Yes Men

I feel that the Yes Men's critique of the media is ultimately a refreshed version of how the media should be. Rather than have several people at the top of the corporate structure dictate the unfortunate events that occur in the world, a democratic society should have the ability to input their own actions and opinions. The Yes Men are only providing a polished version of how the world of media should be. Their approach ultimately has a sense of self-reflexivity; it provides for a view of how our media works behind the curtains. It destroys the mythology of how the media portrays corporate control as a positive thing. Instead, it exposes the media by humorously satirizing it. This documentary takes progressive steps towards revealing the tyrannical power of the corporate world. The concept that I feel most fits this documentary is the concept of the “Public Sphere.” With the concept, the private sphere would normally be able to communicate their ideas, critical of the state, which would then influence the individuals with power. However, this film clearly shows the lack of the ability to communicate critical ideas. While the Yes Men attempt to satirize corporate control, most of the times they are pushed off stage and censored. Many of the scenes involve them being scolded by corporate workers or security guards.