OWS: Jump-the-Shark Watch
Posted by: Dan Beucke on October 20, 2011 at 1:41 PM
When Occupy Wall Street launched on a Saturday in September, it was roundly ignored by most everyone who wasn’t actually there. Now you can’t turn on the TV or read a celebrity Twitter feed without getting hit with it. And with fame comes merchandising. Now there’s OWS…
—Underwear
—Pins and t-shirts
—Halloween costumes
—Posters and mugs
And, of course, the reality show casting call. Perhaps you’ve truly arrived as a liberal cause when right-wing authors use you as backdrop for a book launch.
The altruistic aims of the protests ensure they’re being watched carefully for any sign of contradictions or exploitation. It’s a thin line between going viral and catching a cold from overexposure.
