Posted by Elisa o n February 13th, 2009
I created this remix to highlight the commodification of race in the 2009 inauguration. The efforts to commemorate our first black President through the buying and selling of Obama products actually erased a history of radical struggle, turning black identity into another resource appropriated by the mainstream to produce capital.
Created solely from television footage collected on Inauguration Day 2009, this remix examines the illusion that racial equality can be bought, sold and “held on to”. While talk of inter-racial harmony permeated mainstream news networks, the reality of race relations remains an issue of white privilege, something that consumerism and commodification cannot solve. Through the commodification of blackness, whites are able to purchase race relations and the false image of solidarity rather than take into account and acknowledge their own white privilege.
See my previous remixes as well as essays and articles here.
You can watch the remix on Youtube here
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Category: short film
Topic Tags: consumerism, elections, government, identity correction, obama, presidency, race, television
Posted by Jonathan o n November 1st, 2008
Another election debate remix critical of the current system – this one from 236.com. The video uses carefully synced-up CNN footage from all three presidential debates to highlight the repeated use of well rehearsed talking points by both candidates. If watching the debates gave you a funny feeling of déjà vu each time, this remix is definitely for you.
Category: political speech
Topic Tags: elections, mccain, obama, presidency
Posted by Jonathan o n October 31st, 2008
Remixer TV Sheriff has teamed up with drum and bass duo ColdCut to create a new multi-layered mash-up video just in time for the US election. In this blog I have tried to include election remix videos that are critical of the election process or the presidency in general rather than showcasing all the numerous remixes that simply support a particular candidate.
This intense remix style is less than subtle in its content and is described as an “all-out AV assault on an American media machine.” In the past I have refrained from posting some of the Sheriff’s other remix work because of his promotion of various conspiracy theories, though I personally find this video to be more on-point. A quick search of youtube for TV Sheriff will find more of his other work if you want to see.
Category: music video
Topic Tags: elections, mccain, News, obama, presidency, television, voting
Posted by Jonathan o n October 22nd, 2008
My latest Political Remix Video transforms the US presidential debates into a new reality show by combining the PBS/BBC debate broadcasts with the Fox show So You Think You Can Dance. In this re-imagined narrative the judges are far more honest (and tough) on the candidates stances around issues of war, oil drilling, nuclear energy and so called “clean coal” than any mainstream news media today.
So You Think You Can Be President is a new reality television show where candidates compete for American votes! Presidential hopefuls must present their positions on major issues in front of our live studio audience then face hard-hitting critiques from our panel of judges. Viewers at home will delight in the spectacle as candidates are challenged in ways never before seen in mainstream media. In this week’s episode, only two weeks before the election, Senator Obama and Senator McCain have their feet held to the fire over shockingly similar positions on energy and foreign policy. Who will be this season’s champion and take home the grand prize? You’ll have to watch and decide for yourself, then participate in the show by casting a vote* for your favorite performer on November 4th!
*Some restrictions may apply. In certain areas these include, but are not limited to, faulty electronic voting systems, racist voter laws and/or voter roll purges. See your local polling place for details.
APPROPRIATED SOURCE MATERIAL:
So You Think You Can Dance – Season 3 & 4
2008 US Presidential Debates – 1, 2 & 3 PBS, BBC, PBS
Road to the White House – MSNBC
“The Politics of Dancing” - by Re-Flex
Category: televison show
Topic Tags: elections, environment, mccain, obama, presidency, voting, war
Posted by Jonathan o n September 17th, 2008
Bryan Boyce remixes George W. Bush and Al Gore from the 2000 election race with classic home shopping network voices to have both candidates literally selling the campaign for president. A pointed comment on how candidates are bought and sold in much the same way as other products on television. This Political Remix Video is finally available on youtube along with Boyce’s other video work.
Category: short film
Topic Tags: al gore, bush, consumerism, elections
A remix from 1992 called Read My Lips attacking George H. W. Bush on a range of issues. It was shown on MTV during the American presidential election campaign of that year. Following the video is a discussion about the mash-up on the Bill Moyers PBS program also in 1992.
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Category: music video
Topic Tags: bush sr., elections
Posted by Jonathan o n February 12th, 2008
Unlike most of the other remixes posted here, which are made entirely of appropriated material, this video uses a combination of appropriated footage from corporate news segments cut with original footage shot for the purpose. I don’t often post political remixes videos about the 08 elections and especially never any that advertise a particular candidate. Though I will post remixes that are critical or parody the election process and institution of the presidency. However this remix of the recent “yes we can” Obama music video is worth a look. While highly critical of McCain the video does not overtly endorse any candidate and so fits on this blog.
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Category: music video
Topic Tags: elections, identity correction, mccain, presidency