The film celebrates Chomsky as a unique breed, a linguist with valid ideas. Watching this film has made me critical of media content be it news, ads, or even simple facts. The model is the fundamental basis to understanding whether media reflects the reality prevalent in the society or creates reality for us to believe in. It makes us question, if our very own opinions we are so proud of are our opinions or created institutionally by people who own the media. The film is a brilliant showcase of Chomsky's belief that as a society we should optimize our need for creative work and not allow people to be treated as 'cogs in a machine' which permits the ever-powerful elite to uphold the media control through their private ownership of public resources. This dominance or hegemony is an outcome of their driving interest in maximizing profits while propagating the myth of a free democratic country with a free press.
According to Chomsky, real democracy is one in which people participate in the political and economic decision-making. The model is based on the US mainstream media's behavior and performance, and therefore, reflects the system of indoctrination followed by the media in the US. The film persuasively and precisely depicts Chomsky's argument which is illustrated with concrete examples. For instance, his argument of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor was supported with alarming footage of what exactly happened along with visuals of how The New York Times actually dedicated much lesser coverage than it typical should have to East Timor during the invasion and resulting in a massacre.
Chomsky's model contains five filters which he says operates to produce propaganda. Based on our understanding of these filters, we ought to examine if people's social environment such religious organizations, community groups, families, schools, universities, special interest groups etc. are capable of influencing media enough. This influence can be better examined while analyzing the situation basis the country, its socio-political-economic interests as well as how the groups operate in that landscape.
As for the internet, it is a fallacy to believe that the Internet is completely free. It is relatively free but is dependent on software giants. For instance, what would happen if Google shuts down or becomes a paid site as we keep hearing all the time. The Internet is controlled by giant corporations and Chomsky speaks of corporate interest as one of the five filters. So, a more nuanced exploration is required in the case of internet as an alternate media.
If the propaganda model was to be devised in today's age of new media, the same model would work with the 'free market' as a principal ideological reinforcement along with 'anti-terrorism' and the 'war on terror' which could have provided the much needed "enemy" as compared to anticommunism (which may not be as applicable today). Of course, more emphasis would be given to globalization and the widespread impact it has on popular culture which is propagated by media be it mainstream or new media and which people are consenting into. Also, important would be to take into account the talk shows, blogging, pod casting etc., and the challenges this form of new media poses to the traditional media.
The Propaganda Model might seem limited with the rising of the alternate media. But, is that really so? To an extent it might become marginal in its applicability, but it hasn't happened yet. The factors contributing to the protection of the traditional media's hegemony would include their own hold over the internet as the dominant news providers as they have a huge reader base who subscribe to them as the source of authentic news-givers and thereby, giving them a massive advantage to curb the alternate potential media rivals. The internet giants such as Google, Yahoo etc. are all after advertising revenue to put their humongous resources into original news origination. Internet is viewed largely as a social connection with politics seen not as the primary concern for people. If we analyze our very own behavior online, we would see we are more of critical analysts of news than news-makers.
However, Chomsky asserts that this media domination must be gotten rid of and for that citizens must seek out information from alternate media and move towards change by becoming engaged in community action which will result in Grassroots movements. His idea of achieving change and overcoming effectiveness of the propaganda model will come from reliance on alternative media sources, developing means of intellectual self- defense & independent minds, imbibing media literacy and finally, founding "community" action groups with others with analogous interests and ideals, not in seclusion, which is where the current system tends to keep people.
This is how the shrinking of class and hierarchically systematized social orders, and the spread and deepening of egalitarianism will result. The film teaches us how to apply the filters more assiduously to the situation and make an assessment. The filters do not operate in obvious ways. They operate through a sophisticated network which is explained in the book. Any assessment would require an in-depth study rather than a cursory look at media coverage.
So no matter what country or context, we must understand that as long as a highly unequal economic and social order is prevalent, they will continue to need supportive propaganda. And, the media structures that will benefit them will keep the Propaganda Model and its filters pertinent.
In conclusion in Chomsky words, "The question, in brief, is whether democracy and freedom are values to be preserved or threats to be avoided. In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than values to be treasured; they may be essential to survival."
It's a sin that this film is so incredible. I will give my unqualified recommendation to this movie for not just media students but every consumer of mass media, which is simply all of us.
According to Chomsky, real democracy is one in which people participate in the political and economic decision-making. The model is based on the US mainstream media's behavior and performance, and therefore, reflects the system of indoctrination followed by the media in the US. The film persuasively and precisely depicts Chomsky's argument which is illustrated with concrete examples. For instance, his argument of the Indonesian invasion of East Timor was supported with alarming footage of what exactly happened along with visuals of how The New York Times actually dedicated much lesser coverage than it typical should have to East Timor during the invasion and resulting in a massacre.
Chomsky's model contains five filters which he says operates to produce propaganda. Based on our understanding of these filters, we ought to examine if people's social environment such religious organizations, community groups, families, schools, universities, special interest groups etc. are capable of influencing media enough. This influence can be better examined while analyzing the situation basis the country, its socio-political-economic interests as well as how the groups operate in that landscape.
As for the internet, it is a fallacy to believe that the Internet is completely free. It is relatively free but is dependent on software giants. For instance, what would happen if Google shuts down or becomes a paid site as we keep hearing all the time. The Internet is controlled by giant corporations and Chomsky speaks of corporate interest as one of the five filters. So, a more nuanced exploration is required in the case of internet as an alternate media.
If the propaganda model was to be devised in today's age of new media, the same model would work with the 'free market' as a principal ideological reinforcement along with 'anti-terrorism' and the 'war on terror' which could have provided the much needed "enemy" as compared to anticommunism (which may not be as applicable today). Of course, more emphasis would be given to globalization and the widespread impact it has on popular culture which is propagated by media be it mainstream or new media and which people are consenting into. Also, important would be to take into account the talk shows, blogging, pod casting etc., and the challenges this form of new media poses to the traditional media.
The Propaganda Model might seem limited with the rising of the alternate media. But, is that really so? To an extent it might become marginal in its applicability, but it hasn't happened yet. The factors contributing to the protection of the traditional media's hegemony would include their own hold over the internet as the dominant news providers as they have a huge reader base who subscribe to them as the source of authentic news-givers and thereby, giving them a massive advantage to curb the alternate potential media rivals. The internet giants such as Google, Yahoo etc. are all after advertising revenue to put their humongous resources into original news origination. Internet is viewed largely as a social connection with politics seen not as the primary concern for people. If we analyze our very own behavior online, we would see we are more of critical analysts of news than news-makers.
However, Chomsky asserts that this media domination must be gotten rid of and for that citizens must seek out information from alternate media and move towards change by becoming engaged in community action which will result in Grassroots movements. His idea of achieving change and overcoming effectiveness of the propaganda model will come from reliance on alternative media sources, developing means of intellectual self- defense & independent minds, imbibing media literacy and finally, founding "community" action groups with others with analogous interests and ideals, not in seclusion, which is where the current system tends to keep people.
This is how the shrinking of class and hierarchically systematized social orders, and the spread and deepening of egalitarianism will result. The film teaches us how to apply the filters more assiduously to the situation and make an assessment. The filters do not operate in obvious ways. They operate through a sophisticated network which is explained in the book. Any assessment would require an in-depth study rather than a cursory look at media coverage.
So no matter what country or context, we must understand that as long as a highly unequal economic and social order is prevalent, they will continue to need supportive propaganda. And, the media structures that will benefit them will keep the Propaganda Model and its filters pertinent.
In conclusion in Chomsky words, "The question, in brief, is whether democracy and freedom are values to be preserved or threats to be avoided. In this possibly terminal phase of human existence, democracy and freedom are more than values to be treasured; they may be essential to survival."
It's a sin that this film is so incredible. I will give my unqualified recommendation to this movie for not just media students but every consumer of mass media, which is simply all of us.