The proposed CBS program ‘The Activist’ pitting activists against each other to entertain does not serve the issues they are fighting for but enriches the few once again.
The Activist, oh well!
The show was described as follows.
Activists go head-to-head in challenges to promote their causes, with their success measured via online engagement, social metrics, and hosts’ input. The three teams have one ultimate goal: to create impactful movements that amplify their message, drive action, and advance them to the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy. There, they will meet with world leaders in the hope of securing funding and awareness for their causes. The team that receives the largest commitment is celebrated as the overall winner at the finale, which will also feature musical performances by some of the world’s most passionate artists.
The series is produced by Global Citizen — the international education and advocacy organization working to catalyze the movement to end extreme poverty that produced the recent Vax Live: A Concert to Reunite the World — CBS and Deviant Media.
“The Activist is a first-of-its-kind competition series that will inspire real change, as the series progresses from the United States to Rome for the Activists’ final challenge at the G20,” said Hugh Evans, CEO and co-founder of Global Citizen. “The audience will see the Activists’ passion and commitment for their causes tested as they petition world leaders to take urgent action to resolve the interconnected crises we face.”
One tweet from Naomi Klein says it all.
I’m confused: Is this an advanced Marxist critique to expose how competition for money and attention pits activists against each other + undermines deep change? Or just the end of the world?
I think they got the message.
