One-Man Show Criticizes Apple's Manufacturing Practices

Monologist Steve Daisey is bringing his one-man theater production, "The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs," to New York next week, calling into question Apple's manufacturing practices and ethics.

The show at the Public Theater profiles former Apple CEO Steve Jobs and uses Daisey's trip to Shenzhen, China, where Apple products, such as the iPhone and iPad, are made to raise ethical questions.

Posing as a wealthy businessman, Daisey gained access to Apple-supplier Foxconn's plant and interviewed workers who manufacture a large percentage of the world's electronics. Taiwan-based Foxconn also supplies components for Dell, Sony, Nokia, and other companies.

In the show, Daisey reports he witnessed multiple human rights violations and underage labor at the Foxconn plant that assembles Apple products, and conditions he described as inhumane.

Human rights allegations concerning Foxconn are not new. More than a dozen people from the plant died in apparent suicides last year, and the company reportedly had workers sign a "no suicide pledge" at two of its factories, drawing worldwide attention on the plight of its workers.

"What was shocking to me was the level of dehumanization built into the systems that have been put into place by American corporations in collusion with suppliers," Daisey said in an interview with The New York Times.

Daisey's commentary on Steve Jobs has been described in reviews as "humorous," and he compares using Apple's devices as "having a conversation" with the former CEO. He admires Jobs' groundbreaking innovations, but also questions whether he "sold out" his ideals.

The show's detractors say Daisey ignores the fact that the suicide rate at Foxconn is lower than the reported official average in China, and that he is unfairly singling out Apple among the many electronics giants that manufacture there. Daisey, an admitted former devout Apple fan who hasn't bought a single product since his trip, says that electronics buyers have to make up their own minds about Apple.

"The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs" has been on tour for nearly a year and a half, and recently wrapped up a successful run in Sydney, Australia. New York audiences will now have the chance to make up their own minds about his take on Steve Jobs and Apple's ethics.

One-Man Show Criticizes Apple's Manufacturing Practices originally appeared at Mobiledia on Tue Oct 04, 2011 1:40 pm.

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