London Anarchist Bookfair 2022

[JimW]

There was the Professor in uncontroversial documentary work The Secret Agent and that's set in the 1880s.

 

[steeplejack]

Yeah, all fair enough, like I said I think there might be fair enough reasons, but we're left guessing as they can't be arsed/too scared or avoidant/are incompetent/enjoy the drama of not explaining.

E2A: She has/had slots on GB News and RT?!

Until the middle class let their talentless offspring fail, the arts in Britain are doomed to tedious and monotonous mediocrity

The cultural industries in the UK continue to be dominated by the inadequate scions of the privileged, who do all they can to keep the doors closed to genuinely talented working-class creatives. It has to stop.

www.rt.com

 

[LDC]

<Sad/vomit/angry/politically dodgy/shameless self publicist face emoticon>

 

[TopCat]

Surely the decision is based on her involvement with WPUK?

Who

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Kind of odd for an anarchist to write for a state mouthpiece. But everyone has to put food on the table I suppose.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Until the middle class let their talentless offspring fail, the arts in Britain are doomed to tedious and monotonous mediocrity

The cultural industries in the UK continue to be dominated by the inadequate scions of the privileged, who do all they can to keep the doors closed to genuinely talented working-class creatives. It has to stop.

www.rt.com

Heh. The RT link wouldn’t open for me. Presumably it’s off bounds now.

 

[steeplejack]

I don't agree with Lisa's decision to appear on these platforms either but diagreement is allowed. I believe her view is that working class voices should take any opportunity they can to speak from that point of view on media.

Still think on balance she is a great and provocative voice to have in any debate and I don't think anyone can really doubt her credentials.

 

[Pickman's model]

Surely the decision is based on her involvement with WPUK?

You do know there is more than 1 lisa mckenzie? We're talking about the academic not the former civil servant

 

[A380]

You do know there is more than 1 lisa mckenzie? ....

There's only one Lisa Mckenzie.
One Lisa Mckenzie .

There's only one Lisa Mckenzie.
One Lisa Mckeeeeeenzie !

 

[hitmouse]

Don't see holding an academic qualification and being an anarchist as mutually exclusive things. Having got this book no doubt as to the sincerity / genuine nature of those involved. A bit off, these comments, tbh.

I'd say it's less of a contradiction with being an anarchist and more of a potential contradiction with playing the prolier than thou card, which is one that she is quite fond of.

You do know there is more than 1 lisa mckenzie? We're talking about the academic not the former civil servant

Huh, I was unaware of the other until today, but on looking it up I now learn that the WPUK-liking ex-civil servant is a Lisa Mackenzie, while the bookfair-disinclined RT-writing academic is a plain old Lisa Mckenzie. So A380's statement above is indeed quite right.

 

[The39thStep]

I don't agree with Lisa's decision to appear on these platforms either but diagreement is allowed. I believe her view is that working class voices should take any opportunity they can to speak from that point of view on media.

Still think on balance she is a great and provocative voice to have in any debate and I don't think anyone can really doubt her credentials.

I’ve got a range of opinions on her tbh , none of which would amount to no platforming her

 

[A380]

I'd say it's less of a contradiction with being an anarchist and more of a potential contradiction with playing the prolier than thou card, which is one that she is quite fond of.

Huh, I was unaware of the other until today, but on looking it up I now learn that the WPUK-liking ex-civil servant is a Lisa Mackenzie, while the bookfair-disinclined RT-writing academic is a plain old Lisa Mckenzie. So A380's statement above is indeed quite right.

I'm right on the button with my insightful, mature and reflective political commentary.

As ever.

 

[Lurdan]

while the bookfair-disinclined RT-writing academic is a plain old Lisa Mckenzie.

Well no, she's plain old Dr Lisa Mckenzie.

 

[steeplejack]

I'd say it's less of a contradiction with being an anarchist and more of a potential contradiction with playing the prolier than thou card, which is one that she is quite fond of.

Well, not really- academics comes in all shapes and sizes and all class backgrounds, much like any other sector of society. Unless you're holding to an ageing stereotype of academics only featuring leather elbow patches, a whiff of pipe tobacco and referring to themselves as "one" in conversation.

 

[The39thStep]

I wonder who else , aside from the ACG, has been told there’s no room at the Inn?

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Are the ACG disinclined AGAIN? It’s like all the people I’d actually be bothered to listen to aren’t on the guest list.

 

[Christian Burt]

As one of the many working class people who crowdfunded the book, I’m bias.
But it really is an excellent read and the artwork is simply amazing.
Found it very inspirational as a documentation of an extremely strange time.

 

[MikeyBigDinners]

This thread is a wreck. Will definitely not be venturing to the cooperative 'crashing in the same car together' bookfair. Tankies are getting tips.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

Ooh. We’ve gone out in dispatches.

 

[Pickman's model]

This thread is a wreck. Will definitely not be venturing to the cooperative 'crashing in the same car together' bookfair. Tankies are getting tips.

If you're lucky there'll be a stall selling tankie tops

 

[Pickman's model]

Are the ACG disinclined AGAIN? It’s like all the people I’d actually be bothered to listen to aren’t on the guest list.

We should have a bookfair in Hackney where all the banned people can go, bet it'd be quite a draw

 

[Rob Ray]

Interestingly ime this has been the way events coordination/organisation has been going in the past few years, shifting to this sort of dysfunctional "we don't want you here and we aren't going to explain why" attitude.

Not specifically about the Bookfair lot, but having been on the receiving end of people whose response to not getting their way is to go ballistic and try to spin anything you say into a time/headspace consuming bunfight (or worse, public shaming) I'd guess a lot of this phenomenon is down to a strategy of self preservation. A vague response is a deniable response, gives dickheads less to latch on to.

 

[steeplejack]

The Anarchist Salon des Refusés

btw if you think this thread is a wreck, it’s a model of civility compared to years gone by (sound system in Weatherspoon’s imbroglio, or punters asking ‘are you revol68’ looking for a scrap)

 

[Pickman's model]

The Anarchist Salon des Refusés

btw if you think this thread is a wreck, it’s a model of civility compared to years gone by (sound system in Weatherspoon’s imbroglio, or punters asking ‘are you revol68’ looking for a scrap)

Ah yes who could forget the battle of Holloway Road

 

[hitmouse]

Well, not really- academics comes in all shapes and sizes and all class backgrounds, much like any other sector of society. Unless you're holding to an ageing stereotype of academics only featuring leather elbow patches, a whiff of pipe tobacco and referring to themselves as "one" in conversation.

It's a bit live by the sword, die by the sword, innit? Like, yeah, there are probably several academics in the UK who aren't actual aristocrats. But then there are probably some working-class people involved in London anarchism as well, some of them might even be bookfair organisers.

 

[Athos]

You do know there is more than 1 lisa mckenzie? We're talking about the academic not the former civil servant

No, I didn't know that!

 

[Magnus McGinty]

And if one Lisa McKenzie,
should accidentally fall,
There'll be nine Lisa McKenzies,
Not getting a Bookfair stall.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

Until the middle class let their talentless offspring fail, the arts in Britain are doomed to tedious and monotonous mediocrity

The cultural industries in the UK continue to be dominated by the inadequate scions of the privileged, who do all they can to keep the doors closed to genuinely talented working-class creatives. It has to stop.

www.rt.com

Good on her.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

I believe her view is that working class voices should take any opportunity they can to speak

Its a good idea, actually puts our message out there to discontented people who otherwise wouldn't be reached and ensures we're not just talking to ourselves, or trying to reach liberals etc many of whom aren't interested anyway.

 

[AmateurAgitator]

A vague response is a deniable response

A genius move. You savvy folks are clearly one step ahead all the way.