The Power Of Belief.

Mady Schutzman

Upon Reading the text and also currently having Mady as a Teacher in TO (Theater of the Oppressed) I am finding TO to be an extremely incredible tool for the youth. I feel that this work should be taught; in particular one of my favorites is Anti-models. Anti-models are situations in which one person is being Oppressed by an Oppressor with the playing of the Joker and Spec Actors as well. Allowing the Oppressor and Oppressed to see the shoes of each other, it may not actually solve the solution but at the very least you gain a better understanding in where the other is coming from. I find this tool should be shown to mostly those in High Schools where I feel the most Oppression would most likely be at, particularly the students (even faculty). In which they have to make big decisions that affect their future. Time and time I saw peers in high school take paths that I just know was planned by their parents and I find it a shame. I find it only a shame in the instances where I know they are leaving their passion for something that is more realistic and accepted in society. Maybe if there had been an Anti-model session they could have been better prepared to face the situation again. Or at least be able to say they had the Power to Act. Which was also a very strong point made across during class upon the subject of Occupying Wall Street and in the play UPSET! shown in both characters Rodney and Claudette (in particular Claudette). Citizens' Power to Act.

does this make you uncomfortable....

FATAL FEMMES - Emily Faris

HEY GUYS, I FOUND THIS PICTURE WHILE I WAS BLOG HOPPING - LOOKS LIKE THE FATAL FEMMES ARE BLOWING UP!!

Fatal Femmes

Hey guys this video is going viral. Please watch....

Keeping your sight unbranded.

As we in this Nintendo generation grew up in the information age, literally right alongside the Internet and arguably one of the fastest eras of technological growth ever, we have been subjected/subjected ourselves to more advertisements than humanity has ever previously subjected itself to. Countless hours of research on the psychology of advertising and propaganda have been spent on refining the tactics we experience everyday. We know that on any given day, we may see, unconsciously or consciously, about 3,000 ads aimed at grabbing our attention. It has become easier than ever for us as a society to recall more advertisements than useful knowledge. This entire notion also calls to relevance the skewed American value system, which indeed puts far more value on entertainment than a healthy state of well-being. But that's for another blog.

It's very strange and disturbing that we as a whole can easily dismiss the very prevalent issues going on in our own society due to and endless slew of forcibly forward propaganda campaigns(i.e."that sucks, what else is on?" mindset). The basic function of propaganda, as we've discussed and read about both within and outside of this class, is to persuade (or dissuade) an ideology of a people. In effect, these ad campaigns we see are just as, if not more powerful than any propaganda used on either side in any war. In fact, wartime propaganda has become a pillar of the advertising agencies in terms of design reference. Comparisons can and have been drawn, likening corporations' methods to fascist governments functioning under a weak veil of corporate law(supposedly enforced by the Federal Government..but how can they be policed if they're paying the police's salaries?). I believe it was good ol' Stalin that said something to the tune of, "When corporations and governments align themselves, this is the making of a true fascist nation."

Linguist and well known political theorist Noam Chomsky has written on the subject several times in his extensive career. Some people find his views to be a bit on the narcissistic side of the subjects he writes about, but they are always nonetheless interesting to at least consider.He offers a very interesting take on how the Propaganda model functions in society in his book Manufacturing Consent:The Political Economy of the Mass Media. Although the book was written in 1988, the principles have not changed whatsoever. We'll all talk about this in circles later.

Propaghandi

Propaganda is a tool used by the powers that be with the aims of controlling/sedating the minds of the masses. One form of propaganda is the now failing music industry. Since America's foundation there have been artists who have been exploited by the music industry. Two examples that come to mind are classic blues sensations Lead Belly and Son House, whose music was essentially ripped off by labels and producers.

These days the music that is played on the radio is by corporate made cookie cutter "artists". People such as Little Wayne and the like, who have no talent what-so-ever, but who are marketed en mass for the sake of profits.

Ergo the people listening who don't choose to question, are fed messages of chauvinism, empowerment of the monetary system, and much more propaganda that the man wants us to believe.

-Jacob Friedheim

When I think of propaganda, I think of a terrifying manipulation of a massive group of people. It also seems so absurd that people would buy into such blatant misinformation especially when you look at propaganda posters from WWII time. However last week, I started an IndieGoGo page, and I begin to question: could this be propaganda too? Although my intention is not to mislead anyone who reads my page, I was making choices of what information should be included and how to word it in order to get the maximum amount of empathy/interest and therefore funding. So in that sense it certainly is propaganda. I realized propaganda isn't always negative. I question, if this is a form of propaganda, where else does propaganda live in the way we communicate?

Propaganda!

When I hear the word propaganda, I automatically think, artwork that depicts a message or certain political stand point, which I guess is what propaganda is. Anyway, the way I feel about the subject is that I believe it's a great way to communicate one's ideas thru a vision and political standpoint that they are passionate about. I know for myself personally, I can find it very difficult to express myself thru my own words, so I like to do other things to express myself. Now I know there are many different forms of propaganda and some can be looked down upon. But we have to remember that it's an opinion of one and we may not like the message it has to offer, but I believe that we must still respect that opposing party because it is a strong view. I feel as though some stuff can be taken in many ways well as some stands for what it is. Part of me feels that the word Propaganda is "negative" but in a way, I admire it for it's art. Although it was big during WWII, I found an image that was quite interesting relating to modern society.
-Jemar Rovie- Frenchwood

PROPAGANDA!

Of the many forms of propaganda I have observed, the most interesting and disturbing kind was the Peking Revolutionary Opera. I first encountered this art form in China, four years ago. I was flipping through the channels on television and I came upon an opera but this was very different than any Chinese opera I had ever experienced before. The costumes were modern and the color red was everywhere. The attitude of nearly every character was excessively empowered, almost cocky. Their posture extended beyond their height and their eyes appeared as if they were going to pop out of their sockets. I immediately recognized the communist symbolism and was utterly appalled and offended that an art form as intricate, ethereal and uplifting as Chinese opera was being bent toward such a mundane, egotistical, manipulative aim. So, when I was given this assignment I knew exactly what I wanted to write about. Upon researching the art form my mind has changed a bit. If you notice, in the pictures, the women are depicted as just as strong and empowered as the men. There is no distinction between them that presupposes value or power over one or the other. Apparently women's liberation arrived in China earlier than it did in the West. A woman speaking about the topic online made a very good point: American and European ballerinas are still dressed as sylphs floating on the shoulders of their strong men. But China's ballerinas are so strong and independent they can carry rifles while they dance en pointe! For the Chinese, this art is didactic but also aesthetic and entertaining. -Julia Evergreen Keefer.