Ok let's have a game of how the media creates narratives

[nadinbrzezinski]

I know a few here are confused about OWS and all that... so let me describe to you two photos taken last night at a local demo... I could post them, but there is a good reason why ONE will residen on my HD... no, there was no crime committed.

1.- Picture of two middle age ladies, one of them carrying a sign that read Medicare for all, well dressed, clean cut, and yes... WHITE... (Race in this case matters)

2.- Picture of young anarchist carrying a flag upside down, with the A and circle on it, and wearing black leather, steel toe toes and overall looking threatening and having a darker skin tone.

Now, which picture do you think our lovely mainstream media would run? Because this is how media narratives are created.

By the way the second photo is actually far more powerful at many levels, and as a photograph it is a far better photo. But let's leave the technical aspects out. Just the message conveyed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. kick

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Excitement sells. That's all. People don't tune in to see mediocrity.

That's why there are so many pictures of Tea Party rallies with guns.

Of course the question is, if the anarchist is so interested in reaching a broader audience he should attenuate himself to that audience. When companies advertise their products they try to identify with their target markets. They don't lead with, "Hey! You conformist pigs! BUY THIS!" Rejectionists get rejected as much as they reject others.

Some might call that unfair but it's as much a fact of life as the yummiest foods make you put on weight.

Kudos to the older lady though. She's doing it right.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. You of course understand that the anarchist

is not interested in your corporate based critique, RIGHT?

But in a way YOU DID answer the question

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. Not so much "corporate based" as "common sense" based

OK, so he rejects. Fine. He's free to do so (although I'm sure he thinks otherwise). But I must ask: If you deliberately make yourself unappealing to whom do you hope to appeal?

Ever wonder why Apple products look so high-tech and sexy?

Ever wonder how Apple accrued $54 billion in the bank?

Ever think there might be a connection?

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I took the picture

But reality is that kid is not here to impress you, or me, for that matter.

But as you said, they'd run that picture in a heart beat.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. If it was my marketing campain I'd run with the pic of the lady in a heartbeat

When the work-a-day Joes and Janes look at social issues they do not picture themselves as anti-social rejectionists. Nobody imagines being that guy.

But everyone knows that they and the families they love will be the older lady some day if not sooner. THAT speaks to the majority and that's what you need in a democracy.

If dude wants to do his thing, OK. But don't act surprised/hurt.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Yes, but I am talking of my local rag

my local rag would make the 180 decision. Why? They are busy creating a narrative.

Narrative is young, shiftless, drug using... un-american OCCUPIERS.

This is not a marketing campaign. This is a media campaign. Now a true fair and balanced would be BOTH PICTURES, with a slew of others that show the MAJORITY of the people at the march were like the lady.

I posited this as an exercise, because the media is filtering OWS in a predictable way...

Better dead than red... in a modern way.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

15. So in other words, the free choice the anarchist made

is hurting the cause he supposedly professes to serve. There's a term for that. It's called, "Not Smart." He's not going to get 51% of the populace to view him as the harbinger of better things to come. He's deliberately chosen to not conform, to set himself apart from the rest of society.

So how can he then approach society and say, "I'm doing this for you."

If he was more appealing then the media could show his picture and no other picture and it would be awesome. If he is truly a represetnative of OWS then there is no harm in showing only his picture.

If the claim is "We're a diverse movement!" then allowing the white supremacists into OWS would be diversity too but -- thankfully -- quality counts over quantity.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. You are missing it

and I could recommend a few books on how this shit works... or a few American History books.

It could be the worker at the Haymarket, who was not an anarchist, or a commie but was painted as un-american nonetheless by the paper of record...

Or the students at Kent State called that way by the Governor.

This is what is called a whisper campaign. They are as old as the country.

As to White Supremacists, they would not come to OWS even if you paid them... or rather if you paid them they would as police informers, to get them lesser people into jail.

What I am trying to communicate and obviously failing, is that the coverage of the MSM has NOT been fair or balanced. They are not covering this in a way that will help people comprehend this and that is on purpose. It has to do with exactly who they serve. Subtext not you or me, and that is a danger to that democracy the powerful preach.

And the best evidence... they were prevented from COVERING the eviction in NYC... Reporters were ARRESTED. The press is behaving like press that is far from free in other countries.

Suffice it to say... something is telling me that this is not succeeding though. People ARE seeing through those same media narratives. We also have another name, propaganda.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

18. Who cares what the MSM shows?

If the anarchist is who he has chosen to be and if what he has chosen to be is supposed to be good then what does it matter if the MSM shows him as the poster boy for OWS?

If he's a bad image for OWS then why is OWS allowing him to be their poster boy? Why not just say, "Dude, you're killing us. Move on down the road."

If OWS welcomes him then OWS will have an image problem by their own choice. You can't cry, "Hey! No fair showing pictures of the people we welcome to our movement!"

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. WHOOSH!!!!! So you think the media

is not responsible or anything? How about Judith Miller and the WMDs that never were?

Yes, it's connected.

By the way here is something else about OWS that you are missing... they welcome those who'd society prefer were invisible... not as poster boys, as equals.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

21. WMDs are a completely different topic.

By the way here is something else about OWS that you are missing... they welcome those who'd society prefer were invisible... not as poster boys, as equals.

OK. Fine. Good on 'em.

Now he's visible. So what's the problem?

One minute he's an embarrassment that allows the MSM to set a bad narrative, now he's a poor unfortunate (by his own choice) who must be included.

Either you want him or you don't. If you do, then don't complain. With no leaders of dedicated spokespersons then everyone becomes the public face of the movement. That's why other organizations have spokespeople: message control. The opposition is always waiting to pounce. Bank on it. Plan for it.

OWS had no problem booing down a legendary civil rights activist John Lewis, so apparently they're comfortable in choosing with whom to associate. If you pick fuck-middle-America-guy over John Lewis then what's to complain about? Heck, every time some anti-semitic rant came out of OWS its been shouted down as a fringe element. Anarchists aren't the same as anti-semites but politically they're as unappealing.

Pick your friends carefully because your enemy is always watching.

[nadinbrzezinski]

22. No it is not a different topic

only on the surface.

Manufacturing consent... would be a recommended reading... among the better known.

But the word I am looking for is... propaganda.

And OWS threatens the establishment, so it does not matter WHO comes... or what is done. PROPAGANDA works the way it does.

WE ARE a highly propagandized nation.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

23. Every nation is highly propagandized.

There are books on that. You should read them.

And if you fail to plan for it you only have yourself to blame.

If you choose to make the invisible visibile don't complain when it gets noticed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Alas I did not post that picture

and yes there are books. So you just made my point. This is PROPAGANDA.

And I DO NOT... not that you will get it, speak for OWS. In fact. hard to understand, nobody truly speaks for OWS... there is more, I was there REPORTING and taking pictures. It is called Backpack Journalism. It is mostly indie and small and has a lot in common with Muckraking in that far past that is almost in the mist of history.

This exercise was to let people know how their opinions of OWS are created and carefully managed by a very complaint mainstream press. After they were arrested and not allowed to cover that story (Liberty park), they started to talk... within hours they went back to usual crap. If that does not make the point to you... nothing will.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. I saw it first hand --

The night Occupy SF was to be raided I saw a camera person shooting a public garbage can that was loaded with debris -- in fact, it was overflowing and had several full, black garbage bags surrounding it. And why was it like that? All the campers & supporters had just spent some time cleaning up the site and surrounding sidewalks after the long day. The garbage can and garbage was set to be picked up by DPW workers later that evening.

What did I see on the news the next day? That sole shot was used to illustrate how "filthy" the camp was. :eyes:

That's why I love the shot of that 84 year old women from NYC who got pepper sprayed -- spin THAT media fucks.

[countryjake]

26. Actually, the MSM is spinning it to their advantage...

that 84 yr. old woman was marching in a Seattle demo yesterday afternoon, a march that was meant to support the Occupy Wall Street that had been wiped out earlier in the day at Zuccotti Park in NYC; in other words, protesting the sneaky raid and abhorent tactics that had been used by NY cops and NY city government to attack OWS.

So what do we get tonight on local Seattle news? Big story that Seattle mayor McGinn has apologized to said little old lady! A bunch of condescending crap about how awful it was and noone should ever be treated in such a manner, how he's launched some review of HIS cops' actions.
Here he comes to save the day, Mighty McGinn.

Rest assured, no matter what happens, the MSM will always spin it in the direction that they wish to take us!


Mayor apologizes to demonstrators who were pepper sprayed
http://www.king5.com/news/cities/seattle/Mayor-apologizes-to-demonstrators-who-were-pepper-sprayed-134003193.html

[MedleyMisty]

5. If I were creating a narrative

I'd put both the pictures together and say "Look at the diversity in Occupy and how it has a broad appeal to people from all walks of life."

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Yeah but that is not the objective of the media

of course Mrs. Rainey is a hard one to unspin...

[MedleyMisty]

13. I know it's not the objective of the media

I doubt there's a single thing that me and the mainstream media agree on. Especially considering that of the subjects of the two pictures, I identify more with the anarchist. :)

[Odin2005]

10. That reminds me of when during the anti-Iraq War protests...

CNN picked out some Anarchists to interview rather than more typical protestors.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. yup, i remember that

[Motown_Johnny]

14. My first memory was during Katrina, people "finding food" v. looters

[Odin2005]

25. That pissed me off.

[Motown_Johnny]

27. it still kinda pisses me off... maybe why I went there first

(IMO) it is also an excellent example of what the OP is trying to express

[Beartracks]

17. Y'all see Caigle's recent toon?

P.S. Whoops, sorry for image size.




====================

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. Yup, on point

[Nye Bevan]

28. A scary anarchist is a more compelling photo than two middle-aged ladies.

Not so sure it's about "creating a narrative" as about grabbing people's attention to increase views.

Now if the middle-aged ladies were *topless* it might well be different,