Beyond political satire
Tom Lehrer did say that “the awarding of the [Nobel peace] prize to Kissinger made political satire obsolete”. We had to wait for the beginning of the 21st century to see a better show.
It seems that while I was away from my terminal, George Galloway, leader of the Respect Coalition, figurehead of the international anti-war movement, and MP for Bethnal Green & Bow, is taking part in the latest Celebrity Big Brother show. While he is being demolished outside, by the mainstream press, by pariementary attendance and cost revelations, but also (and most amusingly) radical circles, in the show he pretended to be a cat and drank milk out of Countess Rula’s hand (video here — god bless google).
At this point I would love to provide some political critique, or even crack a clever joke. But this situation is such a parody of itself that it has left me speechless.
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It is indeed very funny. I guess the obvious ultra-left response, mind you, is that Galloway’s move from one form of mediated capitalist spectacle to another is hardly worth commenting on.
Comment by tim @ 1/24/2006 11:08 pm
I saw a bit of big brother last night. Galloway seems to have become rather emotionally involved with Michael Barrymore. He was shouting at him for having betrayed him, and for only caring about himself. Barrymore, at one point, said “No wonder Blair got rid of you”.
Good to hear from you, Manos. Hope all is well.
Comment by rachel @ 1/25/2006 4:52 am
Fantastic stuff — I only now remember that you had mentioned before that ‘Elections are like Big Brother for the political classes’. I should therefore not have been so shocked — I agree.
Class War has issues an, as usually, flipant commentary:
http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/01/332233.html
Priceless!
Lots of love -
Comment by manos @ 1/25/2006 1:07 pm
There’s a great discussion at Dissensus, too. And a torrent of Galloway getting evicted at UKNova.
Comment by tim @ 1/27/2006 7:57 pm