Change the Story GoFundME Campaign

Along with many of our guests, we believe we have come to a place in the American story that calls for both pushing back AND pushing forward.

To do our part in this, we want to grow our audience, do more in-depth serial episodes, use our expanding archive to help artists learn about art and social change work.

Up to now, Change the Story has been a sweat equity work of passion. That said, making these changes will require some added assistance. So, if you believe that meeting the challenges that face us calls for a new set of stories powerful enough to change how we treat each other and the planet—then please, join our community of supporters by helping us Tell the Stories that are Changing the World.

Arts & the Attention Bandits: Summary/Intro

The central theme of this podcast episode revolves around the increasingly commodified nature of human attention, which has become a most valuable resource in contemporary society. I elucidate the profound implications of this phenomenon, particularly its impact on individual autonomy and decision-making. As we delve into the intricate dynamics of attention, we highlight the challenges faced by artists and other creative individuals in navigating an environment saturated with distractions and manipulations designed to capture their focus. Through a narrative that intertwines personal anecdotes with critical analysis, we explore the consequences of this attention economy, drawing parallels to historical shifts in labor dynamics. Ultimately, we advocate for a conscious engagement with our imaginative faculties as a means of reclaiming agency in a world that seeks to exploit our attention.

The Story:

In a profound examination of our times, the episode articulates the thesis that attention has transitioned from being merely a focus of interest to a precious resource subject to exploitation. Through a captivating storytelling approach, the episode unveils the complex relationship between attention and creativity in the modern era. It introduces Fletcher's story as a relatable lens through which to examine the incessant barrage of marketing tactics that aim to commandeer consumer attention. As Fletcher becomes ensnared in the frenzy of sales and promotions, he exemplifies the struggle many face in maintaining focus amid distractions.

In our discussion we draw on the insights of Chris Hayes book, The Sirens Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource, highlighting that the relentless quest for attention has parallels with the historical commodification of labor. The narrative compels listeners to reflect on the subtle yet profound ways in which their attention is captured and redirected, ultimately calling for a greater awareness of how such dynamics affect the creative processes and imaginative capacities of individuals, particularly artists.

The discourse broadens underscoring the necessity for individuals to nurture their imaginative capacities. By drawing attention to the importance of artistic expression as an antidote to the commodification of attention, the episode advocates for a renewed appreciation of creativity as a fundamental human trait that must be safeguarded. It posits that fostering imagination is not merely a personal endeavor but a collective necessity in reclaiming autonomy and shaping a more thoughtful engagement with the world.

The episode concludes with a call to action, encouraging listeners to reclaim their attention and cultivate their imaginative faculties as a form of resistance against the commercial exploitation of their cognitive resources.

Takeaways:

• The commodification of attention has transformed it into a highly valuable resource, influencing our decisions and beliefs.
• Artists and creative individuals possess the ability to resist the manipulative tactics employed by attention merchants, thereby reclaiming their narratives.
• Chris Hayes' work highlights the urgent need to recognize how our attention is being captured and the implications this has for individual autonomy.
• Our society is witnessing a failure of imagination, making individuals more susceptible to external influences that dictate their worldviews.

Milestones:

00:06 The Impact of Attention Economy

00:57 Fletcher's Unexpected Adventure

12:39 The Attention Bandits

12:55 The Attention Economy: A Shift in Focus

21:13 The Antidote: The Power of Imagination in the Attention Economy

23:16 The Power of Imagination

Defeating the Attention Bandits Collection

Those who train their imaginations, artists, storytellers, inventors, creators, makers of every type, develop an intuitive resistance to having their minds hijacked. They're not immune, but they're more aware. And they know how to take control of their own narratives instead of surrendering to someone else's.

In this Collection of Change the Story episodes we hear the stories of creative change agents who not only know this, but are putting it to good use in their communities, thwarting the attention bandits and helping their neighbors use their imaginations to decide and make real WHAT's NEXT! ENJOY

Notable Mentions

A list of people, places, organizations, and events mentioned in the transcript, along with hyperlinks for more information and brief descriptions of their relevance in the transcript.

People

1. Chris Hayes

• Description: An American journalist, commentator, and author, known for hosting All In with Chris Hayes on MSNBC. His book The Sirens Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource is central to the discussion on the commodification of attention.

2. Odysseus (Mythological Figure) The Greek hero from The Odyssey by Homer, known for his encounter with the Sirens. Used as a metaphor for how attention can be hijacked.

Organizations

1. MSNBC: A major American news network. Chris Hayes hosts All In with Chris Hayes on MSNBC.

2. Amazon: A multinational e-commerce and technology company. Highlighted as an example of an “attention-driven distribution system.”

5. Freesound: A collaborative database of free sound effects. Credited for sound effects in the podcast. Here are Freesound Credits:

Car, BMW M6, Start, Idle, Accelerate by Kinoton -- https://freesound.org/s/478597/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

001 - Walking Dog on Street, Dogs Barking in BG, Collar Sounds.wav by Trashcan_Studios -- https://freesound.org/s/574471/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Moscow Metro Station Buzzer/Chime 4 by chungus43A -- https://freesound.org/s/720571/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

crowd walla whole foods grocery store food court 1.wav by lwdickens -- https://freesound.org/s/269412/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0

106 2 1 219. ElevenLabs_2025-02-14T00_49_51_Lamar Lincoln- Black Male_pvc_s50_sb49_se25_b merged.5 4 3 0 3 223.

Bosch’s Garden – Mythical Game Music for Fantasy and AI Projects by kjartan_abel -- https://freesound.org/s/647212/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

2024.03.23 Rustling plastic packaging by TeamEnFil -- https://freesound.org/s/728584/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 2. The Odyssey: An ancient Greek epic poem by Homer. The Sirens are used as a metaphor for how companies and media capture human attention.

3. MAGA Patriots: A movement associated with supporters of Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again campaign.

Mentioned in this episode:

Help Us Tell the Stories We Need to Change the World