tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post4761181436429206216..comments2024-03-28T07:58:41.643-04:00Comments on pancocojams: Occupy Wall Street's Human Microphone Strategy & Call and Response SongsAzizi Powellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14963772326145910073noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-33801843050379888152011-10-25T01:41:16.466-04:002011-10-25T01:41:16.466-04:00This comment serves as an expansion of my statemen...This comment serves as an expansion of my statement in this post about "jazz hands".<br /><br />"Jazz Hands" are hand signals for approval during a speaker's statement, after a speaker's statement, or during a call for vote. That hand signal is two hands held face level while wiggling the fingers of both hands several times. I believe that hand signal comes from American Sign Language's signal for applause. Another hand signal for approval that is used during the Occupy movement is two thumbs up. <br /><br />The hand signal for disapproval that is being used by the Occupy movement is either two thumbs down or hand crossed face level or over your head. <br /><br />I suppose these hand signals were adopted in order to save time in attempting to achieve "consensus" in the movement's general assemblies-that is as a substitute for paper voting. However, I'm not only concerned that these methodologies are being institutionalized, I'm also concerned that these the human microphone and the hand signals are becomeing counterproductive to the goal of enlisting other members of the 99% because they are seen as objects of ridicule.azizihttp://www.cocojams.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-41110803931595068692011-10-21T18:13:29.216-04:002011-10-21T18:13:29.216-04:00Another value of this Human Microphone method may...Another value of this Human Microphone method may be to foster a sense of community among large groups of people.<br /><br />However, I think that there's also the danger that the solution to the lack of amplification can be seen as an end in itself. I think it would not be the best outcome if protestors started thinking. "Aren't we cool to have thought of this way of communicating in large groups. Even when we get electronic amplification which will allow us to discuss more complicated subjects and solutiond, we'll continue with this cool human microphone system."azizihttp://www.cocojams.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-9287393027439892042011-10-21T18:11:36.567-04:002011-10-21T18:11:36.567-04:00Here's the top entry as of this date for the p...Here's the top entry as of this date for the phrase "Human Microphone" from <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Human%20Microphone&defid=6130688" rel="nofollow">http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Human%20Microphone&defid=6130688</a><br /><br />October 19, 2011 Urban Word of the Day <br /><br />A tactic protesters can use to circumvent police bans on electronic amplification of speech. One person starts to speak to a large crowd. After a short sentence, everyone within hearing distance repeats whatever was said at the top of their lungs, allowing people outside of hearing distance to hear the speech.<br /><br />The Human Microphone on Wall Street announced this speech:<br /><br />"Mic Check."<br /><br />"MIC CHECK!!"<br /><br />"The human microphone is slow and cumbersome"<br /><br />"THE HUMAN MICROPHONE IS SLOW AND CUMBERSOME!!"<br /><br />"but it really makes you think through"<br /><br />"BUT IT REALLY MAKES YOU THINK THROUGH"<br /><br />"what it is you want"<br /><br />"WHAT IT IS YOU WANT!!"<br /><br />"to say."<br /><br />"TO SAY!!"<br /><br />by Occupy Urban Dictionary Oct 10, 2011azizihttp://www.cocojams.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5893219718076521675.post-7308386141774359242011-10-08T10:44:45.615-04:002011-10-08T10:44:45.615-04:00Call & response is also used in music and in t...Call & response is also used in music and in the spoken word.<br /><br />Visit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_and_response_(music)" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_and_response_(music)</a> for information about call & response used in instrumental music.<br /><br />African American preaching style provide numerous examples of call & response, including this commonly heard exchange:<br /><br />Minister- Can I get a witness?<br />Congregation-Amen!<br /><br />-snip-<br /><br />An example of call & response from the 1960s civil rights chant is:<br /><br />Leader-What do we want?<br />Group- Freedom!<br />Leader-When do we want it?<br />Group- Now!azizihttp://www.cocojams.comnoreply@blogger.com