Mike Gravel Rocks
June 15, 2007 2:27 AM Subscribe
Former Senator and current Presidential candidate Mike Gravel (D-AK) wants you to rock the vote ... or something.
The rock thrown into the water is a nice visual metaphor, but that extended faux-surly gaze into the camera kept making me think Ceiling Cat Mike Gravel Is Watching You Masterbate.
posted by maryh at 2:36 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by maryh at 2:36 AM on June 15, 2007
What the hell? Is Brian Eno his campaign manager?
Could someone please explain this chap to a non-US resident?
posted by bunglin jones at 2:47 AM on June 15, 2007
Could someone please explain this chap to a non-US resident?
posted by bunglin jones at 2:47 AM on June 15, 2007
Hah! His name is Gravel and he threw a rock. Ha ha ha! That's hilarious! When I say GRAVEL! you say ROCK! GRAVEL! ROCK! GRAVEL! ROCK!
IT'S SIX IN THE MORNING AND I HAVEN'T SLEPT A WINK AND I THINK THIS IS HYSTERICAL SOMEBODY PLEASE PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY WITH A TIRE IRON NOW
posted by Kattullus at 2:50 AM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
IT'S SIX IN THE MORNING AND I HAVEN'T SLEPT A WINK AND I THINK THIS IS HYSTERICAL SOMEBODY PLEASE PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY WITH A TIRE IRON NOW
posted by Kattullus at 2:50 AM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
I love Mike Gravel's videos. That's where I'm a viking.
posted by psmealey at 2:55 AM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by psmealey at 2:55 AM on June 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
Bunglin jones, I think he's trying to tell prospective voters that he's willing to make waves, maybe specifically about Iraq or no.
My beef with this as an ad is that the waves he makes dissapate and soften as the camera lingers over them. Bad theater. I want to see firestorms and holy high-voltage justice frying the bitter shells of the current administration. I realize it's not useful, and dragging this style of politics into the entertainment arena cheapens the whole procces, but so be it.
posted by maryh at 3:05 AM on June 15, 2007
My beef with this as an ad is that the waves he makes dissapate and soften as the camera lingers over them. Bad theater. I want to see firestorms and holy high-voltage justice frying the bitter shells of the current administration. I realize it's not useful, and dragging this style of politics into the entertainment arena cheapens the whole procces, but so be it.
posted by maryh at 3:05 AM on June 15, 2007
Mike Gravel (American, b. 1930)
Rock the Vote (Don't Rock the Vote)
2007
Video, 2 min. 51 sec.
Mike Gravel is the originator of the "Politicist" movement, which takes elements of Dada, Fluxus and Pop Art to make a specific commentary on the state of contemporary politics, particularly the overwhelming importance of media and image and how it shapes and ultimately twists our society. Rock the Vote (Don't Rock the Vote) invites the viewer to contemplate the still and solemn vision of the artists visage. Rather than the raucous music and aggresive editing that we are led to expect from the title, it instead seems that we are invited to look into the very soul of the politician - to read the lines on his face and to look into his eyes, as if to say "This is where you will find the truth. I cannot lie to you if I am silent."
posted by louche mustachio at 3:25 AM on June 15, 2007 [16 favorites]
Rock the Vote (Don't Rock the Vote)
2007
Video, 2 min. 51 sec.
Mike Gravel is the originator of the "Politicist" movement, which takes elements of Dada, Fluxus and Pop Art to make a specific commentary on the state of contemporary politics, particularly the overwhelming importance of media and image and how it shapes and ultimately twists our society. Rock the Vote (Don't Rock the Vote) invites the viewer to contemplate the still and solemn vision of the artists visage. Rather than the raucous music and aggresive editing that we are led to expect from the title, it instead seems that we are invited to look into the very soul of the politician - to read the lines on his face and to look into his eyes, as if to say "This is where you will find the truth. I cannot lie to you if I am silent."
posted by louche mustachio at 3:25 AM on June 15, 2007 [16 favorites]
I watched that "debate" you seppos had a few weeks back, where a pile of the potential future-CIA-puppets all got in front of a camera and pretended to disagree with each other (but not too much!) Gravel impressed me. I also caught him on, what was it, Colbert or the Daily Show? I can't remember which one.
That man should be president. It would be a new dawn for your bitter, tired old republic. Well, to be honest, he is batshitinsane and tending rapidly towards dementia, and I can't see his mental competency holding out beyond his first term. But he is definately worth a go, at least for four years. America, do your duty.
posted by Jimbob at 3:43 AM on June 15, 2007
That man should be president. It would be a new dawn for your bitter, tired old republic. Well, to be honest, he is batshitinsane and tending rapidly towards dementia, and I can't see his mental competency holding out beyond his first term. But he is definately worth a go, at least for four years. America, do your duty.
posted by Jimbob at 3:43 AM on June 15, 2007
He'll never win - he definitely blinked first, and I'm crap at that game.
Who's the man who follows him into the underbrush? Enquiring minds would probably rather not know.
posted by Abiezer at 3:53 AM on June 15, 2007
Who's the man who follows him into the underbrush? Enquiring minds would probably rather not know.
posted by Abiezer at 3:53 AM on June 15, 2007
I'm intrigued by your stare and would like to subscribe to your campaign newsletter.
posted by parallax7d at 4:17 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by parallax7d at 4:17 AM on June 15, 2007
When you wipe your bum with dirt, you get gravel up your ass. And your ass is the Wrong Place for Gravel.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:48 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:48 AM on June 15, 2007
I kept expecting a giant tentacle to pull him into the water.
posted by bstreep at 4:50 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by bstreep at 4:50 AM on June 15, 2007
Awesome.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:25 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Joseph Gurl at 5:25 AM on June 15, 2007
What a beautiful allegory. Somehow I think it would play better in Europe.
Good luck Mr. Gravel! You're fighting the good fight!
posted by disgruntled at 5:46 AM on June 15, 2007
Good luck Mr. Gravel! You're fighting the good fight!
posted by disgruntled at 5:46 AM on June 15, 2007
The dachsund running around in the kiddie pool already has my vote.
posted by marxchivist at 6:12 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by marxchivist at 6:12 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
maryh said: [. . .] that extended faux-surly gaze into the camera kept making me think Ceiling Cat Mike Gravel Is Watching You Masterbate.
Luckily, the video doesn't inspire everyone the way it seems to inspire you, maryh.
posted by mistersquid at 6:45 AM on June 15, 2007
Luckily, the video doesn't inspire everyone the way it seems to inspire you, maryh.
posted by mistersquid at 6:45 AM on June 15, 2007
'Masturbate' only has one 'e', for fuck's sakes.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:50 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 6:50 AM on June 15, 2007
If you like this video, just wait 'till they release the new David Lynch campaign videos. They'll feature a mysterious thrumming podium, a 55-second silent scream, and Gravel mysteriously morphing into a 23-year-old paper salesman in Boise.
posted by suckerpunch at 6:54 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by suckerpunch at 6:54 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
I liked this better the first time, when it was called "Jerry Brown for President".
posted by Mister_A at 6:58 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Mister_A at 6:58 AM on June 15, 2007
For a travesty, of course!
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:04 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 7:04 AM on June 15, 2007
I liked the part where he threw a rock in the water.
posted by Partial Law at 7:26 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Partial Law at 7:26 AM on June 15, 2007
This video is useless without midgets.
posted by basicchannel at 8:14 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by basicchannel at 8:14 AM on June 15, 2007
"This video is useless without midgets."
I think it needs a grinder girl, and things that might float.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:04 AM on June 15, 2007
I think it needs a grinder girl, and things that might float.
posted by ZachsMind at 9:04 AM on June 15, 2007
I don't think it's any worse than any of Obama or Hillary's faux-sincere campaign website videos.
posted by blucevalo at 9:23 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by blucevalo at 9:23 AM on June 15, 2007
Gravel is the only Democrat I would vote for. Mainly because he is VERY pro-FAIRTAX.
(and our current tax system is the SINGLE LARGEST PROBLEM with our government.)
posted by tadellin at 9:31 AM on June 15, 2007
(and our current tax system is the SINGLE LARGEST PROBLEM with our government.)
posted by tadellin at 9:31 AM on June 15, 2007
Nobody sits like this rock sits.
You rock, rock.
The rock just sits and is.
You show us how to just sit here and that's what we need.
posted by StopMakingSense at 10:05 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
You rock, rock.
The rock just sits and is.
You show us how to just sit here and that's what we need.
posted by StopMakingSense at 10:05 AM on June 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
man, I would nearly kill to see these ads on during the deluge of BS that comes around election times. Puffery? Negative campaigning? No, just a moment of zen. Video koans. Loved the fog horns.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:44 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by Ogre Lawless at 10:44 AM on June 15, 2007
louche mustachio, your comment is priceless. It at once suggests a contemporary practice of political art that is relevant, brilliant, and subversive* and highlights how unlikely that practice is to exist right now. Your comment is the skin of a cloud, the whiff of an impossible fruit. I would give all my favorites if I could. And: Rock the Vote (Don't Rock the Vote) is yr basic, run-of-the-mill genius.
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:40 AM on June 15, 2007
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:40 AM on June 15, 2007
"Gravel is the only Democrat I would vote for. Mainly because he is VERY pro-FAIRTAX.
(and our current tax system is the SINGLE LARGEST PROBLEM with our government.)"
*ahem*
FART.
posted by stenseng at 3:04 PM on June 15, 2007
(and our current tax system is the SINGLE LARGEST PROBLEM with our government.)"
*ahem*
FART.
posted by stenseng at 3:04 PM on June 15, 2007
How the Pentagon Papers Came to be Published by the Beacon Press: A Remarkable Story Told by Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, Dem Presidential Candidate Mike Gravel and Unitarian Leader Robert West
posted by homunculus at 1:05 PM on July 2, 2007
posted by homunculus at 1:05 PM on July 2, 2007
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posted by Aloysius Bear at 2:32 AM on June 15, 2007