Not An Alternative

Extreme Makeover: Uncle Sam in Solidarity with November 20th Day of Actions

With the help of Tio Zapata Brigada The Uncle Sam Monument in Troy NY was radicalized as a symbol in support of EZLN’s call for a general strike in solidarity with the people of Oaxaca.

This project was posted to indymedia on November 20th ‘06 and included the following text.

“In solidarity with the peoples of Mexico and on the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, N20, Uncle Sam choose to honor a real hero of freedom, Emiliano Zapata, by dressing up in his iconic garb. HE WANTS YOU to take action in support of the people’s popular movement in Oaxaca and mount pressure to end the State supported violence against the people.”

Although crudely realized, this serves as a good example of how, with a little photo manipulation (either photoshop or photographic staging), symbols on the internet can be colonized to serve the goals of whoever choses to direct their meaning. If the logic driving this project were followed as example by the Left the value of the internet as a tool for effecting change would no longer be limited to bringing attention to the way the Right and the mainstream media manipulates and constructs peoples perceptions of the world. This project participates in the direction and production of understanding. It should be taken as an example of not only a radicalization of Uncle Sam but perhaps more importantly a radicalization of how the Left uses the internet.