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21/06/2008
Orwell Rolls in His Grave
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"One of the most popular films on our schedule." -- Free Speech TV "A marvel of passionate succinctness, Robert Kane Pappas' documentary critically examines the Fourth Estate, once the bastion of American democracy. Docu asks, "Could a media system, controlled by a few global corporations with the ability to overwhelm all competing voices, be able to turn lies into truth?..." -- Variety«
08:58 Posted by soci | Permalink | Comments (1) | Trackbacks (0) | Email this | Tags: Media, Fourth Estate
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I watched this film years ago. It is typical of the frothing-at-the-mouth hysteria one finds amongst the "intellectuals" - like Noam Chomsky and his coterie of wing-nuts.
What's the problem anyway? It is government, as usual. Without the cozy relationship between the state and the media, any (so-called) conspiracy to commandeer your brain would be impossible -- especially if you add independent, individual, critical thinking into the mix.
A practical example: Let's look at SPH and the Straight Times (no drugs please, we're Singaporean). How do you think SPH has gotten so big, rich and powerful? Because it is protected and essentially controlled by the state, that's why. Do you think they could compete and be as profitable if there really was a FREE MARKET for media in S'pore? How can there ever be -- if the media is regulated by alphabet agencies like the IDA?
The Fourth Estate (big bad media) is not a threat to the Third Estate (chattering classes), not anymore it isn't. The proletariat have the ability blog, and blog they will -- regardless of whatever "controls" the state attempts to impose. There are people who will blog and be damned even if it means going to jail. "Fuck the state, I'm going to say what I have to say."
Anyway, the film is still worth watching, at least watching a bunch of know-it-alls getting their knickers in a twist because they think their precious "American democracy" (a choice between 2 major parties can hardly be called a "democracy" -- no wonder about 50% of the smarter Americans DON'T VOTE) is in jeopardy.
Big or small media are protected by the same constitution: the freedom to speech and expression. There is no stipulation in the constitution that requires the speech or expression to be TRUTHFUL. To get peole into your thrall, you must tell them what they want to hear -- that's how the media-state nexus becomes invasive and powerful. If there was a way to force the media to be truthful, you might as well shut down the whole system.
Without lies, disinformation, fear and loathing, it is IMPOSSIBLE for the state to run properly because people will simply be disobedient and FREE to live their lives as they see fit. Now we can't have that, can we?
Posted by: Matilah_Singapura | 21/06/2008