Activism has become mainstream, says podcaster Michiel Lieuwma. 'Demanding support from large institutions is the least punk thing you can do'

Michiel Lieuwma, a podcaster and artist, critiques the mainstreaming of activism in culture, arguing it has led to a flattening of artistic expression. He believes that the ideological fervor surrounding movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo has made art less challenging and more conformist. Through his YouTube channel, Boze Geesten/Open Geesten, he engages in deep discussions about cultural phenomena, often questioning the narratives promoted by popular media. Lieuwma identifies himself as 'radically progressive' but criticizes the ideological regression he perceives in leftist circles. He sees his work as a modern critique akin to Dostoevsky's, using YouTube as a platform for societal commentary and dialogue.