Remake the World

March 22, 2021
Filmmaker Taylor (Democracy May Not Exist, but We’ll Miss It When It’s Gone) tackles a wide range of pressing social issues in these ambitious and thought-provoking essays. “Breathing Together” ties the respiratory distress of Covid-19 to Eric Garner’s death in police custody, conspiracy allegations against striking workers in the mid-19th century, and the conspiratorial thinking behind the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Taking note of the rising interest in democratic socialism, Taylor critiques the social media activism that has replaced old-school organizing among younger activists, and encourages older folks to embrace millennial policy aspirations such as the Green New Deal. In “Failing Better,” she reflects on the “strategic tenacity” needed to keep trying to make the world a more equitable place, while “Who, the People?” explores what images of “the people” should look like in order to inspire change without glossing over inequality. Taylor also tackles patriarchal attitudes in the tech industry, how capitalism preys on insecurity, and the crushing burden of student debt. Blending big-picture thinking with the history of the populist struggle in America, this impressive collection makes a strong case that the time for change is now.