Paris Uprising May 1968

A look at the events and some of the causes of the uprising in France in the Spring of 1968.

Unfortuately, there is no mention of one of the driving forces of the uprising both before and during the revolt - the Situationist International.


For more information check out the writings of the Situationists themselves.

The Beginning of an Era
http://www.bopsecrets.org/SI/12.era1.htm

May 1968 Documents
http://www.bopsecrets.org/SI/May68docs.htm

The Joy of Revolution
http://www.bopsecrets.org/PS/joyrev3.htm

The Society of the Spectacle
http://www.bopsecrets.org/SI/debord/

The Revolution of Everyday Life
http://library.nothingness.org/articles/SI/en/pub_contents/5

Enrages and Situationists in the Occupation Movement, France, May '68


May 1968 Graffiti

Boredom is counterrevolutionary.

In a society that has abolished every kind of adventure the only adventure that remains is to abolish the society.

Those who make revolutions halfway only dig their own graves.

No replastering, the structure is rotten.

We will ask nothing. We will demand nothing. We will take, occupy.

Down with the state.

It's painful to submit to our bosses; it's even more stupid to choose them.

Abolish class society.

We want neither to rule nor to be ruled.

All power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely

Politics is in the streets.

Barricades close the streets but open the way.

People who work get bored when they don't work.
People who don't work never get bored.

The boss needs you, you don't need the boss.

Humanity won't be happy till the last capitalist is hung with the guts of the last bureaucrat.

A single nonrevolutionary weekend is infinitely more bloody than a month of total revolution.

We refuse to be highrised, diplomaed, licensed, inventoried, registered, indoctrinated,
suburbanized, sermonized, beaten, telemanipulated, gassed, booked.

Coming soon to this location: charming ruins.

Our aim is to agitate and disturb people. We're not selling bread, We're selling yeast.

You will end up dying of comfort.

Poetry is in the streets.

The most beautiful sculpture is a paving stone thrown at a cop's head.

Revolution, I love you.

I'm a Groucho Marxist.

Desiring reality is great! Realizing your desires is even better!

Be realistic, demand the impossible.

Those who lack imagination cannot imagine what is lacking.

Arise, ye wretched of the university.

Professors, you are as senile as your culture, your modernism is nothing but the modernization of the police.

Neither God nor master.

If God existed it would be necessary to abolish him.

How can you think freely in the shadow of a chapel?

The more we make love, the more we want to make revolution. The more we make revolution, the more we want to make love.

Revolutionary women are more beautiful.

Make love, not war.

Down with consumer society.

The more you consume, the less you live.

Commodities are the opium of the people.

You can't buy happiness. Steal it.

The economy is wounded - Lets hope it dies!

I don't have time to write!!!

Don't get caught up in the spectacle of opposition. Oppose the spectacle.

No forbidding allowed.

The freedom of others extends mine infinitely.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• May
• 1968
• Paris
• Situationist
• Debord
• Anarchy
• Anarchism
• Revolution
• Riot
• Cinema
• French
• History
• Graffiti

[dougjnesbitt]

The Situationists were not at all a driving force. Do some research, please.

[OttOmOlOtOv]

Well, at least 90% of the graffiti was directly from Situationists texts.

[OttOmOlOtOv]

I would say everything good and important about this historic moment came from the SI. Yes, the uprising failed, but the fact that it did was mostly do to the inability of the mass to see what was happening and what was possible. Had they been more aware of the SI critique and solutions, maybe we would all be living in a very different world.

[criticaljunkie]

people have explained to me that the events of may 1968 inspired michel foucault to part with marxism. it seems to me that the strikes and protests were fairly successful- so i'm wondering if anyone can elaborate on why these events would have caused his shift

[OttOmOlOtOv]

I don't think too many people involved in the events thought the outcome was a success, accept for the labor unions and the official communist party. What seemed to be happening was the beginning of a true revolution, but what happened was simply a few more reforms. Lots of radicals felt betrayed by the unions and the communist party for conceding to the government in exchange for some minor pay raises and such.

[ottocle]

Could i just ask when this documentary was broadcast and on which channel?

[OttOmOlOtOv]

It was never broadcast. I put together the video from 2 sources, both extras from the DVD of Bertolucci's The Dreamers.

I certainly wish this kind of information was broadcast on mainstream channels though.

[ParisianColour]

May 1968 = #Occupyeverywhere

[MarxBakuninMe]

The unions could easily have brought down the government. Bloody Soviet influence fucked it up.

[trifulquita15]

nobody notice that these filthy leftists made Pol Pot when Saloth was a student in Paris

[iLOVENATURE2011]

this video is very educational...taught me the history of paris as well as their culture....

[GhibliOriginals]

@JRF1961 i don't think usa can teach france on crimes, and the contrary is true as well: we both share blood on our hands (Orange Agent, Tortures in Algeria= same shit)

[funktrane]

8:30 Robert Hughes?

[4500jas]

Once again the Unions, instruments of the bourgeoisie quell the workers revolt and what would have been the international revolution. Reforms are Chloroform! Revolution is locomotive!

[elephantstone222]

thanks for this - what documentaries did you get the clips from?

[JRF1961]

Fucking Frogs, How soon they forget their own crimes an Algeria and Vietnam!!!!

[GodOfTheInternets]

Time for the revival of anarchy!

[folladordeprostis]

I heard that those maoist and marxist from 1968 riots today are right winger,and the frech communist party don't even reach 5 % in elections ahhaa