Seen at boingboing, via Making Light, an intelligent, very accessible explanation of our current econopocalypse, explained by (prepare undies for bunching!) Marxist sociologist David Harvey at London’s Royal Society for the Arts.
Of course, you don’t have to get your undies in a bunch at the mention of the M word. Undie-bunching is the response of the fearful, blind follower. Just this once, just for today, try asking yourself if you have the courage to consider other points of view. Hint: Blind allegiance to an ideology –ANY ideology– isn’t courage.
Brilliant, high-speed whiteboard animation. Well worth watching. Even more worth discussing…
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Wow, this is very cool. The fast-speed illustration is amazing and totally engaging. I don’t know much about politics or economics or any of that (so, alas, no bunched undies), but I still sat and watched and listened to the whole thing with a very focused sort of attention, so as not to miss any of the jokes. (“I said THESIS,” ha.) Not the best motive, I suppose, but hey, one more listener is one more listener, right? And even without the jokes it made pretty good sense to me.
Huh, it occurs to me: maybe that’s the whole point. Sneak the smart stuff in while they’re busy laughing.
Well, in any case, what an innovative way to get people to stop and give some time and energy to a complicated idea.
Yah, it is totally engaging, isn’t it?! And the jokes go by so quickly — I didn’t catch the “I said THESIS” remark until my 3rd viewing. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I took a look around at your place and was soon humbled by the quality of the writing. Wonderful. You have a gift, my dear. I’ll be back.
Wow, thanks. Now I feel kind of shy and proud at the same time. I mean, I’ve kept my eye on your blog for a while now (you totally hooked me with that photo of yourself), but a lot of your stuff goes right over my head, like, you’re basically out of my league. So your compliment carries a lot of weight. So yeah, thanks.
(Awkward exit goes here.)
Awwwwww… Stop it, you’re making your Auntie Tild all verklempt! /shuffles off sniffling quietly but with a tremulous smile on her weatherbeaten old visage
My favorite part of it was his explanation of why home ownership is pushed so hard in the US as opposed to the rest of the world: People with heavy mortgages don’t go on strike.
And they don’t march on Wall Street with torches and pitchforks, either.