Media Control (Spectator Democracy)
According to this article, there are two different classes of citizens, "Specialized class" and "bewildered herd" who have different parts in the society. It states that only small elite, "Specialized class" should make decisions because other people, the "bewildered herds" are not capable of making decisions. "Mass of the public are just too stupid to be able to understand things. If they try to participate in managing their own affairs, they're just going to cause trouble. Therefore, it would be immoral and improper to permit them to do this." (p270)
The article also states that these people should stay as "spectators of action", occasionally lending their weight to one or another of the real leaders, who they may select among. (p272)
"People have to be atomized and segregated and alone. They're not supposed to organize, because then they might be something beyond spectators of action." (p272) If "bewildered herds" become participants, it causes serious problems. In order to stop them from organizing, the experts must mobilize community opinion in favor of vapid, empty concepts like Americanism. (p273) Empty concepts like Americanism and harmony that no one can't be against of, anything that's totally vacuous would work as stated in the article.
Another interesting point was that Government have to help educated Elite to manage public using the Media. They don't want the people to participate in the public, therefore distract the public to watch something else. Leaving decision to small elite, "bewildered herd" should be going on with life.
The article also states that these people should stay as "spectators of action", occasionally lending their weight to one or another of the real leaders, who they may select among. (p272)
"People have to be atomized and segregated and alone. They're not supposed to organize, because then they might be something beyond spectators of action." (p272) If "bewildered herds" become participants, it causes serious problems. In order to stop them from organizing, the experts must mobilize community opinion in favor of vapid, empty concepts like Americanism. (p273) Empty concepts like Americanism and harmony that no one can't be against of, anything that's totally vacuous would work as stated in the article.
Another interesting point was that Government have to help educated Elite to manage public using the Media. They don't want the people to participate in the public, therefore distract the public to watch something else. Leaving decision to small elite, "bewildered herd" should be going on with life.
"They should be watching the Superbowl or sitcoms or violent movies. Every
once in a while you call on them to chant meaningless slogans like "Support our
troops". You've got to keep them pretty scared, because unless they're
properly scared and frightened of all kinds of devils that are going to destroy
them from outside of inside or somewhere, they may start to think, which is very
dangerous, because they're not competent to think. Therefore it's
important to distract them and marginalize them." (p275)
posted by Anonymous at 2:21 PM
1 Comments:
A good, thoughtful post.
The reality is that we are not really a bewildered herd. Nor is the elite really in control of the media or of the public. However, these images are not without some foundation. The scenario that Chomsky describes is dark and the fact that it seems realistic is enough reason to work for a more open and particpatory media that will prevent elite domination of the news and political debate.
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