It is a very impressive film, one that tackles a timely issue, targets the youth demograph, and delivers, more or less. It is strongest when it explains the issues (using some excellent AE animation) and builds its argument, but weak when it spends an inordinate amount of time watching kids dancing to Girl Talk. The filmmaker makes a number of appearances, but doesn't come through as a particularly strong presence on camera. In for a penny, in for a pound - if you are going to appear in your own doc, you need to be an actual character in the story.
But when was the last time you watched a film and learned something you didn't know?
This is a clip from RIP! A REMIX MANIFESTO.
In it Bruce Lehman, formerly of the Clinton Administration, voices his second thoughts on the trade policies he shepherded through Congress in 1997. Since those policies came into play, the trade gap between the US and China has tripled.
When the history is written on where America went wrong and lost its way, perhaps the bargain we struck with the world in 1997 will be seen as a turning point.
The bargain - Faustian or not - was this: We'll let the rest of the world have our manufacturing jobs, but in exchange they have to honor our laws on intellectual property. China, you get to build toaster ovens, toys, and eventually, cars. But you have to pay us licensing fees and royalties on our inventions, art and ideas.
One problem: Can any nation survive without a broad-based economy that includes a manufacturing base? Are we going to go to war against China if they violate our IP laws? With what Army? - the one that is built from components made in China?
The interlocking dependencies of world powers - our Treasury Bills, our IP, our wheat and corn, our military vs their manufacturing ability, their economic might, their connectivity, their aging population etc... it all becomes a blur of variables and, at least for me, impossible to determine who will have the upper hand in the future.
But individuals can hedge their bets. Which is why I am glad I have Irish citizenship (access to the EU) and why I am glad my wife has Indonesian citizenship. Our children will have options. Assuming they study their Mandarin.
But when was the last time you watched a film and learned something you didn't know?
This is a clip from RIP! A REMIX MANIFESTO.
In it Bruce Lehman, formerly of the Clinton Administration, voices his second thoughts on the trade policies he shepherded through Congress in 1997. Since those policies came into play, the trade gap between the US and China has tripled.
When the history is written on where America went wrong and lost its way, perhaps the bargain we struck with the world in 1997 will be seen as a turning point.
The bargain - Faustian or not - was this: We'll let the rest of the world have our manufacturing jobs, but in exchange they have to honor our laws on intellectual property. China, you get to build toaster ovens, toys, and eventually, cars. But you have to pay us licensing fees and royalties on our inventions, art and ideas.
One problem: Can any nation survive without a broad-based economy that includes a manufacturing base? Are we going to go to war against China if they violate our IP laws? With what Army? - the one that is built from components made in China?
The interlocking dependencies of world powers - our Treasury Bills, our IP, our wheat and corn, our military vs their manufacturing ability, their economic might, their connectivity, their aging population etc... it all becomes a blur of variables and, at least for me, impossible to determine who will have the upper hand in the future.
But individuals can hedge their bets. Which is why I am glad I have Irish citizenship (access to the EU) and why I am glad my wife has Indonesian citizenship. Our children will have options. Assuming they study their Mandarin.
Comments
Post a Comment