Uploading Dissonance

Overview YouTube and the US occupation of Iraq – Christensen o Propaganda vs. public diplomacy o Noopolitik Amateur Photojournalism and the Myth of Media Democracy – Nemanic o Grassroots journalism o Media democracy—does it exist? Examples Questions/Areas of exploration

Christensen: YouTube and the US Occupation of Iraq MNFIRAQ – what is it? o YouTube channel 2007 o US Defense Department o “boots on ground perspective” of war o Sanitized version of war o No profanity, graphic/disturbing content

3 Types of Videos o Street fighting o Surgical warfare o Good deeds

Steetfighting Typical gun battle scenes Enemy always initiating contact US Soldiers defending/ returning fire Calm & Collected manner No results or casualties shown

Surgical Warfare Involves bombing from helicopter or airplane Destroy selected targets (terrorists, weapons) that posses threat Very accurate and precise Again no carnage shown

“Good Deeds” Christensen – “Feel good material” Display troops in positive light Show good relations between citizens & troops Ex – Shaking hands, playing with kids, laughing

Good deeds? – Opposing Content Example of propagandistic dissonance YouTube decentralized nature Opposing content makes propaganda difficult Level of control much more difficult Alternative clips appear side by side

Good deeds? – Apache Kills Shows high power ammunition Body part exploded Shows wounded person Propaganda relies on censorship US soldiers uploading own clips disrupts this

Traditional Propaganda Nazi Germany clip YouTube, Google Video, didn’t exist No alternative view Easier to implement propaganda

Propaganda vs. public diplomacy

Propagandistic Dissonance Realpolitik and noopolitik What we see here is noopolitik— o Control over thought o “deliberate, regulated decontrol o Noopolitik may ultimately be about whose story wins 159

In what other ways are we exposed to “noopolitik” propaganda?

Magazines and Advertising For corporate gain o We’re more sensitive to government propaganda but advertising is just as prominent Bernays—propaganda vs. public relations, sound familiar?

“Must-haves”, “Perfect dresses” etc VS

Media dissonance

Media myths: Good Girl vs. Bad Girl VS

Militainment

TV Shows Glorified view of government organizations

“But in the war over public opinion, video-sharing sites such as YouTube and Google video have, it appears, begun to restructure the balance of story- telling power” o Christensen 173 Has it really?

“Amateur Photojournalism and the Myth of the Media Democracy”

Question for the class Is photojournalism dead?

Yes? Because: Professional photojournalists push corporate agenda Biased Fake/staged images

But Nemanic says No… Digital Divide Photojournalism requires education, talent, experience Professional images= superior quality Photojournalist more willing to take risks for greater images Civilian journalism is short lived—edges on sensationalism

G20 – citizen perspective

G20 – CTV perspective

Grass roots – “ involving the common people” o Princeton Wordnet Media democracy o global social movement developed to open up mass media to a range of ideas and diverse voices that are repressed through media ownership o But these are two separate things! Idea of authenticity

Occupy Wall Street

Are these images more authentic than…

Culture and Citizen Journalism Audience appropriation and modification of media texts John Fiske culture—“an active process of generating and circulating meanings and pleasures within the social system” Audience interests are short lived

Discussion: Is this citizen journalism? Bed Intruder- original news report Bed Intruder Song – audience appropriation

Media democracy?

Censorship?

Further questions Do you agree with Nemanic? Can citizen and professional journalists work together? How does/can one complement the other?

Final conclusions?