The average American is exposed to over 3,000 ads every day and these images are increasingly encroaching on our public spaces. Subway stations, buildings, buses, and even trashcans are plastered with marketing campaigns. This is not a requisite of capitalism, and it is our right to walk outside without being informed about the latest alcoholic beverage, fruity shampoo, or Hollywood movie.
Many citizens have responded to advertising posters with the gusto of grade school disobedience. Their weapon: the pen. Their mark: the scribbled moustache. But why stop there? Why rush our moment of protest? If we have to pass by our public dissent everyday, why not make it look nice. Project Moustache seeks to subvert outdoor advertising with the distilled mark of the people: a big, burly, and well-drawn moustache.
We see more ads in one year than someone 50 years ago saw in an entire lifetime. It's time to set boundaries so that we can travel home from work without being greeted by the latest sexy liquor, boy band CD release, or hospital drama series. You can help subvert outdoor advertising and spread fine-looking moustache stickers in your neighborhood. Just follow these simple steps to righteous, hirsuit activism:
Project Moustache was created by Candy Chang in 2005. It was featured in the exhibit Skinless Calital: Neoliberalism and Resistance at OPENSOURCE Gallery in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, 2005. You can see her other endeavors at Red Antenna and say hello to her at candy@redantenna.tv.
