tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post2586889416914161989..comments2024-02-22T01:36:48.427-08:00Comments on On Theatre and Politics - Matthew Freeman: Mike Daisey's statement about This American LifeFreemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01183078884824734105noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9902716.post-40977940951567988692012-03-26T09:02:12.903-07:002012-03-26T09:02:12.903-07:00There are a few points in the Daisey dilemma that ...There are a few points in the Daisey dilemma that I have trouble with. There's the specific way he answered emails from TAL outlining their need for him to understand that everything in his show needs to be totally factual. There are the tv spots he agreed to, where he took fictionalized elements from his play and posited them as truth. There's the strange way he seemed so unprepared for TAL's Retraction episode.<br /><br />But to address your point, Matthew, that we're still better off knowing...having felt something real...as a result of the story, even if it was dishonest in some ways:<br /><br />In following the fallout of Daisey's story, it appeared that Apple's overseas factories were actually some of the better factories in which people can be employed in the region. The worst prevalent issue was illegally long working days...not lethal dust, underage workers, or suicide on company time. Apple's response has been really positive, but from what I'm reading, no other companies are rushing to follow suit with their increased transparency and more frequent factory checkups.<br /><br />People are asking if Daisey deserves such a public drumming. So, did Apple really deserve it? Fiction was required to make it a compelling piece of theatre, which makes me think not. Considering all of the truly scary working situations in China, and systematic human rights violations made by the Chinese government, Daisey seems to have forced a lesser issue into the national dialogue by dressing it as something it's not.<br /><br />Daisey's show was presented as truth, and then he doubled down by lying to journalists. Even if his motivations were 100% pure (which would make him the superlative human being), the critical response against him online seems to be one of the things that makes the internet so great.<br /><br />...although I do hear you. There are entirely more grievous lies and liars up to more dastardly endeavors than Daisey. Where's our mighty internet when it comes to politicians, leaders of industry, and financial officers??Matt Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09840836472719289049noreply@blogger.com