power & the
audience
the origins of media studies
...anyone with access to a printing press can start a revolution
Martin Luther did.
do revolutions always start with media?
the sinking of the
Lusitania in 1915 was
used to turn opinion
against Germany and
bring the US into the
first world war
“Valencia must not fall into the clutches of
fascism. We must fortify!”
Spanish Civil War
...anyone with access to a movie studio (and a printing press) can start a revolution
the power of the image
Hitler’s propaganda focused on the
superiority of the so-called Aryan
race...
...and the inferiority of other races, including Jews
(“THAT is to blame for the war!”)
or how about“British jobs for British workers”?
“I like Fidel Castro and
his beard” - Bob Dylan
this is where we all live
propaganda is useful as a recruitment tool
can you ‘deconstruct’ this poster?
why are these iconic posters so effective?
doesn’t matter what the language is – we know what it
means
the iconography becomes part of the vernacular
vernacular |vəˈnakjʊlə|noun
1 (usu. the vernacular) the language or dialect spoken by
the ordinary people in a particular country or region
direct mode of address
breaking the “fourth wall”
an effective sales technique
concerns about how Hitler came to power became concerns about the power of the media
are we so easily led?
the Russians thought so!
Nazi propaganda in Norway, 1944
“The USA will save Europe’s culture from destruction. By what
right?”
CULTURAL TERRORISM
the hypodermic needle theory
a passive audience, vulnerable to media effects
the propaganda war was fought on all fronts, from Hamburg to Hollywood and the BBC
printing
presses and
movie cameras
rolled...
the British government even prepared propaganda in case of defeat
The German, British, and American film industries all produced propaganda films during World War 2 — even Disney!
Russian constructivist poster art is immediately recognisable
but heroic imagery of workers was not confined to the Soviet Union
propaganda was stepped up during the Cold War
spectacular public displays of power are a feature of life under totalitarian governments
if you believe the audience can be influenced by such imagery — what else is possible?
“keep calm and carry on” – Soviet Style
the full force of
racist language
and sexist imagery
was used
“Keep calm and
carry on” -
American style
what were the effects of daily exposure to such imagery?
the real enemy is the enemy within!
anyone with access to a Xerox machine can start a revolution
in the 60s, the counter-culture created its own propaganda
the peace movement and the counterculture used the imagery of war and cold war propaganda to promote dissent
anyone with access to a printing press can start a revolution
it’s no longer enough to see the audience as passive and helpless
the audience is active
the object of propaganda can (and will) turn the tables
no, they really don’t
such propaganda gives rent-a-cops excuses to harass citizens
who’s going to win this propaganda war?
2012
“anyone with access to...?”