My Summer Lair Chapter #87: What Is Democracy?
Filmmaker Astra Taylor did something remarkable with her latest documentary: she asked a question “What Is Democracy?” and then she…listened. Like actually, actively listened. Listening has become…revolutionary.
We’re told to vote and protest and stand up for our rights and stand against all kinds of Twitter-branded evil and yet listening is one of the most powerful activities we can undertake.
Listening is a lost skill. To listen to somebody…to hear what they have to say; even if we don’t agree with it. Especially if we don’t agree with it! That’s freedom. Freedom is so inspiring.
Astra Taylor is the talented writer of 2014’s The People’s Platform: a non-fiction book exploring gap of the internet dream that was sold to us and the harsh reality of the internet. That’s not freedom.
She’s following up that book with this documentary premiering at TIFF. As she puts it…it’s not a question than an answer: she’s doing the hard work of grappling with democracy. The work you are supposed to do.
In that sense the documentary is inspiring because it pushes one to do their own hard work…to commit to doing the work. Truth is weddings…those are easy…marriages are hard. Do The Work.
There’s 2 TIFF screenings: September 11 & September 13 followed by a number of festival screenings.
