A Stool for Standing

Today's underdog: Activists 

Margaret Mead, a cultural anthropologist who passed away in the '70s, once said, "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does." Indeed activism is at its core a small group of concerned individuals banding together in a common quest of changing the status quo. Now, what makes these individuals underdogs is in how their small base manages to garner widespread change. Since activism is such a wide category, let's consider a few examples within one genre, documentary. I have chosen documentary simply because there is a wide array of subject matter and the impact of the activism is easier to identify than many other forms of activism.


The first documentary filmmaker who comes to my mind is Morgan Spurlock. Spurlock, an ordinary documentary film maker, gained fame with his film Supersize Me. In exposing the health risks of McDonald's and other fast food restaurants, Spurlock changed the world. McDonald's took the "supersize" option off of the menu days before the release of the movie and added more healthy options. And some argue that the movie inspired many other health movements, most notably Michelle Obama's. Spurlock relied upon a low budget film to actually affect change. Spurlock was the underdog, and won.

Next on my list is Michael Moore. Moore grew up an ordinary life, born to blue-collar workers in Flint, Michigan. But as Moore made several documentaries, his humble roots became insignificant as his work affected great change. Moore's films, from Bowling for Columbine to Sicko to Capitalism: A Love Story, expose many uncomfortable aspects of our society and suggest a plan of action. While controversial, his films always generate buzz and thus generate a high potential for change. Moore is an underdog, given his attacks on establishment and his humble roots, and he is winning.

To keep this post short, I'll conclude with a third example. That third example is Louie Psihoyos. Another man of humble roots, born to an immigrant escaping communist occupation of his homeland, Psihoyos gained a reputation for great photos. After his experience with National Geographic (as a photographer), Psihoyos decided he wanted to create change in the world. The release of The Cove accomplished this goal. Starring another dedicated activist, Ric O'Barry, the film, directed by Psihoyos, has had a profound impact. This article says that the film may have even caused the total cessation of the annual dolphin slaughter focused on in the movie. Rather than killers arriving this past September, Japanese cameras came ready to roll. Here once again, an underdog took on large powers, this time even breaking the law, and won.


So how do activists manage to win? They usually target a large establishment who has superior resources and can knock the activists down. Activists are usually very small in number. And they often come from humble roots. So how do they win? One key way is dedication, an attribute that in some form or another we have seen effective now in all cases explored in this blog. Dedication ensures perseverance in the face of failure and large walls blocking the path. Another key way an activist wins is by telling the story in such a way as to garner support. By telling the story the "right" way, an activist can create large support despite a small base. This idea of story spinning as a method for success was also seen in the election example explored here, which demonstrates that this method of winning may be a common method. Finally, activists win by taking risks. The risks taken by the participants in The Cove were immense, including imprisonment and injury. Moore's risks were more related to his image, but still potentially threatening. And Spurlock took risks to his own personal health. By taking a risk, an activist can take a top dog by surprise and knock him down from his pedestal, ensuring success.