Burma, Tunisia, Egypt and different of the color and blossom revolutions.  A Wikileaks cable said a year ago that Syrian dissidents were training with Sharp’s work.

    He has been the object of various smear campaigns by autocrats including Hugo Chavez and top Iranian officials, one of which included a cartoon video portraying Sharp as a CIA agent teaming up with John McCain and George Soros to overthrow Iran’s government. (grin)Sharp had studied Gandhi and Thoreau and subscribed to their notions that: (from the NYT)

    ”… power is not monolithic; that is, it does not derive from some intrinsic quality of those who are in power. For Sharp, political power, the power of any state - regardless of its particular structural organization - ultimately derives from the subjects of the state. His fundamental belief is that any power structure relies upon the subjects' obedience to the orders of the ruler(s). If subjects do not obey, leaders have no power.


    In Sharp's view all effective power structures have systems by which they encourage or extract obedience from their subjects.

    States have particularly complex systems for keeping subjects obedient. These systems include specific institutions (police, courts, regulatory bodies) but may also involve cultural dimensions that inspire obedience by implying that power is monolithic (the god cult of the Egyptian pharaohs, the dignity of the office of the President, moral or ethical norms and taboos). Through these systems, subjects are presented with a system of sanctions (imprisonment, fines, ostracism) and rewards (titles, wealth, fame) which influence the extent of their obedience.

    Sharp identifies this hidden structure as providing a window of opportunity for a population to cause significant change in a state. Sharp cites the insight of Étienne de La Boétie, that if the subjects of a particular state recognize that they are the source of the state's power they can refuse their obedience and their leader(s) will be left without power.”

    The nonpartisan group International Center on Nonviolent Conflict had gone to Cairo a number of years ago and taught tactics from Sharp’s 198 Methods of Nonviolent Action.  Now famous activist Dahlia Ziada attended the workshops, tailored flash scenarios to her imaginings, and communicated them widely through Facebook.

    They followed Sharp’s dictate that non-violence is best pragmatically, as any violence provokes autocrats to crack down, and “If you fight with violence,” Mr. Sharp said, “you are fighting with your enemy’s best weapon, and you may be a brave but dead hero.”

     Followers have learned that every autocrat or powerful entity has weaknesses; they provide an opportunity for skewering them with either humor, fact, or outrage, or sometimes all twined together.

    Of the 198 tactics listed at Sharp’s A[lbert]Einstein website, some included are: protest parades with flags, lights or symbolic colors, mock funerals,  skits and plays in public, walk-outs, vigils, displays of protest art, protest singing, picketing, mock awards ceremonies, leaflets and pamphlets at events, symbolic reclamations of institutions, public disrobing (assumedly as symbolic of suffering or casting-off of oppression)…

    So that’s the background.  Now: US Uncut is encouraging and coordinating Flashmob actions around the nation; they seem to have riotous fun delivering their messages.  They really want to let you know that if an action isn’t planned in your area, MAKE IT HAPPEN!  The sky would be the limit, but I do love the production numbers with song and dance, which would obviously take some writing, rehearsal and musicians.  But think of the community-building that would occur during the efforts.  There are other youtubes, but this is the most recent one from San Francisco at our favorite bank: Bank of America.  Cue the production (hope you enjoy it):

    (cross-posted at My.firedoglake)

     

     

     

     

    Comments

    I have been following the Flash Mobs for a while and they can be very effective when pulled off with skill. One of the things I noticed about those that impressed me was that they were or appeared to be completely spontaneous.  That those involved do not stand out initially at all but appear to be just part of the crowd.

    Street theatre, which this is, is the most difficult to do well. It does not require much talent just very good organization and planning. Since you have no change to rehearse in the chosen venue. But if you are successful, you not only leave an impression but may also have a number of people join in which is even better.

    A good thing to do is to pick as your performance something, a song or part of a play etc., that is already familiar to you audience.

    Personally I would love to do the rag pickers speech from The Madwoman of Chaillot  and perform it in front of a big Stock Brokerage Firm.

     


    Cool idea, C.  But as I said, I picture rehearsals, too, and others can join in with a core group.  We used to do christmas caroling like that.  But it would seriously build relationships to get together in advance, maybe write song parodies that were easy to remember.  Or even some cue cards.

    Some drumming could be cool, too, with poetry or satiric diaogue.  Damn; it's the sort of thing I would have loooooved to get together.  Facebook could act as promoters, or ads on craigslist.  Gets me psyched just imaging the possibilities!


    Hummm...could you play Countess Aurelia ?

    "They have all the power and all the money and they're greedy for more."

    "They're greedy ?"

    "Yes countess"

    "If they're greedy, they're stupid. If they're greedy they're lost. If they're greedy...leave them to me."


    Could you add some swordplay?  ;o)


    You could adapt these lyrics and choregraph it; you could even find a yodeler>>>

     


    That would be a start.  But one thing you want to do is not to hit people over the head with it. You want to draw your audience in. So they have fun and/or are touched by the performance. Get them on your side.

    Huey Long was immensely popular before he was killed and quite likely would have beat FDR in the 1936 election. But even though his message was quite radical for the time (and even now) his presentation was one that drew people in. And the republicans and democrats hated him because they had nothing to counter it with, without looking like fools themselves. Which of course would play right into his hands.

    A performance that gets the message across with wit and humor and feeling and humility. And one that anyone can relate to easily.

    Political activism has a long and strong history in the theatre. See Shakespeare and Jean Giraudoux .  Among others.


    Just horsing around about the Soggy Bottom Boys, but rambunctious tunes, or well-known ones, call and response...shoot, in Egypt they used bloody footprints to denote Mubarak.  I suppose any group could pick a chosen victim, like in Britain, Vidaphone (?) maybe it was, and tailor a message.

    I do agree that drawing folks in with wit is good, humility, though, I don't understand.  I sure love the humor/satire angle though; it keeps even the police off-balance that way, and tha't's important.  I don't see that a play could work just because people would be walking by and stop in most cases. 

    The ones scheduled next week are often at 4:30, and I guess the thinking is attracting people getting off work.

    I got the burning eyes tonight and need to take a break.  thanks for the ideas: I hope you gather some folks and get one going, C.!


    I think what C means by humility could also be called subtlety. If you're trying to get a message across, you have to start out assuming perhaps half your audience doesn't instinctively agree with you. You have to lure people with the entertainment quality of your performance to stick around long enough to catch on. Think Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie.


    Pique people's curiosity, maybe.  Thanks, canuckistan.  ;o)  Sure widh I could organize one.


    I think one of the best of these I heard about was when some religious group was doing a protest march and a group of people decided to do a counter march and they all dressed up like the monks in that one Monty Python bit and did the whole scene just like from the movie. Even the exact chants. It just drove the religious clowns nuts. The religious people quit their march and all the onlookers thought it was great. I wish I could have seen it. It must have been hilarious.


    Wasn't that demonstration in answer to Westboro folks?  I was looking at Monty Python sketches for the Complaints Dept. one, thinking if it could be adapted for a group.

    This one's UK Uncut:


    It might have been. Seems to me it was on the west coast somewhere. Anyway a couple of years ago or something.


    This the Showdown in America group in May 2010, demonstrating early on against the banks, and featured on Bill Moyers Journal:


    Well the above is more a protest march than what I would cal a Flash Mob. I am no so sure about protest marches though. Unless you are committed to do it for days at a time, they are far to easily ignored and marginalized I have been in my share of protest marches.

    A smaller well organized group showing up at some well established place and doing their thing  every weekend would be much better, I would think.


    Oopsie; operator error.


    This is sorta fun, and an honor to Gene Sharp and the Uncut folks; FDL front-paged this diary hours after it had slid off the my.fdl list into obscurity.

    http://firedoglake.com/

    http://my.firedoglake.com/wendydavis/2011/04/22/uncut-flashmobs-undermin...

     


    Just FYI, the thread over yonder had its detractors, especially concerning Sharp's Albert Einstein Insitute.  Kisses frogs provided links to Z mag and other writers who say that even the Intl. Center for Nonviolent Conflict have been so coopted by corporate money that they are ineffectual at best, arms of Imperialism at worst.  Fuck if I know, or whether or not Sharp's advice should just stand on its own.

    Anyway, some folks were jazzed by the simple ideas and humor of flashmobs, and what they might build toward, both in community for larger actions, and demonstrating that power is ceded to authority by many means that we can change.

    The arguably biggest cynic at the Lake was excited; it was pretty fun to see.  The front-page comments are often cynic-outdoing-cynic in snark, one-offs.  The attorney diarists there get more thoughtful and useful commentary and link-homework, so some long and considered comments on the thread were heart-warmingly hopeful to a DFH like myself.   ;o)

     


    Here is another good site as well.

    http://dissentingdemocrat.wordpress.com/


    Yeah; lotsa good links.  Thanks.  Gads, I used to have a file of activist populist organizations, but it appears I've mislaid it...   Used to get smacked around some at the Cafe for posting demos and such; go figure.   ;o)


    always loved that song:

     


    Yea, Dick. Cuz what we all love about this video is ... the song.

    ;0)


    Kinda wondered what he connected this song to; not to 'fight the power structure'  flashmobs.  Just more er...Dick Fantasies....but nice interlude, DD.  But no fucking way you get an award.  ;o)

    (I loathe pop.)  ;o)


    Pop goes the weasel. hahahahaah


    Happy Ten Commandments Day, Dick.  Knock yerself out!   Cool  (Not I am leaving it full-sixed for you.)


    I gotta tell ya, I was so moved by this old song, I tabbed it so I could listen to it while I responded!

    This is so delightful. I'm speechless and usually irrelevant anyway. ahahahahah


    Fantastic dancers, too -- oof!  The videos with the soundtrack in synch were all 'video embed withdrawn' or whatever.  Glad you liked it; me too.   ;o)  And try not to remember the images of Swazey dancing Baba Wawa on her special...


    I can admit it all now, cause i could give a good shite about peer acceptance...

    But when I saw this scene I went nuts. I was emotionally lifted.

    Of course, after i thought about it, I mean what the hell did the welder have to do with the 33?

    And I had to recall that Hepburn had little to do with Shaw's musical. hahahahahah


    Great song, Dick. I was touched. ;-) 


    A relative told me about the following "flashmob" incident which he witnessed; Previous to that he had never heard of the term. I googled and found the reporting on it.

    http://laist.com/2011/04/18/venice_boardwalk_shooting_happening.php

    He often goes to Venice Beach to play pick up basketball. He saw the hundreds of what he thought were clearly gang members milling about, felt the scary tension in the air, asked a cop what was going on, who said it was a flashmob set up by gangs. He heard the gunshot and saw the scattering described:

    http://laist.com/2011/04/18/venice_boardwalk_shooting_happening.php

    Which made me realize flashmobs are just a tool like any other, which can be used for good or ill. Since flashmobs are relatively new, we have mostly seen the good, the harmless and the political protests. It all seems innocent enough now. But things may not stay that way, a mob is after all, a mob, and cannot be easily controlled once formed. And then I wonder how law enforcement is going to deal with that. Either rely on snitches to report or, like in China, attempt to monitor most everything. It also made me think of how the protest against Koran burning in Afghanistan that ended up with dead UN employees was formed just like a flashmob, they just didn't need any text messages to do it, they instead had word of mouth during Friday services.


    Last-minute dance-and -music Raves were all done by text-message and social networks, too.  In this case, the hint might have been the basketball court location, the known gang members, etc.  Kinda different than a group of 20 or 40 in front of a bank or corporate headquarters at 4:30, when employees are getting off work, maximizing exposure.  And in most case, the fun music, laughter and pamphleting probably separate the Uncut kind from the Gang kind.  But yes, one commenter at fdl mentioned the probability of infiltrators; but then, who'd care?  It's all legal.  Though some in the UK were arrested, and it's not clear why. 

    It's always nice if anarchists stay the hell away from demos. IMO.  Can't figure them out, really, unless they are so bored and spoiled they need to feel powerful through throwing things through plate glass or something.


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