Marginal Notes: Intergalactic Recession

These are some interesting images from artist Marcos Minuchin's Flickr set titled "Recession Army."

Interestingly, many have speculated that Lucas' Star Wars series had anti-capitalist underpinnings. Lucas himself has cited the Vietnam war as a source of inspiration:

"Having grown up in the shadow of the Vietnam War the issue of a primitive society confronting a technologically advanced society has fascinated me because that was the main event that was going on…during my college years and the fact that human determination and human spirit could overcome these vastly superior armies actually I found to be rather inspiring as a human being. I think that is one of the main themes that has gone through all of the Star Wars films."

I am not aware of Marcos Minuchin's political views, but his images certainly resonate with my own anti-imperialist, ecosocialist orientation. The satirical images question the notion of infinite progress, benign technology and mastery of the universe which accompanied capitalist culture throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s.

I believe many of us are trading the promise of the technology, growth and expansion for a greater orientation toward the earth, limits and sustainability. Moreover, we are questioning whether an economic system like capitalism is good for people and planet or better resigned as a system that inspired star wars - both imagined and real.

May the force be with us as we weather this recession and, more importantly, as we fight for a fairer distribution of wealth and input regarding the order of our economic and political systems.