Midterm Asst. 2: Unscripting the Political Process

Unscripted means impromptu. In politics, everything is scripted: speeches are written and revised, actions are planned to gain a certain response, and everything seems fake. When artists attempt to “unscript the political process”, they are creating this break in the script of politics. Through performances, websites, charts, studies, programs, and more, artists attack and satirize political figures and issues in a way that makes it difficult for the politicians to respond in the usual predetermined manner. They can take the power out of the hands of those who seem to be in control, at least temporarily. Sometimes the best method for doing this is to take on the role of those you oppose, and pretend to be supportive.

The Yes Men are one such group that poses as high-up figures from various organizations and creates look-alike websites with a slightly different message (i.e. the real: www.wto.org and the fake www.gatt.org). By taking the most extreme views of the WTO, the Yes Men attempt to make a sarcastic blow at the organization. Sometimes people realize, and sometimes they don’t, which sends an even stronger message about society and what is accepted politically.

Natalie Jeremijenko has a different way to unscript the political process. Through her Environmental Health Clinic at NYU, she gives “patients” treatment by sharing plans of action. While it is still a satirical approach by pretending to be a real health clinic, this is not to make fun of politicians or organizations, but to give regular people ideas to take action against environmental problems. Jeremijenko is unscripting the political process by going around it all together and putting the issue right into the hands of the citizens.