I can't believe I have to type this.
Seriously though, I have a *lot* of issues with the so-called war on
drugs, and while I don't necessarily think it was initiated as any
overtly racist/classist movement, it certainly has become that to some
degree. It's destructive in all manners, and does the opposite of its
so-called original goal.
But the issue is the use of one's music in an ad that may be tangentially
or more than tangetially tied to "the war on drugs". There are too many
unknown variables involved to just easily pin RDJ as a supporter of the
war on drugs. You just can't collapse an ominous pool of factors into one
simple induction.
First off, are we all certain RDJ approved this? There still are cases of
sponsors that don't do rights checks or ask permission to use music in
their spots before asking the artists in question.
Hell, we like to argue. Let's just ASS-U-ME that RDJ knew about this....
Second, who *exactly* sponsored the ad? Was it D.A.R.E.? Was it
something similar? I'm curious, because for all we know, the sponsors
may not necessarily be the top-of-the-castle evil illuminati behind "the
war on drugs". I'm in support of programs that will, say, keep elementary
school kids away from drugs. In fact, in a perfect world, persuasion away
from dangerous drugs (and I don't consider pot, certain psychedelics,
alcohol, nicotine, and similarly potent drugs to be dangerous) for all of
society is a beneficial thing, IMHO. The problem is the illegalization,
simplicity of the message without some basic education, and the resulting
societal taboo and accompanying prejudices thereof. Public service
announcements telling people about the danger of certain drugs isn't
necessarily contributing to the evil. I stress "necessarily".
But hell, let's take it closer to the line. Suppose RDJ did get asked by
Mr. War On Drugs, Inc. himself to get the rights to use some music for the
ads, knowing full well that Mr. WOD is helping to put more unprivileged
addicted blacks in prison. Hell, I'm taking it *to* the line. Let's say
RDJ is friends with Mr. WOD, and has a working business relationship with
him, and that he likes to crack (haw haw, fully intentional pun there)
jokes about blacks in prison. Would that stop me from listening to and/or
buying his music?
I'd say, probably not. Yes, it's a lot harder to support an artist who
you know is conspicuously closely knit to an institution you find
offensive..or support an artist who you find has just plain offensive
things to say. But what about the 90% of your spending money that
supports equally evil things that you *don't* know about? You'd be a
hypocrite if you said you'd stop listening to or buying RDJ for political
reasons, while blindly spending your money at places that eventually
trickle down or up to the same evil bastards you chastised RDJ over.
Unless you lived an isolated anarcho-agricultural lifestyle. This may
disappoint the hardcore on the list.. but I know that, personally, I'm not
cut out for that. And I'm not about to try.
The notion of boycotting an artist that gives a thumbs up to or gets
solicited for work by organizations you find offensive is pretty silly
anyway. Tell people about the injustices of the organizations in question.
Not buying Stereolab records for selling songs to Verizon Wireless or
Volkswagen does absolutely nothing for your fight against the latter two.
(Assuming there is something to fight against them for)...
"Exposing" RDJ -- assuming he even approved of the use of the track in
the spot, and that he stands by the decision -- will similarly do nothing
to stop the drug war. Continuing to buy RDJ material will similarly do
nothing to support it. Again, assuming this was a conscious decision on
his part...which most of us don't know yet.
=======================================================================
Brian MacDonald <brianm@kuci.org>
=======================================================================
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org
For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org