Lately have been drawing copyright material all in the name of sketching. There is a whole genre based on Tupac drawing, people doing there best to produce a virtuoso work. Marktronics of Damn Kids fame did a zine called “Tugh Life” a satire of this Tupac drawing genre years ago. I liked it and it wasn’t the satire it was the craftmanship and hours toiled on these drawings. It is as though if the Sistine Chapel were painted today it would most likely be featuring Tupac. I remembered something Mike Kelly said about one of his fluffy toy installations that it was the time invested in these objects that made them special. The hours of care rather than the value in monetary terms. That is what is so attractive about this genre. I remember KRS one and his influence on me, I never really got into Tupac though I like some of his songs. I think the whole gangster rap genre was kind of fun at first with NWA but it really freaked me out after a few years especially early Ghetto Boys but eventually it stopped bothering me because I was listening to other stuff. I got into Phillip Glass, Brian Eno mainly. KRS was the master of the positive spin, he talked about struggle and how you can use your mind and your compassion to get through. He also talked tough but it was “not about a salary its all about reality”. Immortal Technique is a really more brutal and real, the reason all this has come up is due to doing theory lessons at TAFE. Theory lessons wouldn’t be complete without current discourse on:

media blackouts, media monopolies, governments pandering to corporate interests, erosion of privacy, corporate abuse of copyright, and so on.

I guess when I am feeling overwhelmed I tend to go back to the voices that gave me some comfort, remember to create your positive destiny. We have become products of Facebook they sell our information under our noses and make big bucks while we go about our lives opening ourselves up to these corporations. It is free, you can use it for free but what is the real cost? There is always a cost. You just have to think of the Howard years and the erosion of our rights all in the name of fighting terrorism. I remember when Howard first got into power and seeing photos of Howard lunching with Murdoch, it was all wheeling and dealing clinching that agreement. Lets get into the corporate pocket. Well what does this all have to do with Tupac, one word “Illuminati”, you have to laugh. Me I will keep drawing Tupac.