In the Paper

An ad for a major "Art Festival" sponsored by the Chicago Tribune.

Listed artists--none. (The picture may be a Picasso, but looks more likely like a 2nd rate knock off).

Listed sponsors: Zeller Realty, NBC5, American Laser Centers, Renewal(?), Dunkin Donuts, Saab, and another or two.

What a jack-off.

And it shows exactly how our society values art--which is not at all.

And who would ever go--it'll likely be attended bytourists stayin at local hotels and bored or possibly kids who think art is a currently career choice.

Oh, did I forget business folks so completely lacking mystery and meaning, so sold out, that they like even bad art they don't really like.

If you like things this way then enjoy cheap art. .99 songs, $14 books.

And stay mad at "the man".

Keep bitching about how "hard" it is.

HOW SOUL SUCKING your job is.

And keep paying for it to be that way.

But let him stay in charge.

Until he collapses from his own spiritual and creative corruption and rot.

If, on the other hand, you can imagine a world where the artists are in charge and running shit.

And the business folks would have to grovel to even get their name up at the show.

If you value what's real more than you do products or what's fake.

Then put your fucking money where your mouth is.

Skip the iPhone and buy my fucking book.

Even if it absolutely sucks, there is no quicker way to get the content you crave.

What are you going to do, watch American Idol 43--Dubuque on your 97" plasma with surround sound?

You'll pay anything for the material transmission and receiving devices and skimp and whine over a few bucks for content.

Because the charges are recurring.

This complete lack of faith determines the environment in which you live.

One with gadgets and nothing inside.

Just like the people.

Every one looking like he's got a personal stylist (yes, even the punks and goateed bohos) and none of em with anything interesting to say.

It won't take but a second to launch worldwide.

And, I promise, you'll get even more beautiful on the outside.

And you'll still have a plasma.

It's not an either/or world, folks.

It's and/and.

But you have to apply as much faith to your consumption of content as you do to material goods.

You have to fight the notion that you're not worth consuming what you want.

And that you therefore must stick to things that will either hold their value (you can re-sell a $120 book with decent demand for $80, by the way--if you don't read it by the pool), or confer social standing.

Though why the hell wouldn't a $120 book do both of those.

Better than a $14 anyway.

What are you afraid of?

Getting what you want?

Enjoying yourself?

Fucking?

Mystery?

Being shown love?

That it might involuntarily cause uncomfortable growth?

Pussies.