04. The Yes Men
What it Is:
The Yes Men is a collective of performers and media guerilla specialists who deliberately enact fake news launches and other staged performances to trigger public opinion on sensitive issue. Like climate change, for instance: the Yes-Men fed Reuters with a fake press conference announcing a historical turning point in the US adoption of carbon footprint reduction measures. Also: their newest movie ’The Yes Men Fix the World‘ is definitely worth to watch.
Why it's cool:
The Yes Men play the media game against the lobbies and the powers-that-be. The Yes Men inspire people with their consequent credo: Change is Possible. On a theoretical level the Yes Men have a solid link with the Situationist’s actions and thinking, led by Guy Debord.
Science of the time’s Interpretation:
Debunking the arrogant media powers to be. Debunking them in creative and funny ways. Through their antics and the documentaries they use media in an affirmative way to affect change. This isn’t about ignoring the media, but using them for what they are. Extensions of bodies and thoughts. Through them they raise issues and expose the seedy underbelly of (intra)national corporations. Slaughtering and revealing them with their own weapons: symposia, lectures, discussion groups, workshop sessions and public relations. Often masquerading as spokespersons they speak for change through companies and institutions that sometimes actively and sometimes inadvertently block change. We will never have enough of this!
World Trend Report Connection
No Office Policy
Transparency of Life
