Join the Resistance

[ysabetwordsmith]

I've been seeing "Remember: Resist" in a lot of places lately.  Okay, let's work with that.  Resistance is all about obstructing the flow of energy.  What is the purpose of resistance in activism?  It makes the opponent exert maximum effort for minimum return.  It wrecks his EROEI.  Being in a racist (classist, sexist, etc.) society doesn't make you racist, anymore than standing in a pigpen makes you a pig.  Sometimes you can stop bullying by being an upstander.  Even if you can't stop the problem, by providing resistance, you can slow it down.

I propose making jewelry out of resistors.

This lineart version would work on a button, a t-shirt, a patch, any craft that could be made with a grid chart, etc.

Now get out there and chant Ohm.

Comments

I had an idea like that, too!

[ng_moonmoth]

>> I propose making jewelry out of resistors. <<

The exact same idea came to me last night. I'm likely to hit the local electronics parts store and pick some up soon.

I did some research to see whether anyone was making one like I wanted; answer seems to be no. I'm planning to start with a pin, so I'll look for something the right size for one, and do a little artwork.

I'm going to start with one of the resistors with the cylindrical ceramic package so familiar to folks who've built things with discrete electronic components, and repaint the stripes to yellow/green/black/gray. This identifies it as a 45 ohm resistor with 0.05% tolerance, so: resist 45 with a tolerance of 1 out of 2000. (The number of actions I might find tolerable may not reach 1/2000, but I don't have enough of a baseline to be sure of that yet. And that's the most precise the color codes go.)

Geeky, yet readable -- and more or less incomprehensible to a large part of the targets of the resistance. Suits me. I'll post more if things happen.

Re: I had an idea like that, too!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I think the idea is in the wind, polygenetic. :D

Those ceramic resistors would make excellent earrings, and they're already on wires. All you need to do is bend the top into a loop and attach it to an ear wire. Pins work too. Or you could make a necklace by putting loops on both ends and linking them.

Re: I had an idea like that, too!

[ng_moonmoth]

Your ideas also sound like they would make good decorations. Thanks for sharing them with your readers. I hope others will figure out their own ways of turning resistors into art symbolizing their intent to oppose all forms of oppression by the powerful.

This next part is my own interpretation. Others creating this sort of art may have different ideas, and I will not presume to suppress their creations, or oppose anyone wearing such. I would, however, ask people to be aware of this:

The use of utilitarian objects such as safety pins and resistors to symbolize determination to resist oppressive actions of the powerful incorporates a powerful symbolism of its own, independent of the particular message: that this determination resides within every person, independent of their means or resources. "Blinging up" these objects by making replicas using costly materials, or adding ornamental decorations, can all too easily give the impression that the wearer is declaring sufficient stature in their culture to weather any loss of such that might ensue, or that their more noticeable creation gives more weight to their expression. These appear to me as signaling division from, rather than unity with, those who prefer a less showy symbol. Given that so many of the actions being protested are intended to foster division, and are being protested by those who prize unity, I find such representations disturbingly contrary to the intent with which the original objects were imbued with their symbolism.

Another message that can get muddled in this way is that of using the tools at hand in support of the goal. The replica objects are often no longer usable for their intended purpose, which weakens that message.

So, I would prefer that you keep it simple. I'd much rather buy an actual resistor with the right specs, but nobody makes one -- so I'll settle for what feels like the most practical compromise to me.

Re: I had an idea like that, too!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>The use of utilitarian objects such as safety pins and resistors to symbolize determination to resist oppressive actions of the powerful incorporates a powerful symbolism of its own, independent of the particular message: that this determination resides within every person, independent of their means or resources. <<

I agree.

>> "Blinging up" these objects by making replicas using costly materials, or adding ornamental decorations, can all too easily give the impression that the wearer is declaring sufficient stature in their culture to weather any loss of such that might ensue, or that their more noticeable creation gives more weight to their expression. <<

Yyyyyeah. I was also thinking of this as upcycling. Resistors wear out, like other components; they can easily be scavenged from discarded equipment.

>>I'd much rather buy an actual resistor with the right specs, but nobody makes one -- so I'll settle for what feels like the most practical compromise to me.<<

You can always get a real resistor and repaint it if they don't have what you need.

Re: I had an idea like that, too!

[mdlbear]

I'd worry about putting a resistor's lead through a hole in your ear - they're usually coated with solder, and that stuff isn't good for you, even in the newer lead-free versions.

Attach it to a decent stainless steel or gold-plated ear-loop, and you'd be ok. You can also chain them into a necklace.

Re: I had an idea like that, too!

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's why I said bend the wire into a loop and attach it to an ear wire.

[alatefeline]

<3

[tornir]

The SMT resistors would lend themselves well to mosaic jewellery:
▯▮▮▮▮▮▮▯
▮▯▯▯▯▯▯▮
▮▯▯▯▯▯▯▮
▮▯▯▯▯▯▯▮
▯▮▯▯▯▯▮▯
▯▯▮▯▯▮▯▯
▮▯▮▯▯▮▯▮
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They're generally colored (with number) on top, white on the bottom

Wow!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Mosaic jewelry, actual mosaics, or again anything that uses a grid such as beadwork or knitting.

[chanter1944]

Well, I do already have those earrings bought through one of the shops in a previous Winterfair - whose amazing work are they? do speak up, I love those earrings - made with a resistor and a microcontroller each... :) Nerdy and symbolic has ever been my thing as is!

Okay...

[ysabetwordsmith]

If the maker of resistor earrings would like to speak up, I'll boost the signal. I suspect more people will be wanting those nowabouts.

[mashfanficchick]

Would you be happy, upset, or neutral about the idea of me sharing this post to a friend who makes (among other awesome things) unity/inclusivity jewelry? (It's one of the people I mentioned during Winterfair.) Because I don't want to steal your idea, especially considering that he does make a profit off his jewelry (because creating and selling these items is what he does for a living), but he might have more/easier/better access to certain things than most other folk would, making your awesome idea more accessible to the less physically crafty of us. But, of course, as the person who thought of it, you get final say.

Yes, please!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Would you be happy, upset, or neutral about the idea of me sharing this post to a friend who makes (among other awesome things) unity/inclusivity jewelry? <<

Thrilled. The more, the merrier. You might want to include a note about the color-coding system too; not everyone is familiar with that.

I can make jewelry, but it's not a primary activity for me, so more people doing it will spread it farther.

[gingicat]

David Gerrold's Facebook icon has been a beige resistor for a bit over a month. There was a discussion on his wall about it that was remarkably civil and very interesting.

[technoshaman (from livejournal.com)]

I gotta idea. Get some big safety pins and twist the resistor leads into the holes at each end, and stabilize with epoxy or e6000. Don't bother with a clasp, just let the pin do its thing.

[unmutual.livejournal.com]

Already working on resistor designs for t-shirts and stickers :)

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

If you tell me when those are ready for market, I can boost the signal here. Clearly my fans are interested in obstructing Herr Piece.

Re: Yay!

[unmutual.livejournal.com]

Fantastic, thank you! I have this one up already:



...which I made big enough, though I crashed Illustrator more than a few times, to print on their biggest tapestries. I think they'd be great flags to wave at rallies and such.

I'm donating a portion of all proceeds from the brassorchids shop to the ACLU & Planned Parenthood as well. And I'm going to duplicate the shop on Zazzle, hopefully to double the exposure.

[cat-sanctuary.livejournal.com]

Ohmmmmm...nice links...mmmmmm....