So…please watch this for a few minutes to get some idea of ‘Triumph of the Will’ – the film made about Hitler in the 1930s (if the link does not work, try searching for Triumph of the Will on Youtube – it’s taken down a lot due to its controversial nature):
And then this:
Some people say that George Lucas was inspired for this scene, in part, by the infamous Nazi film ‘Triumph of the Will’ – what do you think? if so, there would be an irony here. If the heroes of Star Wars, who have defeated the evil empire, now present themselves, symbolically, as an empire themselves, that is surely antithetical to their aims and stated purpose? Plus, no medal for Chewie?! (I know, this issue is somewhat resolved in The Rise of Skywalker). ‘Triumph of the Will’ impressed many Germans at the time with its presentation of the perfect uniformity of large numbers of people so they convey absolute obedient power and resolve. The pictures of thousands of Nazis listening intently to what Hitler had to say almost elevates Hitler, in this film, into somebody that the audience are compelled to take seriously. At least, that was the filmmaker’s intention. Even the way the film begins is crafted, as it’s made to look like Hitler descended from the clouds/heavens like some sort of god-like figure. The filmmaker only recently died in 2003 (Leni Riefenstahl). For a long part of her life, Leni Riefenstahl was completely unrepentant about her Nazi filmmaking past. You can read more about her most famous film here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triumph_of_the_Will
Anyway, let’s delve into ideology….
1. Ideology?
An ideology is basically a system of meaning that helps define and explain the world and that makes value judgments about that world. We think of ideology in such terms as a worldview, belief system, and values. But it’s broader than those terms. It refers to not only the beliefs held about the world but also to the basic ways in which the world is defined. Ideology is not just about politics, it has a broader and more fundamental connotation.
2. Media?
Ideologies do not necessarily reflect reality accurately. In fact, they often present a distorted and biased view of the world. Media scholars are often interested in assessing how media content compares to the “real” world – that is, whether it can be factually checked and evaluated. The problem is, as Chomsky noted (paper #1), most people do not operate by logical and reason but by faith. We are all entitled to our set of beliefs and now also our own set of the facts, it seems.
3. You want some hegemony with that?
Watch this:
One key concept that dominates much of the current work and scholarly debate about ideology is hegemony. Gramsci (1971) argued that ruling groups can maintain their power through force, consent, or a combination of the two. However, Gramsci also noted that power can be wielded at the level of cultural ideology. The media can be used by controlling groups to issue propaganda to influence and change people’s ideological views and beliefs. This is a nice variation of agenda-setting theory. So we must always consider the source or motive of any media content when evaluating its value or truthfulness.
“It can be argued that Gramsci’s theory suggests that subordinated groups accept the ideas, values and leadership of the dominant group not because they are physically or mentally induced to do so, nor because they are ideologically indoctrinated, but because they have reason of their own.” (Strinati, 1995: 166)
Consent is the key to understanding Gramsci’s use of hegemony, which is exercised through a kind of cultural leadership. Consent is something that is won, as ruling groups compete to have their worldview accepted by as many members of society as possible (enter Chomsky’s Manufacturing Consent ideas here which you are writing your first paper on). How and why these audiences accept these worldviews being offered to them is a whole other discussion…
My question to you today is simple: how is the average person to know/determine what the truth is behind any media messages they are receiving?
Plus, find me some good examples of some media propaganda that clearly demonstrate one group trying to convert the viewers to its point of view.
(400) words by midnight tonight, please
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