In “Democracy The Movie” Dennis Day informs the viewer that democracy and mass industrialization were invented because civilization needed to “liven things up.” In this artwork’s parodic narrative the Cold War ends in an apocalypse. From the ashes, civilization returns but to the status quo of a doomed existence. A skeleton is a politician, the 7/11 is open 24 hours, and the Statue of Liberty flashes her breasts. This is a world without restraint.

“Democracy the Movie” was originally featured at an event that took place from October 31 to November 12, 1985 at Lee’s Palace, a music and performance venue that continues to operate today on Toronto’s Bloor Street West.

The event was called VOX POP CABARET and was organized by the Toronto-based performance duo the Hummer Sisters and their project VideoCabaret during a municipal election in the city. For the event, 12 members of Toronto Community-Videotex (InterAccess) were asked by Bill Perry to create a Telidon artwork inspired by the theme of democracy, with just one week’s notice. What resulted was a collection of 12 artworks presented together with the title “Pictures of Democracy”.  The artists' work was paid for by local sponsors including, A Space Gallery, SWIFTCURRENT (the world's first national electronic literary magazine), Trinity Square Video, the Ontario Association of Art Galleries, and Toronto Community-Videotex. Only 5 Telidon artworks have been recovered from the event and 2 of them are included in this digital exhibition.