Comments on: The Gospel According to Reverend Billy

By: Ira Katznelson

Ira Katznelson — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:34:07 +0000

This film is fascinating at more than one level, including the
integration of performance and politics, religion and essentially secular
positions, malleability and hard views. The film and essay are very well done, and provoke thought by inviting attention to a person and sets of identities and views that are not ordinarily foregrounded.

By: Michelle Mount

Michelle Mount — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:43:40 +0000

This magazine is incredible! How cool! Reverend Billy is such a trip. I agree with his view that we’re hyper consumers in some areas but seeing that it’s a recession … looks like god already heard his prayer. His platform (which seems like tax tax tax wallstreet and the rich) would surely exacerbate our already nightmarish economic situation. Though that seems to suit him fine because we shouldn’t be buying stuff anyway. WHAT?? I wasn’t shocked to hear his educational background was “Living in Brooklyn” ;-) People will do anything to feel important.

Isn’t there a still running feudal lord system somewhere he could join? There the rich pay for everything hampering economic trade resulting in zero disposable income and spending amoung the lower class. He’d love it! No Disney pajamas back then.

By: Agent Double Oh-No

Agent Double Oh-No — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:49:16 +0000

Thanks for all of your provocative comments. It seems our little jury is about split: Bertrand and Juiceandsnacks are generally critical of the Reverend while Steve, Bob, and Mer are generally more positive about him.

It seems as though there are two breakpoints:
1. dividing tactics (playing to official media, playing a role, ambiguities about his religious content and his past) and message (anti-consumerism, pro-indie).
2. whether, as an effective activist, Rev. Billy would be a good mayor (this is a point juiceandsnacks really drives home). The two vocations require different skills and, perhaps, different social networks.

It seems to me as though NYC has suffered for its mainstream success: lower crime, cleaner streets, better schools has also made the City much more expensive and hostile to weirdos and artists.

Yes, the Syndicate of Human Image Traffickers plans on posting about a film a month, so I hope that folks like Bob will return at least that often (although Coilhouse has such great, unexpected gems that I try to check it out a few times a week).

Best wishes,

OO-NO

By: Mer

Mer — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:13:42 +0000

I’ve been following the Reverend’s antics for about ten years now. He always brings a smile to my face. Steve, I’m personally in complete agreement with you that his personal (fire)brand of satire has a lot of wisdom and heart.

Bloomie got his ass handed to him, and I’m glad.

Bob, I’m guessing you’re a first-time visitor to Coilhouse? As noted in this article’s intro, Jeff’s interview with Rev. Billy is only the first in a video series he has planned for the blog. We also have scads more wonderful articles from Jeff (and other contributors) in our archives that tackle some deep and heady subject matter. So please, stay awhile, explore that category list you see to the right, make yourself at home!

By: Bob Davis

Bob Davis — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:37:13 +0000

Bloomberg may have won the election, but the Rev wins my attention and appreciation because of this interview and because of Mr. Wengrofsky’s intelligently penetrating introduction about NYC’s zeitgeist and politics. Dear editors: please allow this kind of insightful journalism to continue to instruct your readers, adding breadth and depth to their knowledge.

By: juiceandsnacks

juiceandsnacks — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:06:58 +0000

You know, Reverend Billy’s been around for a while and I generally like what he does, but reading this I wonder: do performance art/political activism hybrids ever really achieve anything in terms of real change? As art they can be fantastic, but when it comes to changing the status quo they don’t seem very effective. Or perhaps I’m just not thinking of good examples. I wonder if they don’t do more harm than good, in that the stuff just alienates the average passerby. The work of effecting real social change is a lot more tedious and frustrating. Not that social commentary with flare is worthless. But if you’re really out to change the world, is this the best way to go? Anyway, short on answers, long on questions, as always…

By: Steve Mundie

Steve Mundie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:19:58 +0000

I had not heard of Reverend Billy prior to seeing this interrogation and video. The Reverend’s authentic presence, like an apostolic Elvis, shines through, unmasking the unholy evandalism of Billy Graham and Michael Bloomberg. Representative figures of religious and political mendacity.

Now that the election figures for the NYC Mayoral race are in, it is clear that Reverend Billy was right. Bloomie bought term relief and the election but not a mandate. And that is the Reverend’s point, a mayor to be true to the faith of New York must connect or partner with all the people who make up the New York’s community.

While the Reverend’s observation that Bloomie’s blandhandling of NYC politics is transforming the City into a series of upscale neighborehoods is not new, this and his other observations are put forth with a warm hearted integrity that Fox News and Sacha Baron Cohen lack. There is critical difference between mocking and satire and Rev. Billy, who has done his homework and paid his dues, is bringing the Good News, whether some of us want to hear it or not.

By: Bertrand

Bertrand — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:37:43 +0000

If you ask me he is very much a stigmata of this consumerism society he is complaining about. Nowadays anyone can tell that “guerilla tactics” in politics are a mere attempt at getting attention from the medias. He blame people working for Disney but at the end of the day he plays the game of Fox News ?!
It seems this kind of attitude is on the rise : i guess this is hard to picture but it reminds me of Sacha Baron Cohen; Humor or Mocking the people you want to oppose is not the most efficient political strategy for its only reaching the people who already share your views.
Now i