”Big Brother isn’t watching you”
Russell Brand

Growing up as a Londoner (or an Essex boy as he corrects it to), Russell Brand, who is now in exile, as he puts it, in nonetheless ‘the city of Angels’, Los Angeles, is concerned about the incidents happening in his home country. In the commentary “Big Brother isn’t watching you” he appears very critical towards the politicians ruling the country of which he was born and raised, because of their lack of understanding towards the young people on the margins of society. Based on the recent events, where several riots have taken place in suburban London, he is asking the only legitimately question, he can: “Why is this happening?”. Throughout the commentary he endeavours this specific question. This includes reflections of his own childhood and growing up as a young adult, lacking direction and better things to do. And because of his lack of political insight, he is not trying to find a concrete solution, but either way finds, that the solution is concerning spirituality, as he quotes Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world.” He therefore draws the conclusion, that if ‘we want to live in a society where people feel included, we must include them’.
Right from the beginning we sense a critical style of writing. The writer, Russell Brand, is especially critical towards the politicians, such as the Prime Minister David Cameron and the Mayor of
London, Boris Johnson, who had to return from their beloved holidays when things back in London got heated: “I mean even David Cameron came back from his holiday. Eventually.” (line 25–26)
The critical element here is the fact, that David Cameron did not break off his holiday sooner when the riots in London broke out in August 2011. Furthermore, he is, through his ironic way of writing, critical towards the Home Secretary, Theresa May, because of her stating, that the behaviour (of the insurgents) were “unjustifiable” and “unacceptable”: “Wow! Thanks guys! What a wonderful use of the planet’s fast-depleting oxygen recourses.” (line 51–52) By this, he implements, that this was a total waste of time to state and of no relevance. The tone gets more serious when it comes to the reasons of these riots, though. He wonders, what might be the background to these young people destroying their local communities. At the same time, he can not cope with the futile rhetoric that is describing the rioters as mindless. He is aware, that, yes, these young people are ravaging their communities, and yes, this has cost innocent lives, but still he is uncomprehendingly asking: “Why is this happening?”
Even though Brand himself is a part of it through television and commercials, and therefore contributes to the increasing peer pressure, he blames society for creating unrealistic ideals for how young people should live their lives: “That daily, hourly, incessantly enforces the egregious, deceitful message, that you are what you wear, what you drive, what you watch and what you watch it on, in livid, neon pixels.” (line 87–89) This has a huge impact on young people trying to figure out who to become – and it is not getting easier with the fact that
He blames it, and especially the politicians in power, for not looking out for the young people who misses some stability in their lives. As a youngster, he also participated in protests because he found them exciting, but also he was a ‘bit of a twerp’, as he puts it. He took part in these protests because he lacked direction, but also, because there was a void in him. A void, that society had left in him, given that he did not feel he was invested in the dominant culture. He did not have a poor childhood with nothing essential was missing and had a lot of privileges, so he would shudder if he he had been deprived of this. Therefore, he has a lot of compassion with the young people who riots today, because they face a reality with the deprivation of no stability, no education, a weakened family unit, no money, and no way of getting any. These people see no other way out than to resort to criminal activities or, as it happens, these corporate messages. It is their last way out – a scream for help. Brand sees this as a consequence of the politicians not representing the people they have been elected by – they spend more time looking after the interests of the corporations who has too much influence. It’s also his fault, that these young people don’t have a sense of community, because he they haven’t been given one (line 102–103). Because of this, the hoodies, as the rioters are also called, find it pointless to vote: “… whoever gets elected will just be a different shade of the “we don’t give a toss about you” party.” (line 92–93) Another reason is, that even when the politicians preach more understanding for people like them – the ones outside a community – they still do nothing about it. So, as Brand puts it: “No wonder they have their fucking hoods up.” (line 90)

So, according to Russell Brand, there is something thoroughly wrong with the way the politicians act and how society deal with people who is not included in communities. They are over and over again neglected, why they naturally feel frustrated. And the only way they are able to release their anger is by rioting. In order to change this, according to Brand, is to change one’s attitude: “we must include them, where they feel represented, we must represent them and where they feel love and compassion for their communities then we, the members of that community, must find love and compassion for them.” (line 115–117) To feel a part of a community, they must be allowed into one.