Censura subito!!!

by Ian F. Svenonius

Abbiamo bisogno della censura. Abbiamo bisogno di censurare le radio e i free press, di censurare i libri, l'industria cinematografica, la musica, le arti. La tanto osannata «libertà creativa» ha dato vita a un ambiente tossico, che cova violenza inespressa e ci consegna alla depressione, al suicidio, allo sterminio. È da queste paradossali premesse che Svenonius si lancia in un tour de force che, in maniera al tempo stesso provocatoria e dotta, analizza mostri e i feticci della cultura di massa, si tratti di Ikea, di Apple, dei processi di gentrification o della musica indie. E alla fine non ci resta che un'opzione soltanto: bannare, bruciare, abolire fino alla rieducazione.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Music, Philosophy, Politics, Art, Sociology

208 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2015

About the author

Ian Svenonius is an American musician, notable as the singer and mouthpiece of various Washington, D.C.-based music groups including The Nation of Ulysses, The Make-Up, Weird War, and Chain and the Gang. With his projects, Svenonius has released more than 15 full-length albums and more than 20 singles, EPs, and splits. Svenonius is also a published author and an online talk show host.

Svenonius’ first band, The Nation of Ulysses, formed in 1988, and were influential in the early Washington D.C. punk scene. The band broke up in 1992 after failing to record their third studio album. After a short-lived side-project called Cupid Car Club, Svenonius formed The Make-Up in 1995, who combined garage rock, soul, and a so-called “liberation theology” to make a new genre they dubbed “Gospel Yeh-Yeh.” The Make-Up dissolved early in 2001, and a year later, Svenonius formed the band Weird War, who were also known briefly as the Scene Creamers. Svenonius’ solo work includes the 2001 album Play Power under the fictional pseudonym of David Candy, the book The Psychic Soviet, and as host of Soft Focus on VBS.tv. Svenonius’ projects and writings have all shared an anti-authoritarian, populist, tongue-in-cheek political agenda.

Reviews

[Tyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every now and then, I come across a worldview which is fascinating and challenges my preconceptions. Sevenonius is a local musician in the DC post punk scene of some renown. This collection of essays ranges widely from the ills of an Apple word where we no longer have physical music to Ikea, as a capitalist mind control tool. Some of the thoughts and theories are wildly off the mark, but the essay on how dancing eventually became an individual pursuit instead of dancing as couples and how this lead to greater alienation and replaced insinuations of sexual intimacy with actual alienating sex is a thought-provoking piece. The author is a Marxist, but something else too, interested in social justice and escaping the confines of a world where our hopes, desires and outlook are increasing shaped by media and how the controllers of this media affect us.

Ultimately, I disagree with the author's worldview but found the insightful pieces thought-provoking. it's good to have your outlook challenged regularly or one can become complacent.

[Teresa M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rife with satire and strange, esoteric connections from religion to sex to capitalism to Ikea implementing "divide and conquer" tactics on looming couples. Many relatable and laughably poignant conclusions. Sometimes hard to gauge what is pure postulating and what he actually believes, is still pretty impressive for the creativity he brings to every idea. Just a hands down post-gonzo prose of wacky occultism.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Esta colección de ensayos no pasa de un shitposting glorificado. Es una experiencia realmente frustrante de leer en algunos momentos el autor realmente consigue juntar hechos y hacer remarques interesantes pero la mayor parte del tiempo se limita a hacer comentarios completamente surrealistas mientras va cambiando de tema en tema según como le haya caído la comida mientras escribía. Se que el libro es supuesto de ser una sátira con elementos de critica reales pero en el momento que es imposible conseguir distinguir la sátira del comentario sin previo contexto a referencias hechas, o peor aun cuando inclusive entendiendo el chiste se siente de muy mal gusto no pasa de crear un libro que mas haya de conseguir crear teoria política con el fin de educar a las masas lo unico que podrá conseguir es en el mejor de los casos enfurecer a los pseudo intelectuales que el autor tanto denuncia y en el peor de los casos confundir al proletariado, difundir ideas intencionalmente incompatibles o crear una nueva onda de pseudo revolucionarios que en una profesia auto cumplida difunden la palabra de un libro hecho para ridicularizarlos.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

What starts out as a promising polemic--cantankerous, contentious, unorthodox but insightful--becomes, by a quarter way through, a tedious screed about our admittedly fucked-up culture, unmoored from actual lived life: the sort of rant an autodidact living in a second-hand trailer in the woods of Ishpeming might be prone to with no one around to offer a reality check.

[Óscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libro muy interesante en el cual nos cuenta cómo a través del "arte" cambio todo el sistema y cambiamos nosotros. Quizás a veces un pelín lento en ciertas partes, pero muy recomendable.

[Marianna Rainolter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Allora questo libro prometteva dalla sinossi di parlare di perché la censura è necessaria, forse in questo periodo più che mai prima. Lo dice e spiega in parte nel primo capitolo, per il resto delle pagine poi parla di altro. Parla di diversi argomenti che sono legati alla nostra società, cose non necessariamente vere ma sulle quali si potrebbe maggiormente riflettere perché ci sono dei comportamenti sbagliati o dati per scontati ma che sono problematici. Ci sono delle riflessioni anche interessanti ma quello che titolo e quarta promettevano non c'è stato. Inoltre ho trovato poca coerenza tra i diversi capitoli (ognuno l'ho trovato fine a se stesso, che non si collegava per nulla ne al precedente che al seguente). Sono rimasta alquanto delusa, volevo che l'argomento della censura venisse maggiormente approfondito e spiegato perché essendo dell'opinione che la censura sia inutile, mi aspettavo che questo libro mi dicesse invece perché fosse assolutamente necessaria. E non l'ha fatto.

[Derek Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Low-brow Zizek.

Hot take essays and critical theory takes can generally be pretty liberal with "facts". This is permissible if we can suspend our disbelief just long enough to get the juicy payout of ~~perspective~~. Foucault gets a lot of things factually wrong, but bearing with his inaccuracies is both possible and worthwhile.

Censorship Now!! makes wild claims with no factual basis in a desperate attempt to tie together the disparate ends of very, very tepid takes. The title essay is a good Rah-Rah piece (works better on the art gallery wall than on the page though, imo), but everything else falls very, very short.

[Bruno Borges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publicado em Portugal pela Chili com Carne, "Censura Já!!"é um ataque sério às indústrias culturais, expondo com humor e ironia o mais absurdo da vida no sistema capitalista. Guardo comigo a ideia, desenvolvida no livro por Svenonius, de que os artista são os novos padres ao serviço da sociedade burguesa.

[Tomàs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Esperava més. Fora d'alguna reflexió encertada i interessant, com la de l'origen i la finalitat -i la justificació individual, que és el més interessant!- de les propines, em fa la sensació que es queda en un intent desgavellat d'establir paral•lelismes -exageradament amb calçador- entre els mecanismes econòmics de control de l'art, la cultura i la societat i la forma mateixa dels productes artístics, els constructes culturals i les convencions socials que, pense, naixen de casualitats o costums arbitraris i no de la malignitat dels poderosos. Podem estar d'acord en sospitar d'ells i identificar-los com a causa de la desigualtat i la injustícia, però d'ahí a pensar que tots els elements de la nostra existència i, sobretot, l'oci són ordres guvernamentals subliminals hi ha un bon tros.
M'ha quedat el regust de pamflet conspiranoic (que ho és, i ho avisa) excessivament artificial i artificiós, i me l'hauria empassat molt més fàcilment si estiguera escrit d'una manera més accessible i planera, no tan rimbombant, i amb referents més propers i menys rebuscats, però la lectura ha estat farragosa en molts moments, i crec que no és tant cosa de la traducció com de l'estil de l'autor. Encara així, he de reconéixer-li alguns punts punyents, dels que et mouen a qüestionar-te coses que dones per fetes.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was struck by the excerpts from this book in Frances Stark's contribution to The Whitney Museum's Biennial exhibit. And though the concept of censorship as a solution to much of the problems with our culture that Svenonius describes is preposterous, it seemed like he had some really mordant things to say about modern consumer culture. But alas, after the first chapter or two, this basically devolves into hackneyed theories about various aspects of pop culture, mostly contemporary popular music, that are no better than something one would read in Rolling Stone magazine. It was quite a disappointment. Certainly read Debord or Baudrillard if you're into something a bit more incisive. This book is only a weak simulacrum. (har har!)

[Adam Meek · Rating 3 out of 5]

SPECIAL OFFER
The libraries are where the children of the world go to learn.
Unfortunately, neither the libraries nor the children have
any money.
The degenerate agenda of the elite is to starve the world
of knowledge.
BUT NOW, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
You can buy your local library a copy of the new lan F. Svenonius book CENSORSHIP
NOW!! or the older lan F. Svenonius books SUPERNATURAL STRATEGIES FOR MAKING A ROCK 'N' ROLL GROUP and THE PSYCHIC SOVIET, and
surepitiously slip it onto the shelf while no one is looking. Then, when some lost, confused, and anxious tot comes in, thirsty for knowledge, he or she need not be denied.
HIDE ONE TODAY.

[Riley McKenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really good and sometimes kind of funny. The end I really liked when the group of people was talking to the backwards record. Though at sometimes feels like he may be reaching into conspiratorial thinking, for example, when he's talking about the casting for the heathers movie I thought his thinking might be reaching a little. Also there was a point when he was talking about guitar chords acting like allegories for warfare armies and what not. Other than that though the book was really thought provoking but makes me feel like a grand narrative is the reason anything happens and makes me not want to enjoy my rock and roll music. A blessing and a curse I guess

[M C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book after seeing his essay installed as large scale paintings at the Whitney. I’ve seen Ian around the Baltimore/DC area during my college years while engaged with his musical projects. He’s his own peculiar brand of legend, and I enjoyed delving into his repertoire of pop culture knowledge. In particular, his understanding of rock music’s changing face held the most interest for me. The essays were very tongue in cheek, and he makes irrational correlations within pop culture phenomena. From what I can garner about Ian, his punk rock ethos makes him no stranger to provocation. His essays are worth a read to hear Ian’s perspective, but it lacks depth of cultural analyses.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! 20/10 for this. Svenonious is a sharp witted, rock 'n' roll comrade. His sense of humour is on point and his reference points far reaching. Censorship Now!! is some rare magic for someone with interest in rock music, art, socialism AND a desire to laugh at the neoliberal dungheap. His penned theories range from the beguiling and thought-provoking, to delirious and down right batty - but this makes one love his screwball genius even more. I'm glad the CIA haven't bumped him off! Only a matter of time...

[Lorenzo Coltellacci · Rating 2 out of 5]

Il capitolo introduttivo lasciava presagire approfondimenti tout court su quella che può e deve essere la censura oggi, con un piglio arguto e sottilmente satirico. E soprattutto sui benefici di una censura, volta al ritorno di uno scopo più rivoluzionario dell'arte.

Peccato poi il libro si perda in ragionamenti spesso slegati tra loro, spesso frutto più di considerazioni e voli pindarici personali dell'autore piuttosto che di ricerche e studi (dov'è la bibliografia??) fattuali.

Salvo i capitoli sul Twist e sullo Zucchero, davvero molto interessanti, ma per il resto: delusione.

[Colin Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Reminds me of when a student will go on a tirade about some conspiracy theory being true based on sketchy evidence, what the heard their parents say and the dark web. My absolute favorite part is when sugar is labelled as the reason behind the major conflicts in history due to its drug-like properties. Really takes religion, trade, land and relationships out of the equation and definitively makes a quality argument about the desire of humankind's sugar high.

[Madeleine · Rating 2 out of 5]

a. ian, calm down about rock and roll !!!!!!!!!
b. and pls get some analysis of gender and race and disability
c. the whitney biennial hyped me up w/the really good first chapter in this book :( but check frances stark's painting of this bc it made me scream and laugh

[Brian Beahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the first 3 essays. I was not as much into all the music essays. Don't get me wrong they are interesting, they just didn't interest me that much. Worth the read if you get the chance.

[Ike Mustard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Para nada lo que me había esperado en un principio. Tiene momentos descacharrantes, absurdos, estúpidos, clarividentes, inspirados y deliberadamente crípticos por igual. A ratos extremadamente divertido, a ratos infumable y disparatado.

[Derek Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining and sarcastic, broadly correct in its political analyses but I'm not any more convinced by Svenonius's forays into vampire lore here than I was by his similar excursions in The Psychic Soviet, and his analysis of Heathers is bonkers. Or is it?

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first essay is incredibly thought-provoking, though the rest were hit or miss for me in terms of bringing forth actual depth in my own thoughts rather than simply reading along in bafflement. Potentially great, but perhaps best read in snippets rather than straight through

[Murphy Daley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is awesome.like Oscar wild if he were a grad student

I have not found true underground thinking in years

This is so refreshing

I forgot
Nothing is sacred

Question everything
And don’t take it too seriously

[Mugren Ohaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some really good essays in it

[Miquel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entre la estracanada y lo conspiranoico, entre sus líneas, se pueden entre ver algunas verdades.

[Jordi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5. Bon recull d’assajos sobre la cultura occidental i les eines i tàctiques del capitalisme per perpetuar el seu domini a nivell mundial de formes que ens passen desapercebudes, entre d’altres.

[Miguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó mucho sobretodo el último capítulo buena lectura muy fluida la escritura e interesante

[Rel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another top-notch Svenonius. Learn why censorship is good, actually, and how The Twist and The Pill dovetailed. As always, great rock 'n' roll content/writing and ...communism (?).

[Carlos · Rating 1 out of 5]

De lo peor que he leído últimamente. Batiburrillo de teorías locas cuyas explicaciones no tienen ni pies ni cabeza.

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a DNF, the entire book read like an excerpt on the back of a book, funny since it has none. Strong energy and wild pace, bot bad but just not for me.

[lupo ⋆.˚⟡ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5