Occupation. It is a word spoken—and unspoken—that’s at the center of the issues in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and, yes, Wall Street. But what does it really mean? And what is its significance? Christopher Dickey explains.

What is an Op-Vid? Opinion without the pundits yelling. Handmade animation without the caricatures. Essays without the text. Complex topics without the boring.

Op-Vid is a new platform that features writers, thinkers, and doers who might otherwise contribute to an opinion page. In this series, we tackle the issues at the heart of the 2012 campaign.

The concept of the Op-Vid was created by Joe Posner, an interdisciplinary artist working at the nexus of documentary filmmaking, music, and animation.Credits:An Op-Video Featuring Christopher DickeyDirector: Joe PosnerProducers: Ian McAlpin & Joe PosnerDirector of Photography: Ian McAlpinCamera Operator & Gaffer: Geoffrey T. WomackAssistant Director: Julia SimpsonSound Recordist: Coleman WennerProduction Assistant: Maxwell DunfeyAnimation: Joe PosnerAdditional Animation: Janelle Sing, Seon BaeMusic: Joe Posner, Kelly PrattSound Mix: Sam PosnerDaily Beast TVVice President, Video: Kathy O’HearnExecutive Producer: Susie Banikarim