Posted by Isis at cau03.cau.cornell.edu on May 03, 2002 at 13:15:21:
In Reply to: how 'bout this? posted by sean on May 03, 2002 at 12:45:39:
: I'd say that this has about as much to do with whether Gap has good clothes or not as the Hopper commercial in question will affect the quality of the next Coen Brothers work.
It's not a question of whether they have good clothes. It's a question of whether you choose to contribute your money to an operation that does not value the enviroment. It's like, why don't I buy Eminem's album? He's a good rapper. But I don't care to pay money to support someone whose values I DON'T support.
: All the other stuff -- except possibly for how they make their clothes, but including their trendiness -- shouldn't matter.
It does to me. I like to know where my money is going.
: I believe it, especially since Gap never seems to deny it, and I'm sure they could afford good lawyers if they wanted to. And I don't even buy Gap clothes, 'cause I don't find them interesting. But the thing is, as long as it's legal to do, there's no way that Gap could avoid it. They'd be out of business in a month, because the competition could destroy them, profit-wise. The *only* way to change the sweatshop stuff is to change the laws, either in our country or in every single other country.
I don't buy that argument. None of us ever HAVE to do anything. If you choose to be in business, there's no reason you can't do it responsibly. How much money does Gap Inc. make per year, do you think? I doubt they're all poor urchin ragamuffins with only one newsboy cap and bowl of porridge to share amongst them. I do agree that we need legal standards, however.
: Which would you rather see, Kate:
: 1) A bunch of people you consider artists waste months of their lives on a shitty movie so that they can get a lot of money and be comfortable for a little while and do their own thing.
: 2) A bunch of people you consider artists wasting an afternoon on a decent commercial for a shitty company so that they can get a lot of money and be comfortable for a while and do their own thing?
Neither. Again, I don't buy that anyone ever has to do anything. Even if there's a gun against your head, you have a choice -- stick to your principles and bite the bullet, or compromise yourself in order to have a future opportunity to do what you want to do. No one is forcing Gap to make billions of dollars, poor little Olivers that they are ("we'd stick a knife in your best friend...for yoooouuuuu!" -- anyone who remember that SNL skit, I love you). No one is forcing the Coens to make big budget movies. If they CHOOSE to compromise themselves in order to do what they WANT to do, that's one thing. But I think anyone posting here knows perfectly well that you can make an excellent movie for the credit-card-charged price of a luxury SUV, if you really want to.
If you're an artist, in my mind, your talent, your name, and your influence are worth FAR more than money.