Our Mass Media: The Great Hypnotist

[sistermaryjane]

In Canada and the United States the largest factor contributing to the inactive, indifferent perspectives of the larger public can be constituted by our consumption of ideology and symbols within the Mass Media. The media has the ability to offer petty enlightenment for any Western questioning of the status quo. Does anyone else see the media this way? In my opinion it seems to be the biggest hurdle the Socialists will have to jump to get these philosophies about life acknowledged by mass audiences. Social life is dominated by the consumption of media. The tube appears to be the greatest opposition to this movement. Any thoughts?

[bhb]

i totally agree.

[fire_mat99]

The media and government have been slowing moving away from  the left and more and more conservative now .Lack of social programs or badly unfounded social programs .

Move to privatization of healthcare and passing reform bills.The US is telling Canada to drop social programs and push for privatization of healthcare and pass reform bills to bring down the social democratic model.

The same is happing in Europe.The US government seems to think it can tell other countries what to do.The media will not talk about this at all.

[bhb]

Do We have any type of midea or is this web site it?

[Lech]

It's so ironic because people are always talking about "the liberal media"

[bhb]

yea. Have any of you guys read animal farm

[Pie]

Do We have any type of midea or is this web site it?

What is this question supposed to mean? That the only socialist/socialist-oriented media is new youth or marxist.com?

yea. Have any of you guys read animal farm

Yes, when I was 12 years old. If anyone cares it is sort of because of that book that I found socialism. When I was 12 years old we read that book in school, for English class, and had to work on a project about why communism doesn't work; instead I stumbled across "socialism" and became interested in it instead. Of course, those were my "Stalinist" years. However, I suppose I am a case of propaganda backfiring.:p

Anyways, I rather liked Animal Farm; from what I remember of it it misrepresents socialism to some degree, but it is by no means "pro-capitalist;" take a look at Farmer Jones(name?), and Napoleon was at his most corrupted stage at the end when he was schmoozing with other farmers.


To the initiator of the topic: What do you mean by "consumption of ideology" and "symbols within the Mass Media?" Please clarify. Anyways, by my understanding of your question, I believe that much of the "inactive, indifferent perspectives" of the masses can be attributed to the constant and hollow thought propagated by the mass media which contradicts the interests of workers.

The tube appears to be the greatest opposition to this movement.

I disagree; the greatest opposition to socialism is the bourgeoisie. They own the mass media and use it as a component to keep their power intact. The mass media, especially in the US, is a means to keep class consciouness low. The media is a large problem, but only a part. Other major problems are the military and police/secret police; these two have always been the largest physical problems to socialism. In times of high consciousness and class warfare, the media plays a much less important role than now; so, I suppose are right in that countering the mass media is a very large problem, initially.
I apologise for my rambling a bit.

[bhb]

i went is there any other web sites like new youth. Animal farm is how i discoverd socialism too.

[Lech]

Animal Farm was acutally written as a critique of Stalinism and not Communism in general. The pigs' (communist's) system of government only failed because Napoleon (Stalin) started to act like the farmers (capitalists), seize absolute power, and kill everyone who got in his way.

[P.O.U.M]

If you like Animal Farm, then pick up George Orwell's "Homage to Catalonia." It's about the authors experience in the Spanish Civil War fighting Franco and the fascists in the late 30's. It was an armed uprising by the people to fight the fascists. The movement was largely dominated by the anarchists.

[bhb]

thsnks

[MOS13]

Funny enough, as an individualist, I agree with your statement. In my opinion, however, the mass media should be used to convey a strictly neutral standpoint on basic facts, and not to move certain agendas. With this, viewer participation will have to be increased, so that they can make a decision. If its for communism, way to go. If not, way to go. Point is, It will get people more involved in whatever they feel the need to be. Funny how things work. With freedom of press  and choice, it can help the individual as well as help your communist party. I may disagree with communism, but i will defend your right to make the choice to be a communist to the death.

Just contributing my (collective, apparently) two cents.

Oh, and if you need help clarifying anything I have written, please ask.

[Faceless]

MOS, I think there are two basic problems standing in the way of the media portraying a neutral standpoint:

1) There is no such thing as neutral - even in the choice of what subjects and facts are reported there is an element of discrimination. Either the author is explicit about their bias or else it is disguised - which is arguably worse. When a person writes a news piece they do so from the perspective which stems from their background - a worker, an economist, a journalist. A worker wants to know how the economic crisis will threaten their job and conditions. A capitailst will want to know how it will effect their profits. A young couple will want to know how it will effect house prices. And so on. The idea of a "neutral observer" is a total fiction. We each want to know something different even when it pertains to the "facts".

2) The media won't do what they "should" do because they are owned by a few monopolies which have their own interests - and bias - which will dictate the tone of their papers. Why would a private capitalist media mogul give space to communists who want to write about the destruction of capitalism? Even if the communists were in a majority he'd be mad to do such a thing. You want more "viewer participation". Communists want this too. In fact communists want more worker and community participation in all businesses, not just the media. But we also recognise that you can not control what you do not own. How can we assure greater participation without expropriating the media? And isn't that a bit of a "communist" solution?

Regards,

Ben

[P.O.U.M]

Just contributing my (collective, apparently) two cents.

LOLOLOLOL (I can use sarcasm too! Well, my "lol's" always are. =P)

In my opinion, however, the mass media should be used to convey a strictly neutral standpoint on basic facts, and not to move certain agendas.

As Howard Zinn says, "You can't be neutral on a moving train."

And as Faceless says: "Either the author is explicit about their bias or else it is disguised - which is arguably worse." O'Reilly claims to be fair and balanced. Which is an utter lie. But people believe it, they really do. I know of a few... unfortunately. While on the other hand, everyone knows Colbert who comedically models himself after O'Reilly is nothing more than a news farce. Which still ends up telling far informative news than O'reilly.

Well, to be fair. Not everyone knew Colbert was satirizing O'Reilly. Since he was invited to the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner. If you have not seen it. It's... A comedian basically roasting Bush who is only 5 feet away. It still amazes me that he looks directly at Bush and subtly talks amounts of shit to Bush and doesn't even break a smile. I gotta say, my favorite part is when he talks shit about the press and there's resounding silence then a slight giggle.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa-4E8ZDj9s

[socialism]

I agree completely, the media is out of control and needs to be severally shattered or liquidised completely and then reformed.
The US media sucks big C**K, I hate it, one minute they support one another, and then a fight breaks out on stage!
That is why i don't watch TV, I just read ALOT.