Disobedient Objects

Some of you may recognize the title of this post from the exhibition at the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum, London). I don't suppose it is still running, which is a shame as it was an interesting one. Remember how I said that art should not provide a ground for moral judgement? If you consider the objects at that exhibition art, then you have just refuted that theory. All had some sort of ethical meaning, usually having been used at various political protests (there were even orange dwarf hats from the Orange Alternative - an anti-communist movement that originated at my hometown!). 

While the idea appears interesting, I was quite disappointed at how the curators chose only objects of political significance (and rather leftist affiliation), as if disobedience could manifest itself only in that context. Since my next exercise for introduction to material culture was to 'prepare' a Disobedient Object exhibition myself - in other words, choose six artefacts I would describe as 'disobedient' and provide brief descriptions - I decided to concentrate on other, mainly social, aspects.

Disobedient Objects

Fig. 1 Mississippi Flag

Mississippi flag – in spite of occasional protests from other US‘ citizens, Mississippi flag displays a Confederate Cross as a symbol of Southern American heritage. As it was the North that won the Civil War, South is typically associated merely with slavery. This flag reminds people that the Confederate States of America did have a culture that extended far beyond the issue of slavery – and that it still has some influence upon the Old South even nowadays.

Fig. 2 Hare Krishna Food for Life Truck

Hare Krishna Food For Life Truck – private property is widely considered one of the founding stones of modern societies. One of the implications of such an assumption is that the value of nearly everything is quantifiable – and that we have to pay, in one way or another, for catering to our needs. The Hare Krishna Food For Life give out free food, which starkly defies this social norm.

Fig. 3 1950's Inspired Apron

50’s inspired apron – in terms of women rights, the 50’s are widely considered the last of the most misogynistic decades in Western history. A woman of that period was essentially a homemaker, not the „strong, independent woman“ that so many are striving to be today. The struggle for gender equality leaves the women who are indeed satisfied with the role of a housewife isolated and stigmatised as unambitious. A 50’s inspired apron is a symbol of all the women that do not mind slipping into the role of the „domestic goddesses“.

Fig. 4 Sid Vicious' svastika shirt

Sid Vicious‘ swastika shirt – nowadays the punk movement is widely associated with leftist political affiliations. At its roots, however, it was essentially apolitical. Punk icons such as Sid could speak of anarchy while wearing swastika decorated shirts because it was a symbol of their defiance.

Fig. 4 Gers in Ulaanbaatar

Gers in Ulaanbaatar – when Soviet-influenced authorities entered Mongolia, they tried to force people to live in regular flats instead of their traditional yurts. Emtpy buildings and flats turned into warehouses which stand next to gers in contemporary Ulaanbaatar demonstrate people’s attachment to their culture.

Fig. 5 The Rainbow at the Saviour Square, Warsaw

The Rainbow at the Savior Square, Warsaw – it was erected as a symbol of multiculturalism in Poland. Since then right-wing activists have tried to burn it multiple times (the bare left side of the arch is the effect of one such attempt), however it still stands.

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Would you consider these disobedient? Or perhaps these too are inevitably political? Please share your thoughts!