San Antonio visual artist Aaron Forland, contributing writer to emvergeoning.com (billed as “America’s most difficult art blog”) and co-conspirator with Justin Parr at emerging-artist hotspot Fl¡ght Gallery, originated “Keep San Antonio Lame” as a catchphrase in 2004, partially in satiric response to Austin’s “Keep Austin Weird” sub-culti PR blitz. It’s a pretty telling comment on San Antonio’s self-image: We think of ourselves as significantly less, well, cool than Austin. Austin’s middle-class, educated, indie, hip, self-aware. SATX is much poorer and way more old-fashioned. We love metal and the accordion, and could largely give a shit about trends if we even know about them. You know: “lame.”

I find this to be hilarious and very true. Don’t get me wrong, I love my city but I am the first to admit that San Antonio can be very lame. People consider us to be “old school” or late adapters, but what if we don’t want to adapt? I think San Antonians are perfectly contempt with the way we are and quite frankly, most probably don’t know we have this rep and if they did know, wouldn’t care. We’re not Austin and don’t want to be. Austin is a great a city but it’s unfair to compare cities because every city has something different to offer. Let’s keep San Antonio LAME people – it gives us something to work toward!