Culture
Jamming
By Jessica Reynolds and John Walsh
What is Culture Jamming?
A movement that "seeks to undermine the marketing
rhetoric of multinational corporations, specifically through
such practices as media hoaxing, corporate sabotage,
billboard “liberation,” and trademark infringement.
(Harold, p. 190)
The use of a commonly known medium for the
purpose of sending an opposing message than
originally intended.
Culture Jamming Theory
Disrupting the corporate transmissionInciting change
Forcing corporations to give an answer for their actions
A hoax Joey Skaggs and his cathouse for dogs
Artistic appropriation A way in which one can express themselves through a
medium already existing.
What is culture jamming?
How does culture jamming affect
you the consumer?
The nike corporation may not be responding to jams by these movement
groups (such as Adbusters), but localized footwear stores have been reported
changing their inventory and promotion strategies to prevent the sale of shoes
made in a sweatshop.
Has anyone noticed this type of change while shopping?
Does culture jamming incite change?
As a consumer, does culture jamming affect the way you
shop/eat/interact in your own community?
Do you feel that messages should be targeted towards the
corporation producing a product or the consumer?
What message are these images sending?
Which one sends incites a call to action?
Artistic Appropriation
Can the idea of rhetorical sabotage be used
with other intentions than targeting
inappropriate business practices?
with what we know about remediation from this
class, could we consider some of these jams as
just an artistic remediation of something that was
not necessarily intended to be artistic?
Jamming on TV
•
Colbert Report
o
Rock Me like A Herman Cain South Cain-olina Rally
 "And I say if they are calling being allowed to form a super PAC
and collect unlimited, untraceable amounts of money from
individuals, unions and corporations, and spend that money on
political ads and personal enrichment, and then surrender that
super PAC to one of my closest friends while I explore a run for
office, if that is a joke, then they are saying that our entire
campaign finance system is a joke."
o
Petitioning Federal Election Commission for
candidacy in 2008 and 2012
 Colbert participates in the political process by showing hidden
intricacies. He hopes through his actions other will become follow.
Jamming on TV (2)
• Daily Show with Jon
Stewart
o Rally to Restore Sanity
 Over 200,000 people from all

over the United States went
to Washington, D.C. to show
their support for a more
honest media, more honest
politics, and a more informed
public.
Uses statements and
situtions involved in politics
and twists them to show
flaws in an interesting and
artistic way
Jamming in the News
•
Biotic Baking Brigade
Jamming on the Web
•
Improv Everywhere
o pulls off comedy "missions," spreading its message
via the Web.
Corporate Jams
•
Adbusters
o
Black Spot Campaign
Jamming in the Cinema
-Although culture jamming may
question the power of
corporations and the power
of wealth, movies that are
supposed to question the
status quo generate
millions of dollars
themselves that do not fund
their cause?