The author, filmmaker and activist Astra Taylor discusses her new book, The People’s Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age (Random House, 2014), with Joseph Planta.

The People’s Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age by Astra Taylor (Random House, 2014). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The People’s Platform

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Joining me now is Astra Taylor. The writer and documentary filmmaker has written a new book: The People’s Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the Digital Age. It’s a really engaging book, as well as a strident call to arms. In the book, Ms. Taylor dismantles the idea that we’re in some sort of utopia where technology levels the field so to speak when it comes to hearing everyone’s voices. The internet really reflects and amplifies the inequities we see in the world. In fact, those who already have attention and influence, get more. I’ll ask her why, what she feels ought to be done, and more. Especially the idea that the old media model, really has worked its way into new media, and we’re not really in a new world after all. As well, we will reflect on the idea of the value of ones work, not to mention authorship and ownership. Astra Taylor is an activist. Her films include Zizek! and Examined Life. Her writing has appeared in a number of publications including The Nation and the London Review of Books. She co-edited Occupy! Scenes from Occupied America, and helped launch the Occupy offshoot Strike Debt, and was one of the instigators of the Rolling Jubilee campaign. The website for more is at www.hiddendriver.com. The book is published by Random House. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, in Toronto today, Astra Taylor; Ms. Taylor, good morning.

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