The news isn't what you think it is. It is more than just reporting. Its more than just a vehicle for propaganda. The news creates the conditions that make you vulnerable to manipulation.
When speaking of mimesis and it's cause is imitation. The opinions of others is formulated on the opinions of others. We learn through imitation. Mimesis I personallt associate more with a crisis where our desire is imitated. If I could speak in Girards terms, it would be that Propoghanda when applied creates mimesis. I have a "fact" you now desire to have this "fact" and more which becomes a display of status according to Veblen. You will easily be able to find these ideas being applied in the following excercise. Talk to a boomer for 10mins, if you can stand it, 7 of those minutes are Propoghanda you as listener are to reflect that propoghanda or be castigated as a Tomfool or time wasting polysoot, who associates with loose women and nehrdowells.
Recently, in exasperation, I said to a late wave silent / early boomer, "I don't want to argue with you! You know what would be easier? I'll just stand in front of the TV and argue with IT. You know - cut out the middleman".
Great tragic irony for Christians when we follow the news on events happening half a world a way but know nothing about the struggles of a family down the street. "None of my business."
Am slowly reading Ellul's book, thanks to your interview on the subject. Keep making the mistake of picking it up while waiting somewhere, and having to put it down again, because I've got nothing to take notes on. Alas.
One grain of hope I take from his (admittedly just introductory) statements is that small social groups are protective against the effects of propaganda. This would explain why the advance of communications technology into every corner of our lives has been accompanied by a retreat of such groups: how many people, now, still go to church, go to choir practice, play poker or bridge or canasta, attend the ladies' or mens' club... ? Who has the time? And where did all the time go? Our devices ate it.
But that suggests an appropriate counteroffensive: every one of those activities is now subversive. It is a step away from the machine, toward the human. Perhaps even a type of guerilla warfare. Imagine, for a moment, that a regular phone-free boardgame night, in this day and age, could be more revolutionary than chucking molotov cocktails out of car windows. That learning to play bridge or contra-dance might prove more effective than a secret handshake, for networking.
Wow, Kruptos, this piece totally blows it wide open for me!
I was too caught up in a linear progression of a line to properly order the thing. I had it as pre-propaganda first, propaganda follows, like pickets in a fence - one after another, after another. What you did with your ocean analogy is to shift the geometry. Ah. The currents are beneath, the waves are on top.
That shift in ordering made everything you built after hold together for me.
Extraordinary exposure of what is. Absolutely eye opening!
When speaking of mimesis and it's cause is imitation. The opinions of others is formulated on the opinions of others. We learn through imitation. Mimesis I personallt associate more with a crisis where our desire is imitated. If I could speak in Girards terms, it would be that Propoghanda when applied creates mimesis. I have a "fact" you now desire to have this "fact" and more which becomes a display of status according to Veblen. You will easily be able to find these ideas being applied in the following excercise. Talk to a boomer for 10mins, if you can stand it, 7 of those minutes are Propoghanda you as listener are to reflect that propoghanda or be castigated as a Tomfool or time wasting polysoot, who associates with loose women and nehrdowells.
Yes, exactly. You are being kind with seven minutes. More likely the whole 10 is propaganda. His thoughts are not his own.
Every Sunday...
Recently, in exasperation, I said to a late wave silent / early boomer, "I don't want to argue with you! You know what would be easier? I'll just stand in front of the TV and argue with IT. You know - cut out the middleman".
Yeah. How did that work out for you?
Actually not too badly. I swear it made him stop and consider. We said no more about it and we picked up with something else.
Nice!
Great tragic irony for Christians when we follow the news on events happening half a world a way but know nothing about the struggles of a family down the street. "None of my business."
So true.
Am slowly reading Ellul's book, thanks to your interview on the subject. Keep making the mistake of picking it up while waiting somewhere, and having to put it down again, because I've got nothing to take notes on. Alas.
One grain of hope I take from his (admittedly just introductory) statements is that small social groups are protective against the effects of propaganda. This would explain why the advance of communications technology into every corner of our lives has been accompanied by a retreat of such groups: how many people, now, still go to church, go to choir practice, play poker or bridge or canasta, attend the ladies' or mens' club... ? Who has the time? And where did all the time go? Our devices ate it.
But that suggests an appropriate counteroffensive: every one of those activities is now subversive. It is a step away from the machine, toward the human. Perhaps even a type of guerilla warfare. Imagine, for a moment, that a regular phone-free boardgame night, in this day and age, could be more revolutionary than chucking molotov cocktails out of car windows. That learning to play bridge or contra-dance might prove more effective than a secret handshake, for networking.
Oh, the possibilities.
Good observation and spot on.
Wow, Kruptos, this piece totally blows it wide open for me!
I was too caught up in a linear progression of a line to properly order the thing. I had it as pre-propaganda first, propaganda follows, like pickets in a fence - one after another, after another. What you did with your ocean analogy is to shift the geometry. Ah. The currents are beneath, the waves are on top.
That shift in ordering made everything you built after hold together for me.
Extraordinary exposure of what is. Absolutely eye opening!
The image is Ellul's, and it is a good one. Thanks! I am glad you are enjoying the series.