Althouse: Corporations are censors too.

October 25, 2015

Corporations are censors too.

In September Lego refused Ai Weiwei Studio's request for a bulk order of Legos to create artwork to be shown at the National Gallery of Victoria as "they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works." On Oct 21, a British firm formally announced that it will open a new Legoland in Shanghai as one of the many deals of the U.K.-China "Golden Era."
A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Oct 23, 2015 at 6:04am PDT

13 comments:

Ron Nelson said...: Any business wants to maximize its revenues which generally translates to a large consumer base. Overt politics is a consumer limiter if a corporation becomes identified with a cause and there are consumption alternatives (including abstention) for its product. So it is unsurprising that corporations are censors. Whether express or not, every corporation will attempt to control its perception with the public, including perceptions about political positioning. Ben and Jerry's makes its politics overt and I don't want to support Ben and Jerry's, but sometimes you just have to have a Cherry Garcia.; 10/25/15, 9:19 AM
Sebastian said...: Even though he commits "modern art," Ai Weiwei is a brave hombre.; 10/25/15, 10:04 AM
Wince said...: At first, I thought that was done with the "Lite-Brite" toy not Legos.

See for yourself, Lite-Brite is the superior artistic medium.; 10/25/15, 10:43 AM
rcocean said...: This reminds me of Kinko's refusing to make copies because they didn't approve of the customer's politics and Amazon refusing to sell Games with confederate flags on them.

Corporate fascism.; 10/25/15, 11:08 AM
Curious George said...: I think Althouse needs to look up the definition of "Censor." Lego isn't censoring anyone.; 10/25/15, 11:22 AM
Curious George said...: The dude can still make his statement. And still use Legos if he chooses. Where is the censorship? It's like saying if a bakery refuses to make a cake for a gay wedding, the couple can't be gay. I mean they can still go home and fuck each others asses, cake or no cake.; 10/25/15, 11:26 AM
mikee said...: Using Legos as a medium of expression works for everything from fairly abstract "buildings" to historic battleships and Death Stars.

However, using Legos as a means of claiming support for one's cause from Lego isn't covered under the instructions for use. Good publicity was obtained for the cause, at zero cost, so extra points for good PR, that man.

I, for one, look forward to the day when the Chinese mainland government won't ban 1.6 billion people from using Legos, when one anti-government protester uses Legos.

It is not Lego that comes out of this looking bad. It is the worried Chinese government that comes out of this looking weak, idiotic, evil, and despotic. But then, they are all that.; 10/25/15, 11:46 AM
Robert Cook said...: Lego refused the artist's attempt to purchase their product in bulk with the odd excuse that they "cannot approve the use of Lego for political works," (odd because how do they know what works he intends to make with the Legos?), and then shortly later announced their deal to open a "Legoland" in China.

They claim to want to avoid the taint of politics, yet it's just that they're in bed with the repressive Chinese government and do not want to scotch their lucrative deal. Of course Lego can do as it pleases, but their dissembling here does make them look bad.; 10/25/15, 12:00 PM
Chris N said...: From The People shall arise artists and tradesman, friends and neighbors to lead the revolution against the corporate paymasters at Kinko's.

Just the other day 'Brett' informed me I would not using the office supply area to conduct revolutionary strategic sessions any longer.

How does it feel, Brett, to quash Sandy's creativity with your callous corporatism even after she used your print services to make triple font ironic, Warholian false consciousness flyers for our cause?

Lackey.; 10/25/15, 3:50 PM
Chris N said...: Sanders/Robert Cook 2016.

That's a bumper sticker you'll soon see on the back of my 1984 Volvo 240 DL

See you all in paradise or at the revolution, whichever comes first.; 10/25/15, 4:00 PM
RazorSharpSundries said...: How do they fuckin' know that's it's going to be political? Lego assholes. They put the kibosh on it because the Red Chinese told 'em to take a dive. The fix was in. I'm never buying a Lego product again.; 10/26/15, 12:35 AM
Peter said...: Legos may wish to control what people express with their Legos, but, surely they lack the ability to actually do so?

If they lack the power to actually censor anyone or anything, why should I care that perhaps they would, if only they could?; 10/26/15, 9:56 AM
Robert Cook said...: @Peter:

It's not so much they care what people express with Legos--their dissembling denial of Al Wei Wei's purchase order notwithstanding--it's that they have entered into a commercial relationship with the government of China. They do not wish to be seen as causing umbrage to their business partner.; 10/26/15, 11:09 AM