It is forbidden to forbid. Freedom begins by forbidding something: interference with the freedom of others.
Run comrade, the old world is behind you.
The Revolution must take place in men before occurring in things.
The walls have ears. Your ears have walls.
The act institutes the consciousness.
To desire reality is good! To realize one's desires is better.
The thought of tomorrow's enjoyment will never console me for today's boredom.
A single non-revolutionary weekend is infinitely bloodier than a month of permanent revolution.
Beneath the cobblestones is the beach.
We are all German Jews
Be salted, not sugared.
I am in the service of no one, the people will serve themselves.
The barricade blocks the street but opens the way.
Art is dead, liberate our daily life.
Life is elsewhere.
The restraints imposed on pleasure excite the pleasure of living without restraints.
The more I make love, the more I want to make the Revolution, the more I make the Revolution, the more I want to make love.
All power to the imagination!
These phrases are samples of graffiti that were posted during the May events of 1968. I found them in a book by Andrew Feenberg and Jim Freedman called When Poetry Ruled the Streets., a personal account from the perspective of two American students who were there at the time. Feenberg is of particular interest because he has recently come out with an ambitious study of the philosophical dispute/dialogue between Marcuse and Heidegger.
What is peculiar for me as a middle aged parent looking at these declarations is their utopian naivete. And I do not mean this in a disparaging way. In fact, what strikes me is how utterly foreign they are from today's "youth culture," how impossible they seem within the current ethos of terror alerts and imperial aggression. I hazard to say that we would be far better off if we were more naive.
But perhaps it is irresponsible to wish for such frivolity during such serious times? I honestly do not know. Maybe looking back at an "event" can provide insight for transformation today?
"This concerns everyone." I happened upon these -
http://www.bopsecrets.org/CF/graffiti.htm
- a few weeks ago when I was trying to source a Saint-Just quotation ("Osez!", February 26, 1794).
"Chance must be systematically explored." sounds just like Badiou, doesn't it?
Posted by: R.Mutt | July 28, 2005 at 05:57 AM
R Mutt
Thank you for the link. It looks like a great resource on the Situationists as well. I denfinitely will explore it.
Posted by: Alain | July 28, 2005 at 09:09 AM
alain,
just to mention -- and recommend -- two magnificent films by chris marker regarding mai 68:
"la joli mai" ( which actually focuses on may 67 to understand the events of 68 ); "le fond de l'air est rouge" ( the english version is titled "grin without a cat".)
i think they are available on vhs/dvd.
Posted by: hum | July 28, 2005 at 11:42 AM
er, the first film is called "le joli mai" not la...
sorry!
Posted by: hum | July 28, 2005 at 11:48 AM
hum
Thanks for the films. I will check them out.
Posted by: Alain | July 28, 2005 at 11:53 AM
alain, one further correction about le joli mai...it's about may 62, not 67 as i previously said. i think i need to recalibrate my med dosage! and stop posting!
Posted by: hum | July 28, 2005 at 11:58 AM
I feel like I'm missing the joke; was Troll of Sorrow back again by any chance?
Posted by: Matt | July 29, 2005 at 10:54 AM