Eric Blumrich of Bushflash.com
Link to Bushflash animationsRead interview with Eric
We first became familiar with Eric Blumrich’s work when the video, “Idiot Son…” (music by NOFX) was included on Rock Against Bush (2004). The song never fails to cheer us up during a bad news spin cycle.
Magic Sam: We would have dumped tea in the harbor…how about you?
Eric Blumrich: Hmn- I’ve never been much into tea- had the british taxed spirits, I would have been more concerned- but taxing liquor back then would have been like taxing breathing.
Hmn- lemme think- had I been a landowner on Boston, and late into an evening without television, the internet, or anything to read outside of a few books that cost the equivalent of a week’s wages, had I heard a commotion outside, I would have followed along, for lack of anything better to do. Read more
Magic Sam: You are the best flash animator around and it almost seems as if you have created a whole new art form. What is your background in art, music, editing, etc? Ever play in a garage band?
Eric Blumrich: I didn’t “create” what I do. Viral video was around when I started the site, and it already contained a lot of political content. I believe I was inspired to do my first flash animation after seeing We Don’t Want Your War a flash animation that was done in the weeks leading up to the war (This version of the animation has been updated since the onset of war.)
I had this tune going through my head, when I went to an anti-war march in NYC, on February 20th, which brought a half-million into the streets. I got home, and turned on CNN, and there was no mention about it- instead, they were featuring commentator after sommentator telling about how war with Iraq was inevitable. I decided that I’d put together my own anti-war flash, and after a few hundred thousand views in just a few days, I decided to start BushFlash.com
I was an art major in college, but dropped out, twice. Before started doing political flash videos, I was an amateur illustrator
I always had an affinity for headstrong art styles, particularly propaganda of any political stripe. I consider the flashes I do to be nothing more than propaganda.
I have no background in music, and was already doing flash animation, as a profession, before I started the site.
Magic Sam: Has America turned the corner with a new Dem Congress or should we expect more of the same?
Eric: The dem congress is playing politics with the war- the only solution is to cut off funding for the war, but very few dems have the guts to do so (Kucinich being a noteable exception.)
However, I wonder- why the hell are we sitting back, and wondering about what congress will do? They’ll do whatever the hell we tell them to do, but the caveat is:
WE NEED TO MAKE THE EFFORT TO INFLUENCE THEM. Write to them- get in touch with local activists- light a fire under these people’s butts, and you’ll see results. However, if you grumble and groan, and withdraw from the political process, because things aren’t going your way less than a month into the new congress, you might as well start digging your own grave.
Magic Sam: Gore Vidal said, “The War on Terrorism is as stupid as a War on Dandruff. America is Number One in only two products: weapons and advertising…the War on Terrorism is both.” Your take?
Eric: Terrorism is a tactic- it isn’t an ideology, a series of beliefs, a nationality, or any other tangible thing one could declare war against. It’s the perfect canard- a word (“Terror”) that can be used as a straw man to defend an unjustifiable lurch towards militarism and gross abuse of constitutional rights. As long as those in power are free to define “Terror”, they will use it to read our mail, tap our telephones, and so on…
The United States of America has a lot to answer for, and we have a nasty, nasty habit of creating our own enemies, time and again, and feign shocked outrage whenever the chickens come home to roost. The problem, as I see it, is that we’re still a relatively young nation, and we lack the common historical perspective that is necessary to responsibly wield the power we have.
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Published by Greg at 09:56 PM on July 29, 2005