Chompski: Post-Class

After discussing Herman & Chompski's reading, "A Propaganda Model" in class, I realize just how much Chompski's ideas can be related to the society that we live in. He describes propaganda in our culture as "things that must be disseminated." Especially in American culture, the word, "propaganda" as a negative connotation because it is usually associated with Hitler and the Nazi's use of media to manipulate the masses and promote antisemitic values. What we as a culture do not realize is that propaganda is present in our everyday lives, we just are not always aware because we have been conditioned to accept messages delivered to us by institutions through the media. Chomski says, "Governments and corporate sources also have the great merit of being recognizable and credible by their status and prestige" (214). In other words, we as the masses have faith the institutions telling us what to say, do, and even think. We often just listen to these institutions as docile bodies, without thinking for ourselves. We must think critically about how these institutions have the power to use the media to reinforce stereotypes and hegemonic values. One example that was brought up in class that I thought was very interesting was the comparison of footage Hitler's political rallies in Nazi Germany during World War II and fan culture at sporting events. The way the masses act at sporting events is something that we rarely question; we passively subscribe to the "norms" of the culture without thinking critically for ourselves about our actions. For example, the University of Florida has it's own fan culture that most people attending a game subscribe to without being asked to. Fans become a mob of thousands, rallying together with common clothing and behavior. At first it was hard for me to see this as propaganda, but when you really think about it, sporting events are a way to keep the masses in control.