"RECLAIM YOUR SPACE"

Did anyone else think that the slogans projected on the Verizon Building in NYC last night by Mark Read and others from Occupy Wall Street were almost reminiscent of the projections in the Vertigo version of "The Fly"? (If you have not seen the video, it's here.)

I suppose it was particularly the prominence of "LOVE" that bought it to mind, but also these uplifting parts: "look around you," "we are winning," "do not be afraid," and "we are unstoppable /another world is possible." Plus the vibe of shaking off apathy into a confrontation with that nameless "them" who, in Willie Williams' text, want you to believe "THEY ARE THE GIVERS/ WE ARE THE ACCEPTORS/ WHEN WILL IT END?/ NEVER/ I HAVE NO MONEY/ I HAVE NO CONTROL/ I HAVE NO POWER." In fact, I've just reread the text of those 2005 projections (which some French fans helped me assemble back in the day; thanks), and it would have made a great addition to that guerrilla art piece that stole the show last night.

YOU FILL IN THE GAPS
YOU ARE THE DIFFERENCE...
RECLAIM YOUR SPACE
IT BELONGS TO YOU
RECLA YOUR S CE
IT LONGS TO Y U
ECLAIM OUR SPA E
IT BE ON TO YOU
RECL IM YOUR ACE
I BELONG TO YOU...
INSIDE OF YOU/ YOU NEVER KNEW/ IT IS THERE/ UNKNOWN TO YOU/ DOWN THE BLOCK/ IN YOUR FACE
CLOSE YOUR EYES/ COVER YOUR EARS/ SHUT YOUR MOUTH/ SHUT THEM OUT
YOU WILL WIN

Also, if you have not read the extraordinary interview with Read check it out. The fact that a single working mom on the 16th floor of a grim housing project opened her apartment on little notice as a secret location for the projection and refused to take money for it.... Even if you are unenthusiastic about the Occupy movement, it's quite a story.