Conspiracy Reality
The World, The Media, Our Minds, & The Men Who Control Them.
I had just exhaled a rather large puff of smoke from the rickety old Shisha beside me, adding my own contribution to the already huge cloud hovering above the cafe. As I watched the swirls and dances of the smoke as it collided with other exhalations and the gentle breeze coming from the street, my mind sank back into what had been troubling me for quite a while. Reality, illusion, conspiracy, the effect of the media, how what occupies most minds (most of the time) is either trivial or an irrational fear. There are hundreds of more important topics to think about, but the powers that be have turned us into blind sheep. Then I thought about writing an article about this. Maybe it would go on to affect thousands, then millions. Perhaps, just perhaps, one day there will be a DVD (or whatever other media technology is available in those days) about my contribution to the awakening of the masses. I could see in my head the discussions with my former classmates, teachers, friends, girlfriends, colleagues. Some would say "He was quite different", others would declare "I always felt he would do something good for the world." Then there might even be a Bonus Disc on the DVD, with excerpts from my writings, short stories, music, etc, and I think it would be essential to include some old pictures of me, especially if I look really serious and intense. Definitely though, the song of the closing credits would have to be "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
"But wait a second. How much had I already been affected? What exactly makes me feel more comfortable in these designer jeans? Why am I addicted to diet Pepsi? Do I really believe everything I hear in the news? Has my mind already been conditioned by corporations and governments??"
Suddenly I was flung far from my comfortable seat at the café as a truck slammed into me; the driver was my own hypocritical stupidity. It's much more serious than I thought. With another long exhalation of smoke I desperately whispered "fuuuuuuck".
We are all part of the mass media generation. At literally every stage of the day we are opening our eyes, our ears, and our minds to the influence of those who can afford to influence. We trust the media. Headlines from a newspaper in the morning, a radio station in your car, hundreds of billboards on your drive home, a little TV with a few silly commercials to relax after a hard days work. We trust the media, not necessarily to give us the best or tell the complete truth, but trust at least, that their agenda is not hidden, we assume everything is laid out on the table for us to clearly analyze and interpret. That was our first mistake...
But WHYYYYY?
Simply because when it comes to the media, you are not dealing with people, you are dealing with entities. A person is relatively sane, has his own worries, fears, passions, goals, and to some extent a conscience. Groups of people tend to lose focus on individuality and tend to become a herd. Corporations, however, are entities in their own right, as far from humanity as possible.
"A corporation is a legal entity which, while being composed of natural persons, exists completely separately from them." - Wikipedia
They are required by law to maximize returns to shareholders, enjoying an inhumane clarity of purpose. Corporations, which the famous social analyst Noam Chomsky calls "Devilish Instruments", don't answer to God, morality, or any sense of ethics, no matter how cute, cuddly, and socially aware they want you to believe they are. Aside from religious and charity based corporations, most run as a money making business that offers a certain product. If you are curious to know the complete inhumane aspects of some of the biggest corporations, I recommend reading 'The Corporation' by Joel Bakan, yet for the purpose of this article we shall analyze the effect of the Corporation on media. Yes, that media we trust so blindly...
Advertising
"Advertising is the greatest art form of the 20th century."
- Marshall McLuhan
Ok, so a bunch of good-natured people have thought up an idea for a product, they declare the company public and suddenly it becomes this viscous monster? Well, that's not that far from the truth, because the next step in the process is to get your product out and create a demand for it through advertising, the art of convincing people they need your product, even if they really don't. Essentially it wasn't this bad, with the main goal simply being to attract attention to your service or product. Let's look at how this original idea got screwed up and replaced with dishonesty and underhanded techniques.
Subliminal Advertising
They could have just stuck to dancing chickens and beautiful women running on the beach, but no. They had to bring the mind-fuckers in to sell even more of their useless products and take us one step closer to being sheep with credit cards.
"A subliminal message is a signal or message embedded in another object, designed to pass below the normal limits of perception. These messages are indiscernible to the conscious mind, but are alleged to be perceptible to the subconscious or deeper mind"
- Wikipedia
It's a generally known fact in the advertising world that sex sells. Even appealing to our conscious mind with hot people frolicking around half-naked with a shampoo bottle, we may not immediately rush out and buy the product, but the ad is arousing and entertaining, and we ultimately tie these good feelings with the product from then on. Over time, advertisers began to discover the effects of subliminal words and images. So now, when we open a newspaper, magazine, watch TV, or drive over the 6th of October bridge, our subconscious is bombarded with these images and words that creep deviously into our minds.
It's a fact that the people responsible for the mass advertising campaigns of big corporations have someone on board who understands human psychology and especially subconsious effects of certain images. They found that placing sexual images discreetly (see below!) makes people want the product and placing images of death or torture makes people think that they can't live with it, the latter being most often used in products like cigarretes and alcohol.
Seems fine...
(Notice the guy with the peculiar erection?)
(Notice the chick about to give a blowjob?)
Seemingly innocent until we flip it...
(you dirty bastards!)
There are dozens more examples along this same theme available, some more obvious than others. The idea is, if no one points these things out, you would probably have never consciously noticed them, which is a pretty unsettling thought. Some corporations do not want to run the risk of actually embedding suggestive words and images into their products, but that doesn't mean they don't use subliminals. Let me introduce you to the Line of Beauty, a certain curve that resembles the female form, produces similar sub-conscious excitement and exists just about anywhere you look...
Yes, they all have the squigly 'line of beauty'..
Ok, so that's your eyes taken care of by the devils spawn, but did you think they forgot you guys can hear? I introduce to you the art of Backmasking.
"Backmasking is an audio technique in which sounds are recorded backwards onto a track that is meant to be played forwards." -Wikipedia
As with hidden images and words, the theory is that the mind, on some level, recognizes and understands the backwards message. This technique is highly questionable and its effectiveness has yet to be proven, yet corporations, most recently Kellogs, still backmask dirty language into their seemingly innocent ads.
Product Placement
Though the advertising world blushes and gives an embarrassed look when questioned about their subliminal efforts, their involvement in product placement is well documented and official. Weather in TV Shows, movies, or video clips, don't for one second think all those products that get on screen haven't paid a hefty sum to be there. Here are some examples of some sneaky products placed in big budget movies:
Castaway: FedEx
Back to the Future: Delorian Cars, Pepsi
I, Robot: Converse Trainers, Audi Cars
You've got mail: Apple Laptops
In some way, this is a form of subliminal advertising because you are not expecting to see advertisements, but they are affecting you anyway. Companies pay filmmakers amounts to include their product depending on how long they it will remain in shot, how good is the context they're being used in, does the hero use it, and so forth. It has reached a point now where entire films and shows are being created as a marketing tool for many products. Here in Egypt, the television and film industry have less experience with product placement, but it still happens a lot. For example, Sony paid truckloads to have most of their products (Playstation, TV, Walkman, etc) in WAMA's video 'Tihlifly Asadda'ak' to give their brand an Egyptian feel. Here are a few other examples from local films:
Tito – Vodafone, FedEx
Snakes & Ladders – Sakkara, Marlboro, Coca Cola
Billboards
To some extent, you are partly responsible for inviting advertisements in, for as soon as you turn on the TV, open a magazine, or go to the movies, you are given the corporations the trust that they exploit. Yet what if I am a paranoid freak who has isolated myself from the mass media world? I'm just driving to work or taking a nice walk, but still I am haunted by advertisements of cars, drinks, shampoos, and chocolate everywhere I look.
The billboard industry has become huge, with space being sold according to the location and frequency of onlookers. There is one particular stretch on 6th of October, coming from Masr el Gedida, right before the downtown exit. You know what I'm taking about! In the middle of the dozen other billboards there is a giant picture of a man in his underwear. Why, I ask? Why, you bastards??
The New Frontiers
- The World Wide Web
How wonderful the internet is, so full of information and connecting people from all over the world! Matter of fact, most of the information in this article comes from reputable sources on the net. Yet the advertising population immediately saw this virtual world as a potentially huge market and have invaded us once again in the form of annoying popups, false links, spam, and now weblogs! Sources say that some of the big corporations have actually hired talented bloggers to rave inconspicuously about their products, in exchange for cash and gifts! Ahhh!
- Video Games
As the gaming population increases with the power of the technology, prices have begun to soar on virtual product placement in 3D games like Taxi and GTA. This is thanks to a company called Massive, which has pioneered game product placement for major corporations. "As you move through levels and zones you'll see fresh advertising," says Massive chief executive Mitchell Davis. "You might see an ad for Mötley Crüe one minute and for T-Mobile the next."
- Sponsored people??
If you find yourself waiting desperately for Starbucks to open here in Egypt, you may thank celebrities like Ben Afleck and Jennifer Garner. Apparently the couple have signed a seven figure contract with the coffee house to drink their coffees publicly!
Scratching the Surface
Up until this point we've been discussing relative trivialities. "Ok, so what if 'The Man' is messing with my head about products, so what if I end up spending a bit more on things I don't really need, or even want?" Well make sure you're strapped in because now we're going to be talking about something much, much more serious.
WHY IS 'BULLY' ADVERTISING RELEVANT?
- Because it is the controlling arm of the big corporations over the other little corporations, the media, and the people. Most of the big corporations have shares, and therefore control over the media, therefore we find ourselves innocently opening our mind to whatever they want us to believe.
- The more effective the mass brainwashing (I mean advertising) is, the more you buy, the more their system works. They are succeeding in convincing everyone that life is about making as much money as you can so you can run out and buy all their cool products, with no time to think about what exactly is happening.
Take a second. Breathe deep and clear your mind. Let's assume that there is an invisible hand running the world. Matter of fact, that may be too conspiracy theory for you. Let's just assume that the people who have power (presidents, banks, etc) operate somewhat like God...in mysterious ways. Let's assume that they have our best intentions in mind, and like everyone else, they just want to bring the world to peace and unity. Do you honestly believe that if these assumptions were true, we would be in the shit we are in today? Why are we being constantly assured that we are 'being taken care of' by the people in power, when a big portion of the world is in misery? Why is the news filled either with trivialities or terror? Why are countries around the world in debt to banks, thereby giving them control over our destiny? Most importantly, why are we not doing anything about all this??
"In order that the masses may not guess what they themselves are about, we further distract them with amusements, games, pastimes, passions, extravagance and wealth....Growing more and more disaccustomed to reflect and form any opinion of their own, people will begin to talk in the same tone as we because we alone shall be offering them new directions for thought."
- The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
The answer is still the same, because we trust the media. Unfortunately then, that it has prevailed as their most powerful weapon. I don't want to get into conspiracy theories about secret societies, the Zionist control over world banks, or things to that effect. There is more than enough reading material on the internet if you are interested in that kind of thing, which you really should be. The point is, whichever way you want to look at it and whoever you choose to blame, there is no escaping the fact that the world is run by money, and the money is controlled by the private banks. What I want to discuss are the disturbing facts behind the controlled media.
Just to get a broad picture of the level of control we are all under, let's take a look at the tower of power:
"Spin", 'Lift & View', & Prepared News Stories
It would be absurd to assume that all the news is wrong, they know better than to make blatant lies all the time. However, their aim of manipulation and misdirection is achieved through certain crafty techniques which most of the time go unnoticed:
"There is no such thing, at this date of the world's history in America, as an independent press You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dare to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the street looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my' paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone. The business of the journalist is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities, and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes. - John Swinton, former chief of staff, The New York Times, in a 1953 speech before the New York Press Club
Prepared News Stories, Lift & View
The best way to start analyzing the route news stories take to reach us is obviously at the beginning. While the world has developed a sort of loathing for annoying 'investigative' reporting, contradictorily we also have respect for the work they do to bring us the truth. The real truth, however, is that in the world of politics, economics, and world news there is not much investigative journalism. The top Newspapers (New York Times, Washington post, etc) and the biggest news networks (CNN, NBC, etc) are owned almost entirely by the same big corporations, which dictate the kinds of news they announce through Prepared News Stories. The same goes for the BBC and other British broadcasting. These are kind of like press releases that include all the information, quotes, etc regarding an event or meeting.
This is why these networks and papers are the 'leaders' of the information and we trust them so damn much for that. What then happens is a well known journalistic term called 'Lift & View', whereby other news stations & papers all around the world collect this information from the 'leaders' and repackage it to their audience. There are entire sections of news organization devoted to picking up information from others, which wouldn't really be so bad if the others weren't feeding them bullshit.
Bias, Neglected Information & Spin
"Spin: to cause to have a particular bias; influence in a certain direction"
If the world is really being run by the devil incarnate, then Public Relations is its hunchbacked helper. I find it unbelievable that there can exist a field whose sole purpose is to use 'spin' to make an organization or government look good. These 'Spin Doctors' are behind all of the speeches you hear from politicians and corporations, bending truths and choosing phrases that make their employers look like the most innocent people in the world. One example for this is the repetitive use of the word 'terrorist' by networks like CNN after 9/11, the use of the word 'evil' in all of George Bush's speeches, etc...
Bias is everywhere in the news, but most importantly at wartime when it turns into propaganda. CNN was accused of 'cheerleading' the Bush 'War on terrorism' and the following invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. They rally the brave peacekeepers of the US with songs and round the clock coverage, yet fail to maintain consistent body counts and images of the violence. This bias was maintained all along the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Israeli-Lebanon war.
The neglect to mention certain information is taken to a whole different level by not investigating entire stories. Shouldn't the news be keeping us updated on what's going on in our world? So why then is it filled either with stories that frighten (terrorism, disease) or stories that are completely irrelevant (Michael Jackson rapes a boy, Beniffer, etc)? Wouldn't it make more sense to do some real investigative reporting and uncover the hidden powers of the world, like the private banks?
Kill the Messenger
"You can only kill the messenger, but you cannot kill the message"
- Ken Saro-Wiwa, a famed activist and writer before he was murdered
What I have been trying to outline is levels of control and influence on the media, not to say that the people within the media organizations are evil. They are just like you and me, ordinary people with jobs, but because of their profession they are being constantly manipulated, bribed, fired, threatened...and killed. The media death toll this year comes to 127, most of them embedded in Iraq. There have been numerous allegations of embedding 'puppet' journalists for creating misleading news stories, so obviously if they don't comply the easiest thing is to kill them, since they're in a war zone anyway and no one will get suspicious. Then there was the slaughter of journalists at the yet to launch Iraqi station Al Shaabiya, before it had even broadcast a single program. Yet not all of those killed have been in war zones, some, like Russian anti-Putin journalist Anna Politkovskaya and 9\11 investigator Hunter S. Thompson, who were killed in their living rooms, labeled as 'suicides'...
Mind Control??
Don't cringe, it's very possible. We have already talked about the advertising world going crazy with subliminals; the more disturbing idea is that they are probably way behind governments on mind control. After all, they just want to sell a product; God knows what the people in real power want to do...
Let me introduce you to MK Ultra.
"Project MKULTRA (also known as MK-ULTRA) was the code name for a CIA mind-control research program that began in the 1950s. There is much published evidence that the project involved not only the use of drugs to manipulate persons, but also the use of electronic signals to alter brain functioning." – Wikipedia
Still cringing? Well let me tell you about something else you may not know. In the 2000 election, a campaign video for candidate and future president George Bush flashed a frame of the word 'RATS' as he was attacking his democratic opponent, an obvious subliminal message. They claimed this to be a technical error...
*RATS Picture
The 'free' media in Egypt
Throughout this article I have given focus to Western media, simply because it's the most influential worldwide. With the integration of satellite and media networks like Orbit and Showtime (both owned by businessmen and corporations) here in Egypt, the western media, with all its mystery and motive, has infiltrated our minds too. Yet switch to Egyptian stations or papers, and you realize that you've jumped from a pile of shit to a puddle of mud...
Though we have come a long way from our past governmental chokehold on the media, we are far from being considered a 'free' press. Matter of fact, I'm praying to God right now that this article will pass the obligatory online censorship. There's your lack of freedom right there, because even after the current president (I can't even say his name) revoked the ban on opposition papers he kept the government council which strictly supervises the media and now online websites and blogs. This council indirectly limits the circulation of opposition papers, imprisons bloggers who 'cross the line' and was also responsible for giving the big guy more airtime during the last 'elections' than his rivals. By the way, if I end up 'missing' in the future, remember me well...
My future kidnapping aside, there are a few other aspects of Egyptian media I wish to discuss. Firstly, the spin they always put on Muslim-Coptic conflicts, the latest being the Alexandria incident. Whenever an attack occurs, the perpetrator is always dubbed a 'madman' to neglect the tensions on both sides and make it seem like it was a singled out event."Certain papers speak of a madman. I don't believe a word. It is propaganda to silence us and to make us believe it is an individual incident," said Karim, a 78-year-old Copt at the funeral.
Secondly, and most importantly, is the current state of government television. We find it a constant victim of humor between us, making fun of the pathetic and mind numbing series and shows. But have you ever stopped to think about the effect of this programming on the masses? Have you ever thought about how these kinds of shows can keep us hypnotized and dormant? Why aren't there more serious political and social shows? To whose benefit is that? Just a thought...
A Final Thought
This may all come as a surprise to you, or you may have been aware of it to an extent. The truth is, there are some really dodgy things happening with the media, which reflects what's happening in the world, and I felt that it was my duty to bring your attention to it. Media is a beautiful medium that has the potential to both entertain and unite us all, as long as it escapes the control it's currently under. Till that happens, open your eyes, search for the truth, and spread the message...
Read not to contradict or refute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider.
- Sir Francis Bacon