I never knew I was being manipulated, deceived, and controlled. I was brainwashed. I believe what I see. I believe what I hear. Is there truth? Is it all spectacle? Who is in control? How can a thirty-minute news brief on the world completely change my opinions and beliefs? How can reading a certain newspaper every day control my political views.
I am twenty-four years old, and I’m ashamed to say that the newspaper I read and the news channel I watch have controlled my worldviews. For some reason I was naive enough to believe what they were telling me was true. I never realized that the media were telling different stories for different reasons, not merely informing me but manipulating me.
As I examine these issues, I realize that, as designers, we play a large part in this game of deception. We create in order to influence opinions, attitudes, and behavior. Our power to communicate is then strategically used by the government and the media to control society’s thoughts and opinions. In essence, the United States government is constantly running an enormous advertising campaign.
Since the War on Iraq began in 2001, my opinion on the war has changed countless times. If I read an article about how the war is affecting the Iraqi people—all the death and destruction—I am automatically inclined to be anti-war; however, if I read a story about the attacks on 9/11, it obviously has the reverse effect. These stories manipulate my beliefs, and they are just minor examples of what can be seen or heard through the media every day. We are constantly fed stories that change our trains of thought and what we believe to be true.
At what point does the media decide to promote the misrepresentations and deception of the government? The war is glorified on television, with powerful theme music and close-ups of brave soldiers fighting for our country. I recently saw a report about an ad campaign for Bush where he makes a speech in front of what appears to be a crowd of dedicated soldiers but is in fact cloned Photoshop images. Is that considered news? The war has been covered like a huge sporting event, with the most brilliant advertising campaign in history. Why do most forms of media allow themselves to be puppets of the government? Freedom of speech and freedom of the press are our rights as United States citizens; unfortunately, there is no clause for government manipulation of those freedoms. Everything is filtered and controlled by the government.
In the 2004 presidential campaign over a billion dollars were spent on advertising. The ads are filled with paid actors and stock footage to glorify the candidates and to attack them as well. In efforts to reach all audiences, the Bush team made national cable buys on Fox News, CNN, ESPN, and others. So, in actuality, the Bush organization used its power and money to buy support from media that is supposed to give us real news, not a pro-Bush or pro-war campaign.
It seems to me that our society is almost more receptive to exaggerated stories than actually hearing the facts. We want the evocative images and drama, truth doesn’t seem to sell as well. Why is that? Before we know it the news channels are just going to be another version of Entertainment Tonight.
As a designer, I have a hard time understanding when and where it is ok to create false truths for the public. Why don’t we demand truth? Why do designers become tools for the government’s propaganda? Why do we become followers and not leaders? If society’s beliefs stem from what they read every day in the newspaper, what they watch on the news, or listen to on the radio, then we as creatives—designers, writers, art directors, and photographers—are essentially creating what their beliefs are based on.
Marissa Kraxberger is a student at Portfolio Center. This essay is the third in a series by PC students who took part in Bryony’s long-distance Design Thinking class during the quarter of winter 2005.
Maintaining the free flow of information is one of the extremely difficult, yet critically important tasks of citizens in a democratic republic. It’s not easy being diligent in scrutinizing the information you receive. It’s much easier to just accept what’s fed to you.
However, I don’t think it’s fair to assume that everything you don’t agree with is a “false truth”. Nor do I know of any designers who willingly or knowingly create “false truths”. In my circle of friends, all of whom I respect a great deal, there is a wide array of strongly held positions on matters ranging from politics to religion. On one hand, I can’t accept some of the things they hold to be true. On the other hand, they do so from a point of view that is sincere, based in their own experiences and understanding of the truth.
In a vital society, you shouldn’t have to agree with everything that is being said. You do have to be able to monitor what is being said, however, and to have the conviction to continue the discussion. While it may seem that a certain media “controls” the information we receive, there are outlets for free speech that previous societies could have never imagined.
Designers do have a great responsibility in this matter, and it’s great that you recognize that. But not everyone involved with it is playing a game of deception.
On Apr.05.2005 at 09:10 AM