Self Expressionism

Produced in response to a regional issue that saw a series of editorials, articles and opinions pieces from the local newspaper attacking “conservative” input in the comments section of the digital issue which was then expanded to include social media and online discourse in general. It’s difficult to disagree with what at first glance looks like a reasonable “Liberal” position, until you unpack the platform it’s coming from and how it’s framed and also how the same strategy is employed to stifle and silence the “left”. Right wing “progressive neoliberal” newspapers problematising online discourse whilst at the same time, presenting their own corporate shareholder click-bait algorithm driven news, as being somehow the bastion of Freedom of Expression. By all means, edit, cancel, censor and ban racist bigots and homophobic trolls, but to dress fundamentally right-wing media platforms in the cloak of civility, as somehow defenders of freedom of speech when censoring your own right-wing readership, is an hypocrisy too far. Ordering 3000 pens with chains to limit how far you could go, then sticking them around the city for people to express their thoughts was perhaps a little over the top, but the public offer remains. The irony of the pen saying “Freedom of Speech”- stuck up besides the newspapers drinks machine- being the first to be removed, kind of proved the point.

PS : Anyone wanna buy some pens?