Comments on: Don’t be surprised http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:15:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Anonymous http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260024 Anonymous Thu, 30 Jun 2005 10:16:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260024 Look beyond Bob to the mesmerising power of the Starbucks marketing lingo. Positively hypnotic. <br/>One of yesterday's heroes has been invaded by the bodysnatchers.<br/>In today's SMH, Starbuck executive Ken Lombard is quoted thus:<br/>'We're focusing on providing our customers with unique opportunities. We want the music customer to think of Starbucks as a destination. [Gaslight Cafe] captures an important moment in the history of the coffee house culture.'<br/>Hello? If you still have your senses after that onslaught, reach for a critical analysis of an increasingly hegemonic language.<br/>The French were smart enough to see it coming, but not smart enough to couch their disdain in language that mere mortals can understand.<br/>Starbucks vs the French at ten paces. The answer, my friend is blowing out your arse.<br/>ej Look beyond Bob to the mesmerising power of the Starbucks marketing lingo. Positively hypnotic.
One of yesterday’s heroes has been invaded by the bodysnatchers.
In today’s SMH, Starbuck executive Ken Lombard is quoted thus:
‘We’re focusing on providing our customers with unique opportunities. We want the music customer to think of Starbucks as a destination. [Gaslight Cafe] captures an important moment in the history of the coffee house culture.’
Hello? If you still have your senses after that onslaught, reach for a critical analysis of an increasingly hegemonic language.
The French were smart enough to see it coming, but not smart enough to couch their disdain in language that mere mortals can understand.
Starbucks vs the French at ten paces. The answer, my friend is blowing out your arse.
ej

]]> By: Antony Loewenstein http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260021 Antony Loewenstein Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:53:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260021 Have heard of Amandla but not seen it. I think it's been on SBS, or if not, maybe soon... Have heard of Amandla but not seen it. I think it’s been on SBS, or if not, maybe soon…

]]> By: Iqbal Khaldun http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260020 Iqbal Khaldun Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:34:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260020 Yeah it's why pop culture is such a paradox. Music can be a terrific instrument for social change. It can as easily be an empty cash cow for big business. In developed nations it tends to be the latter. But in many other nations big music stars are icons for social movements. Have you seen the excellent Amandla? It's a documentary re the music of the anti-Apartheid struggle. Yeah it’s why pop culture is such a paradox. Music can be a terrific instrument for social change. It can as easily be an empty cash cow for big business. In developed nations it tends to be the latter. But in many other nations big music stars are icons for social movements. Have you seen the excellent Amandla? It’s a documentary re the music of the anti-Apartheid struggle.

]]> By: Antony Loewenstein http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260019 Antony Loewenstein Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:56:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260019 Yep, saw Alice Cooper. I remember reading he loved the Bush doctrine. Seems like Alice has been reading his PNAC briefings. Such hiariously simplistic view of the world. Still, he's a rock God, I s'pose, though never did much for me. Yep, saw Alice Cooper. I remember reading he loved the Bush doctrine. Seems like Alice has been reading his PNAC briefings. Such hiariously simplistic view of the world. Still, he’s a rock God, I s’pose, though never did much for me.

]]> By: Iqbal Khaldun http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260018 Iqbal Khaldun Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:41:00 +0000 http://antonyloewenstein.com/blog/2005/06/30/dont-be-surprised/#comment-260018 Yeah sadly not that surprising, as you write. On a number of occasions in the recent past, Dylan has said he's no counterculture revolutionary.<br/><br/>Did you catch Alice Cooper's interview on Denton? Man, what a total paper tiger! Yeah sadly not that surprising, as you write. On a number of occasions in the recent past, Dylan has said he’s no counterculture revolutionary.

Did you catch Alice Cooper’s interview on Denton? Man, what a total paper tiger!

]]>