Noam Chomsky’s Propaganda Model is a theory "that alleges systemic biases in the mass media and seeks to explain them in terms of structural economic causes"(Wikipedia). In short companies (the government) have products (or political views) in which they put to market in the world of mass media. In the film Manufacturing Consent, Chomsky was able to manipulate the film to use various forms of the propaganda model within his own film.
The application of the propaganda model to his film was very compelling as he used nostalgic film clips of the past paired with what I can only describe as the “voice of reason” from 1950’s style living and learning films. The films in themselves were real life propaganda forms used to teach families about manners and other miscellaneous topics of concern in that time period. These films were used as an arena of social control at the time and Chomsky used of these clips in a mockery way. These clips were used to debunk the meanings and intent behind the films and show them for their true nature.
The result had a similar effect as propaganda would have on it’s everyday audience, Chomsky was able to send a strong clear message in a way that was bias to his opinion, and convincing to the consumer viewing the film. Chomsky in this sense used what some would call “Culture Jamming” to show just how easy it is to be employed by propaganda and to help the audience identify the legacy propaganda holds within the history of the United States.
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