THE AGONY AND ECSTASY OF STEVE JOBS
The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs- Gilded Balloon – 2.15
This one man show- aren’t they all this year- by Mike Daisey portrayed in this production by Grant O’ Rourke focuses on the Apple corporation’s takeover of the world of technology and concentrates on how we, as consumers, have little interest or concerns of how these gadgets, essential to our modern way of living, come into being and are made. From its very opening salvo it is clear that Daisy is having a bit of a rant about the state of Foxcon factories in China and how their workers are treated. Whilst a lot of valid moral issues are raised it is worthwhile remembering that this is a work of fiction-albeit based on certain facts- and that O’Rourke is giving a performance. A very confident and convincing one as it turns out.
From the opening it becomes clear that Daisey is a technology obsessive-especially for Apple products- and has to update religiously and feel like many consumers that by buying into the latest gadget he is on the cutting edge of technological breakthrough rather than just a gullible consumer. In a similar way that teenage girls are sold unrealistic body images of stick thin models, Daisey feels much the same about each new Apple product and is sold on the ‘thinner is better’ motto. It is mainly the story of Jobs’s complicated relationship with the company he founded then was ousted from before being re-instated when it was discovered it could not survive without his input following Wired magazine featuring a whole issue headlined ‘The Death of Apple’. Shortly after Jobs was re-instated sacking many of those who had called for his removal a short time before.
It will appeal mainly to the sort of character O’Rourke is portraying during his show but it does also have a moral agenda drawing attention to the plight of workers-after he realises each item is hand made and has human input at some juncture- in the Chinese factory from where many of these products emanate. Whilst many of these issues are contentious- many have been denied and dismissed as untruths- there is some potency behind the claims and corporate companies are more than capable of adjusting figures and situations to suit their own ends. It lies in the audience to question what they are hearing as well as maybe considering the next time they answer their i-Phone, listen to their i-Pod or whatever technology they have at their disposal just exactly what was process was necessary for them to purchase it and subsequently hold it in their hands.
An interesting thought provoking piece then and Daisey certainly puts up a convincing argument. It is all irrelevant, in many ways, as technology is such a part of our every day lives it is unlikely whether anyone really cares how it originates. Not enough to stop using it however. The frantic rush to check phones after the show-it had been an hour and who knows what they might have missed in that time- merely confirmed this.
****
thequotidiantimes 
No trackbacks yet.