of T-Shirts and terrorists
November 30, 2007 2:15 PM Subscribe
Fighters and Lovers is a Copenhagen based group that "is greatly in debt to the stylish classic coolness of Palestinian fighter Leyla Khaled and the funky outrageous style of Colombian guerrilla commander Jacobo Arenas. Our work is inspired by the style and principles of these legendary fighters." Their t- have landed them in some hot water with the law. They donated proceeds from their shirts to FARC and the PLFP. After the Santa Claus incident, one wonders if Urban Outfitters would have sold these or if they're more into positive message t-shirt expression nowadays?
Of course, had Lovers+Fighters not donated the shirt proceeds to the groups they were advertising, their design would have only been another example of controversial free expression in Denmark, though the U.S. has its own share.
Other T-Shirt troubles:
Hong Kong T-Shirt Contest
A principal in trouble over Intifada
"A beer is better than a black man"?
Diversity is a no-no
Cohen v. California (okay it's a jacket...)
There are more, though the lesson seems clear: if you have a statement to make, better learn to make it on a t-shirt
Of course, had Lovers+Fighters not donated the shirt proceeds to the groups they were advertising, their design would have only been another example of controversial free expression in Denmark, though the U.S. has its own share.
Other T-Shirt troubles:
Hong Kong T-Shirt Contest
A principal in trouble over Intifada
"A beer is better than a black man"?
Diversity is a no-no
Cohen v. California (okay it's a jacket...)
There are more, though the lesson seems clear: if you have a statement to make, better learn to make it on a t-shirt
Curious why these Danes would have to look so far afield to find Freedom Fighters to crib from. I'm sure that if they'd just ring up Det Islamisk Trossamfund, they could get all kinds of ideas for t-shirts.
posted by felix betachat at 2:43 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by felix betachat at 2:43 PM on November 30, 2007
They eyes, they roll.
I mean, that they're all "adding that intense sound of metropolitan rebellion."
Usually, I'm the lone leftist in here going "Guys, guys, sometimes violence against a state should be glorified!" but these guys just seem like Malcolm McLaren without the Situationalism.
posted by klangklangston at 2:46 PM on November 30, 2007 [2 favorites]
I mean, that they're all "adding that intense sound of metropolitan rebellion."
Usually, I'm the lone leftist in here going "Guys, guys, sometimes violence against a state should be glorified!" but these guys just seem like Malcolm McLaren without the Situationalism.
posted by klangklangston at 2:46 PM on November 30, 2007 [2 favorites]
It always surprises me to see that people continue to refer to the FARC as a Communist guerrila. They seem to me a very successful capitalist enterprise.
And I also think that a kid in Denmark has to be pretty dense to think that a drug-trafficking organization that controls a sizable territory needs the money they are wiring them from t-shirt sales. It must be really tough to be cool in Denmark if it has come to this.
posted by micayetoca at 2:57 PM on November 30, 2007
And I also think that a kid in Denmark has to be pretty dense to think that a drug-trafficking organization that controls a sizable territory needs the money they are wiring them from t-shirt sales. It must be really tough to be cool in Denmark if it has come to this.
posted by micayetoca at 2:57 PM on November 30, 2007
"Communism killed 100 million people and all I got was this lousy t-shirt."
Communism doesn't kill people. Guns however...
posted by Kattullus at 3:02 PM on November 30, 2007
Communism doesn't kill people. Guns however...
posted by Kattullus at 3:02 PM on November 30, 2007
Fire and Flames have a bit of a classier (hah) line in provocative T-shirts. Repackage the revolution in small, medium and large, baby.
posted by Abiezer at 3:09 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by Abiezer at 3:09 PM on November 30, 2007
Also, looking at F&L's front page, I just can't be all that impressed by "Copenhagen’s most daring dj’s." Quite apart from the rogue apostrophe, why not call yourself "Poseurs and Dilettantes" and have done with it?
posted by Abiezer at 3:14 PM on November 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by Abiezer at 3:14 PM on November 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
I expect they'll have the sense to stay in Copenhagen. Dutch insurgen-tourist Tanja Nijmeijer appears to be finding that FARC radical chic is best appreciated at a safe distance. Jist gimme the Che t-shirt and top up my latté, OK? I'm late for yoga.
posted by jfuller at 3:15 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by jfuller at 3:15 PM on November 30, 2007
I'm fond of The Resistance Army t-shirts and not only for quoting Billy Bragg's immortal line: "The revolution is just a t-shirt away."
posted by Kattullus at 3:17 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by Kattullus at 3:17 PM on November 30, 2007
Donated money to FARC?
That's about as principled as saying "in the eighties Robert Downey Jr. "donated" all his money to Pablo Escobar."
posted by tkchrist at 3:31 PM on November 30, 2007
That's about as principled as saying "in the eighties Robert Downey Jr. "donated" all his money to Pablo Escobar."
posted by tkchrist at 3:31 PM on November 30, 2007
What fucking assholes. I know someone whose family was devastated by FARC and I'd love to see what these revolutionary tourist djs would say to her face.
posted by Falconetti at 4:10 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by Falconetti at 4:10 PM on November 30, 2007
I've always felt the Hezbollah Flag would make an awesome t-shirt. I just can never remember if they're the good guys or bad guys.
posted by billyfleetwood at 4:53 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by billyfleetwood at 4:53 PM on November 30, 2007
The Hezbollah flag would make an excellent ad for Squirt.
posted by klangklangston at 5:19 PM on November 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 5:19 PM on November 30, 2007 [1 favorite]
I've always felt the Hezbollah Flag would make an awesome t-shirt. I just can never remember if they're the good guys or bad guys.
i bought some in lebanon.
posted by gman at 5:31 PM on November 30, 2007
i bought some in lebanon.
posted by gman at 5:31 PM on November 30, 2007
FARC? Seriously? They're just drug dealers. I can't even envision how you would be able to twist your mind into thinking that was non-idiotic.
posted by selfnoise at 6:11 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by selfnoise at 6:11 PM on November 30, 2007
I can't even envision how you would be able to twist your mind into thinking that was non-idiotic.
posted by selfnoise at 6:11 PM on November 30
Not mind-twisting so much as ignorant pseudo-revolutionary b.s. for the sake of tuff lookin' style. I'm sure that the ideal consumers of these shirts have not the faintest inkling of what FARC really is.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:11 PM on November 30, 2007
posted by selfnoise at 6:11 PM on November 30
Not mind-twisting so much as ignorant pseudo-revolutionary b.s. for the sake of tuff lookin' style. I'm sure that the ideal consumers of these shirts have not the faintest inkling of what FARC really is.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:11 PM on November 30, 2007
It seems that a lot of college youth really want to distinguish themselves desparately, and so they protest ignorantly, constantly whine about The Man, and wear shirts bearing Che Guevara. It's something I've noticed at both California universities I've been to/am in.
Honestly, seeing them wear a FARC t-shirt doesn't surprise me at all.
Besides, I'd bet a lot of money that most of the people buying and wearing these shirts are middle- to upper-class white college kids.
posted by spiderskull at 9:32 PM on November 30, 2007
Honestly, seeing them wear a FARC t-shirt doesn't surprise me at all.
Besides, I'd bet a lot of money that most of the people buying and wearing these shirts are middle- to upper-class white college kids.
posted by spiderskull at 9:32 PM on November 30, 2007
If they donated their money to Fark instead, at least they'd get to see LOLcats.
posted by lukemeister at 6:09 AM on December 1, 2007
posted by lukemeister at 6:09 AM on December 1, 2007
It boggles the mind to see anyone supporting FARC, which has damaged society in Colombia worse than Al Queda could ever dream of doing here. Hell, they press-gang villagers into their military, they kidnap anyone they can get their hands on and ransom them for money, and they gave up supporting any kind of revolution years ago in favor of dealing more cocaine. What more do they have to do to make people admit they're evil - publicly execute a kitten?
posted by Mitrovarr at 11:11 AM on December 1, 2007
posted by Mitrovarr at 11:11 AM on December 1, 2007
And yet people still eat Chiquita bananas...
not that I'm endorsing giving money to FARC
posted by Kattullus at 12:17 PM on December 1, 2007
not that I'm endorsing giving money to FARC
posted by Kattullus at 12:17 PM on December 1, 2007
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So there.
(and ... wait for it ... your favorite t-shirt sucks)
posted by ZenMasterThis at 2:21 PM on November 30, 2007