RSA ANIMATE: First as Tragedy, Then as Farce
Royal Society of Arts3 HN recommenders · 2011–2022
1.9M views · talk · evergreen · Uploaded 2010-07-28
An RSA Animate adaptation of a Slavoj Zizek talk on charitable giving and ethical consumerism. It argues that buying products that bundle a charity donation can sustain the system that causes the problems.
Frequently linked in threads on philanthropy, ethical consumption and billionaire giving as a short, approachable critique of charity.
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7 comments from Hacker News
The manufactures that put Android on their devices are not mom and pop electronics firms. So the implication that this is somehow shifting money to poorer people is kind of ridiculous. Unless you mean the top 1% richest people in those countries. Because I don't think the manufacturers will go to their labourers and pay them any more money just because some hardware was designed in house (hardware design doesn't employ many people either). It's not Tom's shoes. In fact I find it hard to believe that even Tom's shoes are Tom's shoes. [VIDEO]
Slightly off-topic, but your post reminded me of Slavoj Zizek's fiery verbal attack on charity[1], especially the line at the very end: "It's horrible to see a child whose life is ruined because of an operation that costs 20$. .. (but) If you operate the child, they will live a little bit better, but in the same situation that produced them" Just an interesting side-note on this debate. [1] [VIDEO]
This charity-as-part-of-consumerism is the topic of Zizek's talk First as Tragedy, Then as Farce ; well worth a watch (10 minutes) and approachable by those without philosophical backgrounds: [VIDEO]
I don't necessarily agree with you, but another interesting take on this is by Slavoj Zizek, who argues that charitable giving perpetuates the problem: [VIDEO]
>I know many people who buy into these 'good feelings' products. Good, quick talk by Zizek on this phenomenon: [VIDEO]
One interesting point is made by Slavoj Zizek on our society[0] about the "good" billionaires that give with one hand what they destroyed with the other. This what it feels like about all of what is happening over there, 1st world countries give "aid" to cover the problem themselves did over there. [0]: [VIDEO]
Slavoj Zizek discusses this idea of "ethical consumerism" in a beautifully illustrated talk here: [VIDEO] Needless to say, the idea that you are "supporting" something by voluntary exchange (how do you know that they aren't supporting you ?) is a relatively recent development, and is of course completely unworkable. It's just another form of retail therapy.