Well-known propaganda machine Michael Moore recently released a new film called Capitalism: A Love Story. I watched the trailer and I think it makes this movie look like a comedy and almost Jackass-esque. This is the trailer.
I have to admit, I cracked up at him standing outside a bank with a huge bag demanding the "American people's money back". It seems like he has to make a fool of himself to get people to look at him.
I have only seen one of his movies, Farenheit 9/11. I was young at the time, and my soft college-freshman brain was a clean slate for people to write in what they wanted me to think. Since then, I have developed my own opinions, and I am not so susceptible to propaganda. Still, I try to avoid it, because I find it mostly useless. I don't like conspiracy theories; that is what a lot of propaganda is, as far as I've seen.
Even as I try to avoid them, I have since seen other propaganda films. One was called Wal-Mart: High Cost of Low Prices. It was awhile ago, but one thing that stuck out to me was a chart of statistics showing the number of assaults and murders occurring in Wal-Mart parking lots because of the lack of lights and security. Something I immediately noticed was that Wal-Mart was the only store shown with these kinds of statistics. There was no comparison of assaults happening in other parking lots, which they obviously do. Parking lots are big dark places at night, and assaults can and do happen anywhere. That is what I thought of when I saw the statistics. I just kind of went, "So?" But that is what propaganda is. It preys on people like my tender, naive freshman self with no real opinions of their own by manipulating facts and presenting things the way they want the rest of the world to see them. And someone who is clueless about whatever particular issue is being shown, will immediately swallow it and accept it at face-value.
But does it have another purpose? Are there things we can learn from propoganda?
Here is a link to the Wal-Mart documentary if you are interested in watching it.
A side note, if you're going to put yourself in the spotlight to whine about how selfish people are, you might want to first make sure you don't weigh 400 pounds.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Propaganda: Is it Useful?
Posted by Candice at 2:28 PM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Ha! Love your last statement/point. I know exactly what you mean about propaganda being so influential on impressoinable and naive minds. At some point we all have to learn to at least try to think for ourselves. I'm still working on it, myself.
I agree that propaganda is something that is alive and well today. Can it be useful? I think that sometimes it can be. For example, the propaganda that went on to promote WWII, it was very harsh, maybe too harsh. But it did make Americans band together and at least feel ok about going to a war that no one wanted to be apart of. So, I really think that in certain circumstances it may be useful. However, it can be quite ridiculous and very misleading and that is definately its downfall.
I wonder why Michael Moore charged for tickets to see his film? I wonder if his investors had anything to do with that? Michael Moore is an entertainer (I use the term loosely) who is simply jumping on the "Capitalism is Bad" bandwagon and trying to make a buck. Basically the title is about the only real truth in the film... Michael Moore certainly loves capitalism.
I guess that's one of the many reasons I'm taking this class, to stave off my "clueless" tendencies. I view propaganda basically as a tool. Those directing it use it as a means to an end to promote their ideals and/or criticisms. It may sound counter-productive, but without propaganda the opposition would be less inclined to facilitate an argument. And if it's in the hands of good people with good intentions, (even though that remains primarily subjective) propaganda can promote healthy, cooperative citizenry.
It's obviously useful to Michael Moore. He's made plenty of money from it. :) Still haven't seen the film although I am interested in it. I wonder if he's railing against capitalism or modern capitalism (big difference...and no it didn't begin with Obama).
Oh, and on the weight comment, I guess Rush Limbaugh probably needs to give it up as well. I guess one could argue that he is on the radio, but that argument would be ridiculous based on the amount of television time he receives.
Rush Limbaugh has lost 90 pounds ;)
Those pounds were definitely not attached to his ego ;)
Post a Comment