Propaganda and the power of 'The Simpsons', page 2
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reply posted on 6-7-2006 @ 12:17 PM by Xatnys
To the OP,

In my opinion, it's really all about the individual honestly. I went without viewing television for 5 years. I now have television, and have found that any prolonged period without television does "deprogram" you. When I started watching television again, I found that 99% of the programming was moronic and I couldn't stand it.

Now, my family and I watch only things found on the "educational" channels(science channel, history, learning channel, etc) and ..... the Simpson's.

But we don't view the Simpson's as it is presented. Rather we watch it and try to dissect the social commentary that is found in it's parody. Rather than sitting there and "turning our brains off", we try to evaluate what statements are being made by the writers. I think if you do that, you'll see that the Simpson's are rather witty, fairly anti-establishment, bluntly exposing corruption and idiocy that you can find daily in the real world around you.

I agree with you that the Simpson's has an appeal that draws many of these folks in, no doubt about it. Most of them watch it as a satirical comedy, never thinking about the nature of underlying truths found there. But that's true for many things, not just the Simpson's.

Bottom line for me is, most people do watch television and simply turn off their minds and allow it to put the pretty/funny/dramatic/sensual pictures into their mind. And some even delude themselves into thinking that their own lives are as interesting and glamorous(or strange and humorous etc) as the characters they watch on television. No doubt. But you can't change them, and can't make them not want to watch t.v. , it's something they find comfort in, and they are addicted to it.

In this house we watch very few things, and keep it in perspective. Your family might be able to do the same thing, but not everyone will. Sad, but it's not something you can personally change.

X


reply posted on 6-7-2006 @ 01:17 PM by StreetCorner Philosopher
Originally posted by RedGolem
Originally posted by Delta Alter
Originally posted by Red Golem
have seen the same thing happen with both Married with children, and Dr Who. My dad would watch every eposode of Married with Children time after time. Back when Dr Who was on and I was in High School people my age would watch it as well as people three times my age. Its not just the Simpsons its anything that can apeal to what ever broad based market the show is targeted at.


Precisely, I agree with you. It's just the Simpsons is a particularly potent example of the point that you make.

TV was created solely for propaganda, brainwashing and advertising -that is the be all and end all. Whether or not you want to accept that is up to you.


I will agree with the propaganda and brainwashing only as it apalies to advertising. Because the allmighty quid will always win out in the end. But if TV is just for that purpose then all communication mediums must be for the same as they all have the capacity to reach almost any where, including the internet. So are you brainwashing all of us?????



most of it applies to advertisting. I stopped reading the tabloids. I read mainstream news, but the tabloids are a waste of 25 cents. I think consumerism is why america is what it is, but Im just tryin to find a way to live without losing the economic war. If i buy a meaningless item, im allowing them to win the war.

But propoganda also is huge in times of war. Capitalists need to keep the people thinking that everything is peachy.
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