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The Thought Leader

In The Thought Leader, a young actor delivers a monologue adapted from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground (1864), but using the format of the increasingly popular TED Talk.

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a global series of motivational speeches with the mission to promote ‘the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world.’ TED Talks, primarily viewed as online videos, have promoted a forceful and inspirational presentation style across a wide spectrum of professions. Speakers propose idealistic solutions to contemporary issues but are often criticised for failing to offer tangible steps for achieving their utopian visions.

The Thought Leader insinuates the Underground Man’s views into the TED Talk format, applying Dostoevsky’s attack on the socialist ideal of enlightened self-interest to its contemporary capitalist incarnation.