KEYNOTE – DOUGLAS RUSHKOFF
The End of the Story: How capitalism killed narrative, and how to grow new ones
The myth of infinite market expansion was supported, at least in part, by a story structure dependent on crisis, climax, and relief. Just as we are now demanding bankers give up their absolute control of our monetary system, must we as storytellers give up control of our narratives? And how can we make a living telling stories in a world where everyone now has a story to tell, and a means of telling it?
This is it: I’m doing The Colbert Report Wednesday, July 15, 11:30pm on Comedy Central, repeated the next day in earlier time slots. Check your local listings, or watch the segment on the show’s website.
I have to admit this is the one media appearance I’m a little nervous about. Not that Colbert is an unfriendly host. He’s really one of us, pretending to be one of “them.” The trick is to remember that he’s actually drawing out a guest’s best arguments by playing the enemy. (As one of the producers told me, “pretend you’re speaking to an eight-year-old.”)
But he plays the part well – so well, in fact, that he often wins debates even against his own left-leaning version of the Colbert character. Conversations can also quickly devolve into an argument over a single issue as Colbert mines it for comedic potential. This can make for great entertainment, but can also prevent the guest from getting out his main and most important points.
I’m making a list of talking points (that I’ll surely forget once I’m actually on) but I welcome you to share the arguments you think most need to be heard. I’ll do my best to weave them in.
For more information about Douglas Rushkoff’s book, “LIFE INC. How The World Became A Corporation And How To Take It Back” check out Life Inc. and the LIFE INC. 9min movie
The LIFE INC. Dispatch = Brief weekly videos encapsulating key concepts and ready strategies from Douglas Rushkoff’s LIFE INC. for de-corporatizing our lives, abandoning the speculative economy, and rebuilding both commerce and community from the bottom up.
You can also download an MP3 audio file of the Dispatch: Life Inc. Dispatch 08 – Audio
Just did this one on Tuesday evening, for the NY Tech Meet-Up. I was exhausted for this one, but it does manage to explain corporatism as an operating system gone awry.
The brilliant Ann Althouse interviews me about Life Inc on BloggingHeads.TV. Here’s a bit on how regulation actually helps prevent small businesses from competing with the big boys.
January 21 - Brooklyn, NY. Talk for ETSY, 7p February 1 - The Webb School, Bell Buckle Tennessee. February 2 - Frontline Digital Nation premieres, 9pm PBS March 12 - SWSX, Austin TX more...
