![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptBpvD8zWRBM_xPyInycQDcplIQeaRHGBkhpat__e5U7nVXl7KL93WUrqgrDrKmxcmdK96RYK6cAcjWglIlc2jok8ko1zy9JbmUSPnpZYKmNpdVHngxIeZ65xdGkLTeBG1-QVuHv2yPplv-btqMRBjBhwaP0inPIMyK3LKADV362p9GUHf21fYA/w137-h168/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-04%20at%2012.23.08%20PM.png)
Jonathan Taplin, a film producer, scholar, and director emeritus of the Annenberg Innovation Lab, is a vocal critic of excessive techno-optimism. In his book, "
The End of Reality: How Four Billionaires are Selling a Fantasy Future of the Metaverse, Mars, and Crypto," he argues that the California-centric billionaires Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Marc Andreessen are diverting public attention from critical issues. He criticizes the media's role in glorifying them and advocates for a cultural shift that emphasizes real solutions over escapist narratives.
My California Sun podcast with Jonathan Taplan: