http://www.kareneliot.de/thesis_subversivestrategies.html
The Yes Men’s act of creating their own WTO website is one of serious debate. On one side, The YES Men are justified. In a way, their “WTO” website revealed the deep dysfunction of the WTO and highlighted key problems that were being ignored. By creating their WTO website, the YES MEN treated the WTO like an empty canvas and painted their story. They redefined its nature, reshaped its goals and gave it a new direction. They altogether subverted the symbol that is the WTO along with its power structure. Much like Stephen Colbert’s new show, Our Cartoon President and Trevor Noah’s The President’s show, they represent a complete rebranding of powerful structures and people to express their flaws and push their own ideas of change.
Stephen Colbert on How ‘Our Cartoon President’ Differs From ‘Late Show’
http://www.nytix.com/news/tag/the-president-show
However, there is another side of this debate: To what extent can such artistic expression be used? What lines cannot be crossed during this process? Under what circumstances should such subverting be tolerated? The point is, this art form can seem as unregulated, and the thought that anyone can use it as a form of art attacking all sorts of power structures is scary. Mainly because power structures exist to maintain a certain order and functionality to society, and this is only possible because of society’s trust in their ability to do so. By handing the power to distort public trust to anyone, the credibility of power structures is questioned and at times furiously contested….and needless say that this has so often resulted in instabilities and massive bloodsheds.
One can argue for either side quite justifiably, but the truth remains that symbol and power structure subverting is a powerful weapon–both for positive social action and rather doubtfully propaganda. And just like any weapon, it’s weakness and strength will be the person who yields it…