April 24, 2008
Because It's Harder to Fight the Man When You're Nekkid
A group hoping to capitalize on the anti-gentrification push in East Austin is now peddling a line of clothes emblazoned with the slogan, "Defend East Austin."
Cafepress vendor Hustle 4 Freedom seeks to promote "cultural, political & local awareness." The "Defend" design -- an attempt to "fight the gentrification of East Austin through fashion" -- seems to offer a vigilante solution to the current development conflict. They claim that partial proceeds from these sales will be donated to needy public programs on the east side.
"East Austin is under attack," reads the product page. 'They're tearing down the projects & creating plush condos. Support the fight in East Austin."
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i'd imagine the only people who are going to buy these are the people who hate the idea of gentrification, but secretly want to buy a home in the only place thats currently mildly attainable to them.
If the vigilante solution to east side development is some guy hawking tshirts that carry a vague threat of violence, and an even more vague promise to donate "a portion" of proceeds to unnamed "needy public programs," it may be good to look for another solution. One that could possibly solve something/anything/do any good at all.
This has got to be a joke. The graphic sucks.
The "Defend Brooklyn" t-shirts from 2000/01 had an AK-47 across the chest. Much more forceful. But sadly, just as effective.
http://www.tikaro.com/features/defend_brooklyn/
I'm going to buy a Defend East Austin tote bag for when I go to Whole Foods!
This reminds me of how a buddy of mine was drunk on the internet a couple years back and ordered 100 custom bumper stickers that proclaimed: "Keep East Austin Shitty."
Seth
egh. another battle lost, courtesy of half-assed advocacy.
Retarded.
file under: Hooray For Stupid
and who, exactly, on the east side might be predisposed to wearing fitted, ringner tee's, anyways?
According to the Daily Texan, the guy who made these is a former UT computer science student who moved to the east side 5 years ago when he was in school. He grew up in Buffalo and was inspired by the Brooklyn shirts.
In other words, he's a wannabe, and part of the problem.
"They're tearing down the projects & creating plush condos"? That's got to be an inside joke. It's probably someone who is pro-gentrification.
And seth, can I still buy one of those "Keep East Austin Shitty" bumper stickers?
Reminds me of this yahoo:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/20/AR2007022001912.html
Kenneth,
Just go to an online custom bumper sticker service and order the 'Keep East Austin Shitty' stickers. My friend quickly gave his all away. I think he paid $25 for 100.
Seth
omfg these comments are auh-mazing.
one thought.
cities change. deal with it.
heyzeus, i could not agree more!
The Comrads of the Great Eastern Bloc of Austin prefer Che Guevara on T-shirts, but like the idea of armed violence.