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MrBeast: Capitalism & Philanthropy

Then & Now・2 minutes read

Mr. Beast's philanthropic efforts blend business with giving back, reflecting the trend of philanthro capitalism, where profit and public relations merge. However, the narrative suggests that commercialized philanthropy may serve to maintain the status quo and boost profits rather than address deep-rooted societal issues like pollution and poverty.

Insights

  • Mr. Beast's philanthropic efforts, while commendable, are also part of a strategic business model that aligns with the concept of philanthro capitalism, blending traditional business practices with charitable giving for profit and positive public relations.
  • The narrative surrounding corporate-funded philanthropic projects, like the ocean cleanup initiative supported by Coca-Cola and Maersk, underscores how such efforts can serve as PR tools to shape public perception, maintain the status quo, and indirectly influence policy, highlighting the complex interplay between commercial interests, philanthropy, and societal impact.

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  • Who is Mr. Beast?

    A popular YouTuber known for philanthropy and spectacles.

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Summary

00:00

Mr. Beast: YouTube Philanthropy and Capitalist Mythology

  • Mr. Beast is a popular figure on YouTube known for creating extraordinary spectacles, offering eye-watering cash prizes, and engaging in philanthropy.
  • He has amassed 90 million subscribers on his channel and earns around $54 million annually, according to Forbes.
  • Mr. Beast has engaged in various philanthropic campaigns, giving away big prizes like cash, houses, cars, and food to friends, strangers, and for philanthropic causes.
  • His success is part of a larger narrative involving American capitalism, corporate profit, and politics, revealing a shadowy story of exploitation, pollution, and unethical practices by corporations.
  • Mr. Beast's rise reflects how capitalist mythology is manufactured and shapes society, highlighting the intertwining of philanthropy, education, media, and big business.
  • American culture's myth is compared to historical figures like Davy Crockett, emphasizing the creation of larger-than-life personas for political and social purposes.
  • Mr. Beast's philanthropic efforts, including giveaways, fundraising for tree planting and ocean cleanup, and setting up a food bank, are commendable but also part of a business strategy.
  • His giveaways are sponsored, blending business with philanthropy, aligning with the concept of philanthro capitalism that merges traditional business methods with giving back.
  • The trend of philanthro capitalism involves powerful individuals like Mr. Beast using philanthropic efforts for profit and positive public relations, sometimes masking questionable business practices.
  • The historical context of American capitalism's Gilded Age and the philanthropic efforts of figures like Andrew Carnegie shed light on the complex relationship between wealth accumulation, philanthropy, and exploitation.

20:19

Corporate Greed and Worker Exploitation: A History

  • Historians reveal that Carnegie's goods' value doubled post-strike, while worker wages plummeted by 67%.
  • Carnegie and Rockefeller exemplify a trend of profit prioritization over worker welfare through philanthropy and strike suppression.
  • The Ludlow strike in 1914 saw 25 deaths, with Rockefeller praising the National Guard's actions.
  • Rockefeller's market monopolization efforts included secret meetings and threats to competitors.
  • The 1890 Antitrust Act aimed to curb powerful corporations like Standard Oil and Carnegie Steel.
  • Suggestions arose to allocate excess profits to worker wages rather than philanthropy.
  • The Supreme Court split Standard Oil into 36 companies in 1911.
  • Philanthropic actions often serve as PR tools, with examples like Domino's and Volkswagen.
  • Wealthy donors' charitable contributions often benefit institutions over individuals in need.
  • The rise of private charitable foundations coincides with increasing wealth inequality and stagnant wages.

40:14

Corporate Philanthropy: Shaping Public Perception for Profit

  • The cleanup of trash from the bay in the Dominican Republic is organized by a group inspired by Mr. Beast, escalating as more volunteers join in.
  • An ocean cleanup device, a trash-eating robot, is introduced, with a donation scheme where one dollar removes one pound of trash from the ocean.
  • Concerns are raised by science YouTuber Simon Clark about the project's effectiveness due to the vast amount of plastic in the ocean, including microplastics.
  • The goal of removing 13,600 tonnes of trash is criticized as a small effort compared to the ongoing plastic pollution problem.
  • The project's popularity is questioned, with attention drawn to the funding partners, including Coca-Cola, a major plastic polluter.
  • Coca-Cola's history of funding philanthropic efforts to influence public opinion and policy is highlighted, including shaping scientific research and public health messaging.
  • Another top supporter of the ocean cleanup project, Maersk, is noted for its interest in supporting pollution cleanup due to its shipping industry's carbon emissions.
  • The corporate strategy of funneling resources into philanthropy to shape public perception and avoid direct lobbying is discussed.
  • The narrative of corporate-funded philanthropic efforts is analyzed for its role in maintaining the status quo, resisting change, and boosting profits.
  • Examples of corporations like Walmart using their foundations for lobbying purposes and influencing public opinion are provided, highlighting the indirect lobbying tactics employed.

59:58

Commercialization distorts values, philanthropy lacks depth.

  • The commercialization effect is when commercial mechanisms alter the nature of an idea or relationship, changing it beyond recognition.
  • Economist Fred Hirsch coined the term "commercialization effect," which impacts the characteristics of a product or activity when supplied predominantly on commercial terms.
  • Philosopher Michael Sandel highlights how commercializing values and fairness distorts their original meaning.
  • Commercialization can lead to hiring friends, paying for speeches, auctioning college admissions, and selling ads on emergency vehicles.
  • Gifts can be seen as power, enhancing the giver's prestige, as seen historically with Louis XIV and the concept of the "big man" in tribal societies.
  • Oscar Wilde and Baudelaire critiqued charity, suggesting it often serves to boost the giver's prestige rather than genuinely help the recipient.
  • Gifts can have double meanings, being selfless or self-interested, as noted by Jacques Derrida.
  • Mr. Beast's philanthropic videos may entertain but do not solve deep-rooted societal issues like pollution, homelessness, poverty, and hunger.
  • Private philanthropy cannot replace government spending on public services or democratic solutions to societal problems.
  • Elite figures often focus on convenient issues, sidestepping rising inequalities, lack of transparency, and other critical societal challenges.
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