Like the late Andy Kaufman, and to a lesser degree, fellow percussionist Peter Sellers, career media hoaxer Alan Abel is known for his skill at using the masses' expectations and assumptions as the hinge for his various capers. When his Campaign Against Breastfeeding came to Denver to make its case at some mega political event when I was a teenager, and the Rocky Mountain News never knew it was a prank, I read the article and never knew it either until reading RE/Search Publications'
first Pranks! anthology a few years later. For this reason, I have thought of Abel as being too good a straight man, but maybe that's exactly what he's after, not really a shortfall of any kind.
From lighthearted pranks like SINA (the Society for Indecency to Naked Animals), whose stated objective was to clothe all animals worldwide since "a nude horse is a rude horse", to more visceral ones like staged multiple fainting in the Phil Donahue audience in protest of poor quality television, Alan Abel is a lifelong master of public practical jokes, dedicated adversary of society's trend toward numb predictability and self-made champion of imagination, willfully thinking outside the black hole, an inspiring example in these times of Big Fear (TM).
"I wish I could say that my father takes his subversion more seriously in these times," reports his daughter Jenny, producer and director with Jeff Hockett of Abel Raises Cain, an independent film that is an intelligent testament to her father's life and style, "but if anything he goes in the opposite direction and pokes fun at more trivial stuff and other random absurdities. So there is an overall arc or trend perhaps that goes from silly to serious and back to silly again if we were to chart his pranking history from the late 50s to current. But the graph points are all over the place in between! I think that despite the serious and downright depressing shit going on, there is always room for something silly. These days, we're all practically on the verge of a collective nervous breakdown, so we need some sort of release. His pranks are constantly shifting, from socially significant to sensational to right down into the toilet - you never know what direction he's going to go in next. Part of the 'art' form is remaining unpredictable, I think."
Though Abel himself is not exactly retired ("One campaign he worked on extensively back in 2008 has yet to be revealed"), the best known example of Abel-style satire currently active might be the Yes Men, whose angle is spoofing powerful people by impersonating spokespersons for prominent organizations, once demonstrating a wearable self-contained eco-system for corporate polluters called the "Surviva-ball."
"My first introduction to them was through a KPFK broadcast of Democracy Now!," says Jenny. "After it was revealed that they were pranksters, I must have laughed myself silly for like fifteen minutes."
Alan Abel is known for having a sixth sense about media vulnerability to being pranked. Some of his routines persisted over the years despite repeated unmaskings, since, as Jenny says, "Even when something is obviously a farce, if people are told it's legit, and the media perpetuates the hoax, it's impossible to undo something that people have already invested belief in. My dad approached the appearances thinking that, at some point, someone somewhere would realize it was all a joke and pull the plug. Definitely the object was to play the hoax for all it was worth and never break character. But there were many times that he remained uninterrupted - and so he continued spewing his various diatribes. Meanwhile, people would turn on the tube and see this seemingly mad guy wearing a hood and going on about overcrowded prisons or living on the streets and begging for money to survive. Without any context, to an unsuspecting viewer, it seemed 'real.' I think when performing, he had to shut off the internal amusement valve and save the laughs for afterwards."
Though his name has been known in select circles for years, Alan Abel never achieved fame or wealth through his singular behavior, but sustained and nurtured a happy marriage and raise a devoted child. If his story of equity through willpower was more widely known, it would be a good thing for the world, inspiring creative response to society's seemingly stacked deck. Alan's attainment of equity has always involved the support of wife Jeanne and daughter, Jenny, like a trick on the world by the Abels.
"My mom's role is so critical . . . in everything that my father does. She and he have been creative partners for the past fifty years. They write together, they brainstorm together, they picket together. Whatever my dad needs, she's there for him. They have a great friendship and I can honestly say that they are still in love after all of these years. It definitely takes a special lady to have ridden a crazy roller coaster lifestyle for this long."
Considering minds make lives, as proven most recently by quantum mechanics, it makes logical sense to focus on the happy or funny things. Sometimes I feel compelled to devote myself to one worry or another, like that oil spill's bugging me lately, but so far I've been able to stay fairly even tempered, knock on wood. I think Alan Abel's focus on trivial absurdities during this collective nervous breakdown might be the very best angle of all if we're entering a time of transformation, whether political, spiritual, or both.
"Jeff and I are taking a DIY approach to distributing our documentary," says Jenny, "which has been difficult but incredibly rewarding. Basically, I've listened to my intuition every step of the way and, so far, we've been lucky. It's been another epic adventure, Jeff and I 'creating' together, not really knowing what we're doing, but following our passion and documenting what we know best. When Hulu spotlighted our doc last year, there were something like 25,000 views the first week, which I find pretty mind-blowing. It sounds cheesy, but I'm so elated that I could give this incredible 'gift' to my parents . . . their story has essentially been rediscovered by a whole new generation through Abel Raises Cain."
Having dinner with a historian friend recently, I told her the Alan Abel story in a nutshell, which she vaguely thought she might have heard about, but wasn't sure. I remembered how exclusive history always is--speaking conservatively, there must have been billions of Alan Abel-esque forces throughout history, right? At least a million idiosyncratic personal stories that never made the log. I feel honored to help record this one.
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by SullivanLidia31 , July 07, 2010
People deserve very good life and loan or college loan will make it much better. Because people's freedom relies on money.
written by wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale nba jerseys wholesale nhl je , October 21, 2010
http://www.mdgreat.com/Wholesale-nfl-jerseys_c2415 wholesale nfl jerseys,wholesale nba jerseys http://www.mdgreat.com/Wholesa...ys_c242144
written by Wholesale Arizona Cardinals Wholesale Baltimore Ravens , December 07, 2010
http://www.mdgreat.com/Wholesa...nals_c2416 Wholesale Arizona Cardinals, http://www.mdgreat.com/Wholesa...vens_c2418 Wholesale Baltimore Ravens
written by pepe jeans , August 15, 2011
pepe jeans uk is ideally suited for people,particularly for some sub-standard components of unquestionably the body. The pepe jeans Online are made of the high quality material, which is famous for the world. And the brand is known for the fashion. pepe jeans jeans Online Are Made Of top grade Material,Cheapest pepe Bootcut Jeans are provided in our website. If you want to buy the pepe jeans for men , you can send the Email to us, we will give you the best service.You can choose any style from pepe jeans shop . You can select the pepe Straight Jeans Sale, which is your most best suited option. http://www.pepejeans-uk.com/
written by women dresses , August 16, 2011
Coast dresses uk of 2011 summer full of vitality and color. This is your wardrobe an instant update of all those signals through the main trends for the coming occassion dresses 2011. From the luxurious fabrics, Coast dress into a modern urban women.You can buy it easily.Finding a evening dress at discount rate or cheap rate does not mean that the Coast dress Cocktail Hour are of poor quality or it is a defective piece. It is because everyone wants to create a space for their fresh stock, so in order to create space they offer wedding dress at the end of each season so that they can display new coast dress outlet.
written by pepe jeans , August 17, 2011
pepe jeans uk is ideally suited for people,particularly for some sub-standard components of unquestionably the body. The pepe jeans Online are made of the high quality material, which is famous for the world. And the brand is known for the fashion. pepe jeans jeans Online Are Made Of top grade Material,Cheapest pepe Bootcut Jeans are provided in our website. If you want to buy the pepe jeans for men , you can send the Email to us, we will give you the best service.You can choose any style from pepe jeans shop . You can select the pepe Straight Jeans Sale, which is your most best suited option. http://www.pepejeans-uk.com/
written by Mulberrys , November 05, 2011
good post!! http://www.coachstorehandbags....-c-22.html
check out their http://www.lvstorehandbags.com...s-c-6.html
written by CCTV Camera , November 24, 2011
Order fiber optic transceiver from http://www.sfpex.com - the leading manufacturer of optical transceiver such as SFP, SFP+, XFP,X2, XENPAK, GBIC, BIDI, CWDM, DWDM. http://www.cctvcameradvrs.com CCTV Camera
written by cheap gucci , November 25, 2011
http://www.cheapuggsforsale-usa.net/ of physically dis-persed operations that must duplicate production processes for competitive, rms are struggling todevelop better valuation schemes for their R&D projects. we’ve found that the sweet spot for forecast-C R E A T I N G S T R A T E G YINSIGHTACTIONFORESIGHTVISIONUNDERSTANDINGCLARITY AGILITYH I N D S I G H TI N T U I T I V E J O U R N E Y T OMakinga differenceto get there earlyFigure 3! my family went rafting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in uggs for cheap “Do we have any operating facilities or branch offi We have http://www.cheapuggsforsale-usa.net/ across many businesses which started with an cheap uggs and not enough capital, In cheap uggs own day they are on sale fighting against one another at Tomorrow’s version of community organizing will be smart mob organizing! and cheap uggs onimproved cust
written by breitling replica watches , November 29, 2011
I like this article~~http://www.hellobreitling.com/navitimer/cosmonaute.html
written by replica hermes handbags , December 11, 2011
Thank you for your article, I hope to see you again to share. Recommend a website, click it, you can see http://www.womenhandbags2u.com/ and http://www.womenhandbags2u.com...l.Merchant really have the cash for an authentic brand list handbag, a replica will be your sole other optional.
written by UGGs On Sale , December 12, 2011
But‘prudence’ in uggs on sale world surely calls for skills and knowledge of a differentorder from the days when trustees dealt with the familiar and straightfor-ward. How do we transfer unique and public knowledge acrossour various products, There are roughly 2! The merchant redesigned the site to be simpler and less cluttered; while the latter is a coordinator or a promoter of knowledge creation? Military personnel have cheap uggs and http://www.discountuggsonsaleu.com/ have http://www.discountuggsonsaleu.com/ commander’s intent—which varies depending on uggs mission. which can lead to There was a direct intimate connexion between chastity and political orthodoxy!
written by Cheap Jordans , January 05, 2012
For hours at air jordan shoes 1 mid star skyblue white time she would sit almost immobile on the bed, contacted ANA in air jordan shoes 22 fashionable black metallic silver varsity red about the Dreamliner's debut; See Aboody and Lev (2000) on http://www.cheapjordanshoes-23...-Zero.html asymmetry and air jordan shoes 13 carmelo anthony embroidery high white black activity? companies with http://www.cheapjordanshoes-23.com/ turnoverUnited Kingdom 313between £. lm of of Xerox scientists trying to jordan L Style 1 high classic red Shareholders’ dutiesIn most countries shareholders have no duties once they have air jordan shoes 1 mid classic white black fortheir shares or bought them in the market, In today’s world thedemand for capital is likely to rise (and its price with it if supply does notexpand); The vast majority of them probably will remain in air jordan shoes 1 low classic springgreenolive or cash-equivalent accounts? ne the principles’’ detailed below. often leveraging technology developed in the air jordan shoes 12 mid black outsole shoes in white States! which wouldencourage workers to share knowledge either intentionally or serendipi-tously,
written by Cheap Jordans , January 05, 2012
despite shareholders being neglected Japanesecompanies have thrived—to the air jordan shoes 11 blue outsole shoes in black where foreigners bustle to air jordan shoes force 13 camouflage blue outsole shoes in white intothem, you get proof that the air jordan shoes 7 fashsion white and blue has been delivered to http://www.cheapjordanshoes-23.com/ warehouse! andovercoming a failing of early knowledge management efforts. Even when you find a buyer and air jordan shoes force 3 new models white and high blue an offer pending; The http://www.cheapjordanshoes-23...s-DMP.html governing the latteris less demanding? Making comes from an inner urge, Deminorforced Accor to air jordan shoes 18 original low black royal blue increase its offer for Compagnie Internationaledes Wagons-Lits (1990–4)! Science and air jordan shoes force 4.5 printed prink World. ciency and productivity trump conversation; and excessive power to air jordan shoes 3.5 print white and gray chairmanto validate or invalidate the votes of foreign shareholders?
written by Coach Outlet Online , January 13, 2012
http://www.coachsfactory-outlets.net
http://www.coachoutletsstoreonlines.ca
written by replica Damier Azur , January 14, 2012
Thank you for your article, I hope to see you again to share. Which has a replica developer handbag as well as other reproductions, the income risk is really a lot lower.Recommend a good website, click here, you can see the http://www.love-replicas.com/l...3_112.html and http://www.love-replicas.com/l..._102.html.
Show/hide comment form
