A Marxist Analysis of MrBeast's Content

Red
Feb 19, 2024
6 min read

Updated: Oct 1, 2024

In the digital age, YouTube sensation MrBeast has captured the attention of millions with his extravagant stunts, philanthropic gestures, and seemingly boundless wealth. Yet, beneath the surface of his viral videos lies a complex narrative that warrants deeper scrutiny. In this article, we will embark on a critical examination of Jimmy's content from a Marxist perspective, exploring why many leftist individuals on the internet harbor a negative view of his content. Our aim is not to launch a direct assault on Jimmy himself but rather to dissect his content and its implications through the lens of Marxist critique.

MrBeast the Modern American Dream

In recent years, MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has captured the attention of millions of viewers with his extravagant displays of wealth and generosity on YouTube. On the surface, he seems to embody the modern-day American dream, a middle-class kid who grew up loving YouTube and worked hard to make it on the platform. Jimmy Donaldson is often hailed as the capitalist dream, a self-made success story that is a result of his talent and dedication. However, the reality is that his success is not solely due to his merit but also a result of luck.

Success in capitalism can mostly be attributed to luck, whether it's having the right connections or being at the right place at the right time. While there are rumors that Jimmy's family has some powerful friends, we cannot confirm this as the focus of this article is not to investigate his family's background. Regardless of the origin of his success, it is important to acknowledge that it is not purely based on merit.

Jimmy's success can be attributed to his ability to manipulate the algorithms of YouTube and Google, which prioritize profits for their investors. However, his fans are not aware of this, nor are they old enough to understand it. To them, Jimmy is the perfect poster boy for the new-age American dream - the YouTuber. Even though his success is not solely due to his talent and hard work, he has managed to capture the hearts of millions of viewers with his generosity, which is a testament to his character.

MrBeast's Content and Businesses

Jimmy, a well-known content creator, has established a vast content creation empire that extends beyond his primary YouTube channel. He has several secondary channels, as well as translated versions of his content on alternative channels, which have garnered billions of views and millions upon millions of subscribers. Furthermore, Jimmy has invested in other businesses, such as Feastable Chocolates [1] and his now half dead "MrBeast Burger. [2]" It is evident that he has surpassed the status of being a mere YouTuber and has become a full-fledged businessperson.

However, Jimmy has taken a capitalist approach to his business model and is attempting to extract every last bit of profit from his empire. Despite this, we do not believe he does it out of malicious intent. Instead, he genuinely wants to create excellent content for his viewers while simultaneously funding projects such as the ones he did with Mark Rober [3], where they aimed to plant trees [4] and clean up the oceans [5]. We cannot deny that these are commendable actions. However, we must acknowledge that they are merely a bandage on a gaping wound called capitalism.

Perpetuation of Neo-liberal Ideals

As we do a closer examination of his content, it reveals that while Jimmy's acts of charity are undoubtedly commendable, they also perpetuate the myth that individual acts of generosity can solve systemic issues such as poverty and inequality. This often embodies the principles of neoliberalism. Similar to what, for example, Big Oil does regarding the environment.

In reality, true social change requires profound systemic change through collective action from all members of society, rather than relying on the benevolence of wealthy individuals. Focusing solely on individual acts of charity can distract from the larger, systemic issues that require a more comprehensive approach.

However, we must see his charity actions as solely bad. They aren't. They are good. For example, in our Capitalist system many times there are people who can only get the healthcare they need due to donations. Whilst a display of the failures of our system, we must recognize that until our system changes, donations have a place in our society and that we mustn't rule them out entirely. Therefore, Jimmy's actions have genuinely helped many people, yet they will not solve the underlying causes of the issues.

It's important to remember that while Jimmy's charitable content may be entertaining and uplifting, it has its limitations in addressing complex social and economic issues. Additionally, it's essential to recognize that individual acts of charity can sometimes give us a false sense of accomplishment, while the underlying problems remain unsolved.

Idolization of Money and Individualism

One concern we have about Jimmy's videos is his glorification of wealth. His content often revolves around extravagant spending, giveaways, and competitions centered on monetary prizes. By placing money on a pedestal and celebrating individual accumulation of wealth, Jimmy's content reinforces capitalist values that prioritize profit over people. The main focus of his videos is always "Look what money can get you".

Given Jimmy's massive popularity among younger audiences, his content has significant implications for our society. It shapes the worldview of millions of impressionable viewers, instilling values of consumerism, competition, and individual achievement. By promoting a narrative that equates success with material wealth and personal gain, Jimmy contributes to a culture that prioritizes monetary success over collective well-being. This perpetuates the cycle of exploitation and inequality inherent in capitalist societies.

While some of his fans may feel inspired to use their wealth to help others, this is not a guaranteed outcome. In most cases, people do not have the necessary material conditions to develop an anti-capitalist worldview. Therefore, Jimmy is indirectly contributing to capitalism's hegemony.

What should MrBeast Do?

We believe that Jimmy has good intentions, but he seems to be missing the bigger picture. It appears that he has been caught up in neoliberalism's ways and has lost sight of what matters. He is perpetuating a harmful mindset by creating questionable content, like pitting people against each other to win a certain amount of money. This seems eerily similar to the dystopian sci-fi films where a wealthy group of people takes advantage of those who need money and makes them do things for their entertainment. It's morally wrong, and it's disheartening to see that his viewers and even he don't realize it.

To answer our questions about what he should do, we suggest that he take a step back and reevaluate his actions. Although he wants to create a world where money doesn't control us, he still glorifies it. He needs to educate himself on the root causes of the problems he wants to solve. Only when he recognizes the system that is causing all of the world's problems and realizes that he is contributing to its success, can he make any meaningful change?

Conclusion

The content produced by Jimmy may appear to be harmless and entertaining, but upon closer examination, it becomes apparent that it is perpetuating a dangerous mindset. This mindset is rooted in neoliberalism. While Jimmy's heart may be in the right place, his content is often morally questionable, and it is debatable whether he is doing more harm than good.

Capitalism is a dying system. To some, it has already died and been replaced by something much more sinister. Since its inception, capitalism has relied on lies and deception to justify itself. It is responsible for causing problems such as global warming, poverty, and hunger. These are issues that Jimmy claims to care about deeply, but he doesn't seem to understand that throwing money at them won't solve the underlying problem.

The truth is that no matter how much money you throw at a problem caused by capitalism, it will never be truly solved unless you address the system itself. This is a point that Jimmy seems to miss entirely. While he may be well-intentioned, his contributions to the world can be summed up as nothing more than throwing money at problems.

As much as we want to defend Jimmy, all he is doing is creating what Marx called a "False Consciousness." He is creating a false reality for millions of people that somehow the problems caused by capitalism are being solved by... more capitalism. Unconsciously, Jimmy is only contributing to the problem by making it so that millions of people are distracted from it.

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