Information can be considered culture. The Culture is passed on from generation to generation. Today one factor that is concerning many is this passing of information.

This has triggered the invisible struggle of culture versus anticulture, and of globalization versus anti-globalisation. Culture is a thing of value that can not be priced, it took hundreds if not thousands of years to develope, based on local histories, folkloric tales, creating musical instruments from surrounding natural elements, traditional dances which tell a story that reflect local history such as grain harvest periods, water festivals, religious events, languages, art from rock walls to canvas, stone and marble sculptures, architecture that reflects an age, an empire making a visual statement to society, theatre to entertain with modes of drama , comedy, tragic tales from the ancient times to the present.

Culture that has substance and meaning and is not solely performed as a business that has a singular intent on making a profit.

Reflecting and confirming the history of humanity, providing humanity with knowledge, visual aesthetics, an essential element of entertainment that lives within man in the mind and soul.

From the Pyramids to the Great Wall of China, from Angkor Wat to the Taj Mahal, from Aboriginal rock paintings to the Maoris’ tatooed warrior faces, from Shakespeare to Dante, from Borges to Hemmingway, from Kabuki to Picasso, from the Tango to the Waltz, from Beethoven to Ma Rainey, meaningful cultural elements that lives on and on, that gladdens and uplifts the hearts of mankind. A lasting human experience that is embedded within us, a sustainable feeling that we can refer to in our memories of happiness, sadness and other areas of our feelings.

A basic human aesthetic. These cultural elements have been passed down from generation to generation. Culture is therefore a work of Milleniums.

Anitculture

The new age of industrialisation , the technological age and the new culture, et al the Anticulture. The Profit Motive is the essential element of Modern Mans new culture, in its theatre of commercialism.

Art is reduced to the singular motive of profit, Curators of Galleries demand 30-50% (paying the rent and earning an income) of the proceeds of the sale of the artwork, determining what Artwork is to be exhibited, the consumers “art interest” in many instances is based on, “Will it fit into the colour scheme of my loungeroom or my office?”

National Galleries in many countries depend on Corporate funding, this is reflected in the membership of the Galleries Executive Committees, majority of which come from the Corporate sector , in real terms a corporate determination of what Art is to be exhibited has been reduced to the level of external control.

Art that is controversial and critical of the Institutions within Society is rarely exhibited, an artist that is critical of say, a Corporations flagrant disregard for the environment may illicit a corporate response such as ” we are beyond any form of criticism as we fund the Gallery by doing this you threaten future funding arrangements.”

It is not “Art for Art sake, it is ART for the sake of PROFIT and control. This attitude and policy is now spreading like a virus throughout the established art world. Its quickly becoming a “given.”

An Art counter culture is rebelling via the internet, public art groups , graffiti artists, underground filmmakers etc. that are challenging the Art Establishment by creating their own independent audience, this is projected by the youth who feel that they have been ostracised, pushed aside as non entities, denied their inalienable rights for free and creative expression, all humans, age, creed or religious beliefs have the right to free expression.

Constructive Criticism can open a healthy debate within society, expanding views from one group to another, this may create a platform that is benefical to society, an opportunity for an age of enlightenment.

The Western Cultures of the Technological age is mirred in false advertising that promotes products that you “must have,” not what you need but what “we”the truthlying advertising agency want you to ‘Want.” Repetitive brainwashing adverts espousing how perfect this product is, lying about the products effectiveness, its quality, not the “purposelly built in obsolecence, both in its longevity and its limited fashionable timeframe.

WAIT, there is an improved better product in the marketplace, ensuring the disposability of the products cycle continues and continues, so keep buying keep consuming, wasting resources in the disposable shallow society that you live in. The limited resources that you are led to believe are Limitless, meanwhile in your frenzied life of consumerism millions throughout the world go without so that you can wear your Nikes (made in Cambodia , where a 16 hour a day worker recieves $2 a day) buy those $100 plus Nikes. SOO COOL?

Daytime TV. Turn it on.

What?? The advertisements are really different diet coke, weight watchers, indigestion pills, pills and machines that help you lose weight. Products that help you overcome the damage you have inflicted upon yourself from consuming the products from the night before. The consumer counter balancing act of the Anticulture that you now live in. You are stuck, frozen into an arena that you have no idea about, nor where you are , you go blindly on believing the truthliars and accepting the spell of consumerism. You talk about your possessions with your friends and compare notes. A cultural discussion, who is William Shakespeare? You retort, ” ohh he sells soap powder nice guy , Bill is o.k.” Your Anticulture values coming to the fore.

Concerned or concieted? You dont care, you dont know anything else, you dont know that the Western Consumer world represents 10% of the world popultion but consumes 90% of the worlds resources. A kinda state of imbalance, maybe thats why there is soo much poverty , conflict, terrorism and hatred in the world of the “have nots.”.

No, no no no you are told, people are envious of our standard of living, they are jealous, they hate us because we are more advanced. EEERRRR, the corporate exploitation continues supported by your truthlying unregulated advertising agency, the corporate cronyies at a price. Everything is for sale. Even if you are poor in our western society, you hear on Fox News the line the flagrant lopsided propaganda ” That maybe MAYBE you can be successful in the U.S. of A, you have a chance in our country to be successful.”

Translated into real terms its a” one in a million chance”, but “hey that guy won $5 million in the lottery.” OHH, did they tell you that 10 million people bought tickets at $5 a pop and there is only ONE WINNER..Shhhheee

The polluting oil giants advertise that they are “Socially responsible” one such Corporation is Chevron who have just been fined $8 billion for dumping (Texaco were taken over by Chevron who were fully aware of Texacos’ actions but still purchased Texaco in full knowledge of the environmental damage) 19 billion gallons of toxic waste into the Amazon river. The very same corporation purchased Unocals oil interest in Burma, knowing the past and present blatant human rights abuses of their new Partners: The Genocidal Military Elite of Burma.

Chevron regularly advertise that they are Socially Responsible in the Thai media, knowing that their partners are ordering the deaths of innocent civilians, usually in areas where Chevron have their oil wells.

The modern day consumer anti culture, counter balancing program and the distraction of people from the genuine cultures of history throughout the world continues on and on, wiping out vestiges of real culture.

The elite sector of society those that have enriched themselves by utilising the anticulture system of profit enriching themselves but profligate themselves to a higher level within their society and adorn themselves in expensive designer suits and frequent the Opera and theatre oulaying $500 to $1000 for a ticket.

Those who “HAVE” think to themselves “I hope I can get a GOOD SEAT at the opera.”
Those that “HAVE NOT” say to themselves “I wish I can GET A TICKET to the opera.”
We may “hope” we may “wish.”
The elite Rules.
OHH for a society full of manipulative anticulture hypocrits.

The Anticulture movement is a movement fuelled by economical interest. Advertising, political masking of consumption, lobby interests, distractions, psychological warfare, human rights violations, electronics for useless means, globalization, unregulated markets., these are anti culture values.

Globalization is an anticulture.

As the population grows society faces great unemployment, food rising prices, land conflicts and irresponsible distribution of resources.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Sun Maker’s editorial opinion.

- Article and Photos Contributed By: Michael Chahine, Dogmah Group