Jopsy Pendragon

WTF is wrong with the US? We have not just one, but TWO blatant propoganda films running in major theaters?



America's bullshit meter is clearly broken. I blame FOX news for it.

Han Held

USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!

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Drama is easy
with eyes closed
misunderstanding all you read

Lloyd Newman

What, and this WASN'T propoganda?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda

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Rebel Television

Well, they created two movies that pirates wouldn't watch, I'll applaud them for that.

Anya Ristow

Anything by Michael Moore might be considered propaganda by anyone who doesn't like what he has to say.

Any piece of fiction that depicts homosexuality in a positive way might be considered propaganda by anyone who is homophobic.

A film showing violence without consequence might be considered propaganda.

A novel depicting hackers as heroes and rockstars could be considered propaganda. A documentary depicting hackers as thugs and criminals could be considered propaganda.

A TV series about a Christian pastor could be considered propaganda.

A documentary about a successful crime enforcement action could be considered propaganda. A documentary about an unsuccessful crime enforcement action could be considered propaganda.

A film about the plight of native Americans could be considered propaganda.

A TV series depicting realistic police routine might be considered propaganda.

A news program about open source software could be considered propaganda.

A movie about a trial with a controversial outcome might be considered propaganda.

A film showing an Atheist to be a vindictive asshat could be considered propaganda. A film showing an Atheist outsmarting stupid Christians could be considered propaganda.

etc.

Now if a theater chain or a movie studio is pushing an agenda that's more interesting.

Edav Nomad

Michael Moore does it for Michael Moore.

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eighthdwarf Checchinato

No. Fahrenheit 9/11 was not Propaganda.

Though I know quite a few movies and TV series that are.

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Lloyd Newman

No.

It doesn't matter if you like what he's saying or not. If he's pushing a particular point of view, it's propaganda.

If you're blind to that fact that he IS pushing a particular point of view, and you accept it unquestioningly... then it's successful propaganda.

Jopsy Pendragon

Sure. I might consider anything to be anything if my perspective were broken enough. But they wouldn't be right to consider those things 'propaganda' unless their purpose was to be:
I won't deny that there is a bit of propaganda to the Michael Moore stuff. He certainly over sensationalizes and cherry-picks his information for his cause.

But a misleading, baseless emotional appeal to scare/taunt/dare people via entertainment for political ends? That's definitely propaganda.

I mean seriously... a stupid powerful black guy feigning a kindergardener's level of understanding of the law and the constitution... attempting enslave the proud sad white veteran dad into a life of godless atheism? *SERIOUSLY* ? What the everliving FUCK.

And this is being carried by TWO major movie chains right now... AMC and UA. Shameful fucking sell-outs.

Artemis Fate

I think for something to be considered propaganda, it has to be funded or otherwise encouraged to be made by a political organization for the sake of pushing their political views. Otherwise it's just someone's opinion.

Autumn Palen

Propaganda, though, involves more than just pushing a point of view, otherwise nearly every type of persuasive argument, from newspaper editorials to debates to essays to the Letter from Birmingham Jail becomes propaganda.

From the wiki:

"Defining propaganda has always been a problem. The main difficulties have involved differentiating propaganda from other types of persuasion...

Propaganda is generally an appeal to emotion, not intellect.

What sets propaganda apart from other forms of advocacy is the willingness of the propagandist to change people's understanding through deception and confusion rather than persuasion and understanding."

The thing about Fahrenheit 911 is it's essentially a documentary, although Moorse does use propagandist techniques often in his films, especially in his editing style. I wouldn't go so far to say that makes his entire work propaganda though, as one can fact-check his pieces and then factor that in to deciding if his arguments still hold up (or, conversely, in what ways does his sometimes manipulation of chronologies undermine his argument).

Joshua Nightshade

Shush you guys, Lloyd has a wikipedia link and he's not afraid to use it.

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Eris

That's a serious documentary on how it takes a truly heroic individual to say how much they love Jesus in a country where Christians are the overwhelming majority of the population. If it weren't for people like that, Christians would be getting thrown to the lions by godless negroes today!

Anya Ristow

Also from the wiki:

"Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission)"

Thus, a piece can be propaganda even if everything in it is factual.

Artemis Fate

Incidentally, I love the main character of this one. He's like the epitome of trying too hard.

A white middle-aged rural biker-dad who rides a Harley with an oversized American flag on the back (that somehow hasn't ripped or frayed), or drives a classic good ol' boy truck and works in a down home American small town job of a drug store. They even have the bad guy being a cigar chomping black guy.

I actually want to see this, it looks hilarious.

Jopsy Pendragon

I admit, I'm half tempted myself. But wouldn't want to give money to the bigoted fearmonger creeps responsible for it.

Lord

Around here, it is also being carried by Aliance and Carmike Theatres as well. I suspect that these films are shown mostly in Republican held areas of the red states.

Artemis Fate

Hahahaha the main character's name is "Bob Revere" too and Bill O'Reilly is in it. I've got to see this.

Jopsy Pendragon

California is no red state... and San Diego is certainly 'moderate' in its political climate. Granted there's some KKK types in the far east county... but these movies are playing at two theaters near downtown on either side of the 'gay' neighborhood.

Teeny Leviathan

Its like this decade's version of this classic. You know its hip an' happenin', since that really cool Jack Webb is in it.


Uppity colored Kenyan secret "Muslins" are the new commies.

Eboni Khan

They are being shown all over Illinois. No one calls this a red state.

Artemis Fate

Illinois pretty much is a red state. Chicago is more or less the only liberal and democratic part of it, and that's where most of the people are in Illinois, so it's called a blue state. Go out of Chicago and some part of Illinois are downright hicksville.

In fact, one of the pipe dreams Illinois republicans keep bringing up is splitting Chicago off into it's own state so the rest of Illinois can be a red state.

Aliselia Aeon

'Last Ounce of Courage' gets Chuck Norris' seal of approval

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Void

not all propaganda is political, nor is it not propaganda if it's put out by even a single person...

it's about how you put the message out (eg with enough spin to do a series of 'Poltergeist' remakes), and what the purpose of it is.... the crazy homeless guy shouting on a street corner is just as capable of it as a corporation or political party; Just probably not as effective.

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Artemis Fate

And the movie is apparently about the imaginary "War on Christmas" that the conservatives seem to rant about every year in order to rile up the religious. I especially liked the actor in the interview saying that Christians should be allowed to pray in churches, as if anyone was trying to stop them from doing that.

As far as I know, the only laws ever passed or even closed to being passed that were religiously discriminatory were ones made by Christians to favor their own religion over others. There's still laws on the books in multiple states against Atheists holding any sort of governmental position (though they're not constitutional at all).

So a movie about the indignation of the white christian majority being persecuted can only be full of hilarity.