A return to the old blog...
I heard an intelligent speaker on the radio today as I was driving to lunch. Benjamin Barber. I kept silently nodding with every statement. He spoke about people as consumers, and the prevailing conditions in our lives (built environment, etc) which help perpetrate this role in our society. He spoke of how, throughout history, town halls, squares, markets, etc. -tracing back to the ancient greek agora- were not only places where citizens would exchange goods and services, but they were the epicenters of culture, and often politics. Comparing this to our world today, I think about how consumer/pop culture is so distanced from politics AND culture. In fact, in order for politicians/parties to appeal to the average consumer, they must define themselves as a brand, market their product strategically, advertise, poll.
I remember a quote from Paul Virilio, whose texts I started reading this summer: "the opinion poll is the election of tomorrow, it is the virtual democracy of the virtual city."
These are all random thoughts that somehow make sense to me, but for now, this is it.

Recently watched film: Vicky Christina Barcelona...thanks Woody!