Although much more conservative and restrained than, say, “Psywar,” this presentation, which builds upon the research of David Robb, raises some important questions about the relationship between Hollywood and the Pentagon. [END] Permalink: Operation Hollywood
There’s not much to be said about Metanoia’s “Psywar” except that it bears watching. A history of the public relations industry, this outstanding documentary explores the highly deleterious impact of organized and well-funded propaganda efforts on a would-be democratic society. [END] Permalink: Psywar
Richard Nixon may have been correct when he said that the U. S. in Vietnam had shown a degree of restraint unprecedented in the annals of war, but not in the way he probably intended that statement to be taken. Here, Marshall Thomas’ “Monarch: The New Phoenix Program” documents various intelligence and military programs which, Thomas contends, are extensions of Vietnam-era assassination programs aimed at neutralizing political dissent in America by means of exotic technology designed to terrorize and harass opponents of the existing order. Errata are here. Thomas’ web site is here. Parts one, two and three are posted in reverse order per Thomas’ instructions for viewing. Certain sections of the three parts have some redundancies, such as the first fifteen minutes of parts one and three, but are unique overall. [END] Permalink: Monarch: The New Phoenix Program
Above is part one of six of “Evidence of Revision,” an eight-hour video collection which covers many a taboo subject in American history including the assassinations of JFK, RFK and MLK, the causes of the Vietnam war, the social uprisings of the 1960s and ’70s, the Jonestown massacre, government mind control programs such as MKULTRA, and vote rigging and political corruption at the highest levels. This installment, which opens with an excellent video collage on “conspiracy theory,” focuses on the highly suspicious assassination of U. S. President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. From a long and rambling introduction from a news commentator upon Kennedy’s arrival concerning the assassination of William McKinley to reports and video of two rifles and two different types of ammunition having been found in the Texas School Book Depository from where Kennedy was officially shot to the arrest and assassination of presumed killer Lee Oswald, himself, “Evidence of Revision” is a moving overview of the many questions which still remain concerning this watershed event. [END] Permalink: Evidence of Revision 1: The Assassinations of Kennedy and Oswald
Above are two short media-critical films from different filmmakers. At top, “Globalization and the Media” from the Media Education Foundation highlights the rise of independent and primarily internet-based journalism in recent years. (Many more excellent videos touching on various topics related to the media and society are available at the link.) At bottom, part three of “Who Really Owns the Mainstream Media” (parts one and two are unavailable) discusses the convergence of upper-class interests in the governance of American media. [END] Permalink: Globalization and the Media & Who Really Owns the Mainstream Media
This media-critical film from Robert Greenwald singles out Rupert Murdoch, his giant News Corporation and its far-right Fox News channel for some well deserved thrashing. The video was produced in 2004; this video from Rachel Maddow updates Fox News’ overlaps with the far-right Republican Party to late 2010. As recent elections have shown, however, simply pointing a finger at the Republicans, no matter how justified, is not going to be enough for the Democrats as a campaign strategy. And would a majority of Democrat wins really make for a significantly better America? The standards have fallen way too far across the board and it’s going to take a lot more than rule by the “Republicans Lite” to get things where they need to be. [END] Permalink: Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism
Robert Kane Pappas’ “Orwell Rolls in His Grave” is probably the premier video overview of what is wrong with the media today and how American democracy has suffered as a result of the faults of this essential part of a self-governing society. Featuring Robert McChesney, Mark Crispin Miller, Bernie Sanders and others, “Orwell” covers a wide range of topics from the depoliticizing of the American public at the hands of the infotainment-oriented “news” agencies to the widespread media consolidation following the sweeping deregulations of the Reagan era. [END] Permalink: Orwell Rolls in His Grave
The Vietnam war was about communism and the “domino theory,” “they” say. Then again, some of the same “them” also say that today’s so-called “war on terror” is about terrorism and “fightin’ ‘em over there so we don’t have to fight ‘em over here.” This gem from the Criterion Collection explores other ideas about the United States’ financial and military involvement in the war to control the natural resources and people (“human resources”) of southeast Asia, and relates various accounts of individuals connected with it in some way. [END] Permalink: Hearts and Minds
This incredibly frank Vietnam war documentary takes a bold look at the outrageously cynical political maneuvering behind the United States’ military involvement in Southeast Asia, first as a financial and political backer of imperial France, then as an installer of various puppet regimes, and finally through the stupefying and horrific violence of the many years of combat which followed. No matter how much or how little you may know about the Vietnam war, “Vietnam: American Holocaust” is simply not to be missed. [END] Permalink: Vietnam: American Holocaust
In 1992, Brian Springer spent months cruising the back channels of satellite TV feeds and came up with hours and hours of “news behind the news” which were to be edited out by the networks. His documentary, “Spin,” demonstrates how TV personalities act when they don’t think anyone’s watching and the careful perception management that goes into the crafting of the American political landscape. With a special focus on the Bush-Clinton-Perot presidential race, “Spin” will probably give you new insights into modern democracy. [END] Permalink: Spin
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