Featured Author:
Noam Chomsky
The Squib’s recommended read for this Month is Dr. Noam Chomsky’s: “MEDIA CONTROL:The Spectacular Achievements Of Propaganda.”
In an exchange with my Poli Sci Professor, I expressed my take on the weaknesses “inherent” in the Democratic System with regard to the socializing aspect we as citizens undergo in our indoctrination into the “American Political Culture.”
I said something to the effect of: “What about Chomsky’s view of the Media’s role in ‘manufacturing consent’ of the ‘bewildered herd?” Professor Dr. Eskandari responded with an emotional-verbal ‘Ahh, Chomsky!’ The good Dr. proceeded to lecture in the positive: the idea that American Citizens are not as easily duped as Chomsky claims. In fact I recall Dr. Eskandari’s mantra: ‘are you goats or sheep?’
Exactly!
That said as a lead in–let’s look at Chomsky and his thoughts on the average citizens ability to discern fact from ‘created fiction.’
Some background stuff…
I got to Noam thru Jean Baudrillard. I got to Baudrillard, (a very smart CURRENT Philosopher), from the film “The Matrix,” which was based on his book “Simulacra and Simulation.”
The connection is that they are both Linguists or to use a more specific “symbol”, Semioticians. Other Semioticians include Ferdinand de Saussere, Claude Levi-Strauss and Charles Peirce the great American Pragmatist.
There exists a few views as to what exactly constitutes a “Semiotician.” How about: ‘ Someone who studies and practises Semiotics.’ Simple enough. You may be asking yourself, “Self, what the hell is Semiotics?” The short answer: Semiotics is the study of Signs and Symbols and their relevant meaning in society. Semiotics, then, is a philosophy… Linquistics is a sub-category.
OK. So what does this have to do with American Government?
Good question if you asked it.
If the model of Political Culture is to be followed, then the specific element of “Socialization” must be carefully considered. Political socialization would be…might be defined as the first principle in the cause and effect chain of the Political Culture model. That is, if we are indeed “programmed” with the tenets of our mature political belief by firstly, our parents political view, then our peers’ opinions, (if they had a view), and finally the Media, (arguably our greatest influence), then our so-called political leanings are a product of others’ views which, according to Chomsky, are “manufactured” and designed to control!
In other words, most if not all of your political “leanings,” are in fact made for you. The notion that the use of slogans and signs or symbols by the current political regime to instill popular manufactured concepts, is profound, and brings to clear relief that most of what you thought you knew, is in fact based on non-sense!
Remember the linguistic signs that were recognized by earlier generations of thinking Citizens to be mere “jingoisms?”
Chomsky has written alot of stuff and I think its all good, but the one work I’d like to talk about is: “MEDIA CONTROL:The Spectacular Achievements Of Propaganda.” This is an easy read and I think it should be in any practising Intellectual’s bookshelf. In this pamphlet, Noam talks about what might be regarded as the scenarios of a Conspiracy Nut in America going back to WWI! Laying out the Machiavellian designs of the Media to achieve “Manufactured Consent” and control of the “bewildered herd,” Chomsky amazes us with fact and insight. This is dangerous stuff! All the terrors of a fascist regime can be “excused” through the power of the Media and its influence on the mob. And yes, this has and is happening right here in America! Once one has studied Semiotics and becomes familiar with the concepts, this dangerous stuff makes perfect sense and is then removed from the realm of the ridiculous to reality of the sublime.
To quote another writer and pop conspiricist, Anton Wilson…”Everything you know is wrong!”
Read on and become wise to the guise…
