Telling a story with Data: Sara McLachlan's "World on Fire"

Instead of producing a music video for "World on Fire", Sara McLachlan donated the $150,000 it would cost to make it, and then created this video for $15 instead.  As she plays, sitting in what looks like her kitchen, information about the donations she made is displayed, along with the cost of making a traditional music video.  The result is a powerful story told with data.

Comments

[Mantra]

I agree plenty of what passes for "reasonable" expenses in the US or the west are obscenely extravagant compared to the expenses and actual needs of the developing world. I've spent plenty of time there and know it better than most Americas, both conservative *and* liberal. However I'm dubious about the accounting for her actual, simple video costs. $15? I don't believe it or I don't believe her costs are properly accounted - though I realize the message spins stronger with a $15 amount.

What's missing? Ok, the video tape and electricity to run the camera might only be $15 but that's not all that went into the video. There's obviously some computer editing done. Even if you claim that the home computer, the editing software and camera were bought long before and thus sunk costs and on-hand assets available for free, you can't count the hours spent to research the data and edit the video free. Assuming just minimum wage and easily 2-8 hours labor you have more than $15.

I happen to be socially liberal yet I'm sure plenty of like-minded folks will condemn me for "raining on the parade". But it's exactly these kinds of things that weaken otherwise good liberal arguments for good causes - lack of attention to detail and rational argument. It weakens a good message with sloppiness that create cracks in the armor that demagogues can exploit. I'd think that fellow liberals would have picked up on this already since the advent of Faux News, etc.

[Mike Roberts]

At least Sarah is thinking about what she's doing with her money. In all, she makes a statement that she'd rather help poor people than make a music video.

I often wonder if sending money to help poor people helps them at all because when the money runs out, are they any less poor than before you helped them? Now they've lived longer and been cured of some terrible medical condition which allows them to have children who are also poor and these children anxiously await the next video that Sarah doesn't make. Sending money or services just makes them more dependent on you.

Give a man a fish...