Manifestoon- Blog #5

In Jesse Drew's short film "Manefestoon", the struggle between classes, the influence of mass production and the ever-strengthening pressures from the bourgeoisie class to conform and consent are addressed. Similar to Chomsky's propaganda model, in which the public is controlled, manipulated and influenced by the media, Marx reproaches the world's tendency towards and approach to mass- production and limited personal value. Chomsky illuminates the public's tendency to choose conformity rather than obstruct the norm. This is exactly what Marx warns against; in his concluding paragraph he demands, "workers of all countries unite". He fears for the elimination of honor and respect for workers in light of the machine and the increasing spread of production. The lack of personal and emotional presence, aspects caused by both mass media and mass production spur Chomsky and Marx to call for an understanding and awareness of the resulting 'prescribed' social structure. Both men claim an increasing lack of personal awareness, forethought and intuition; the need for change is thus apparent. With mass media, personal thought, interpretation and delineation are forgotten in favor of a comfortable and unquestioning acceptance of what 'appears ' to be. Likewise, the spread of production to all parts of the world reduces individual value and contribution due to a common trend towards blending in and being an undefined portion of the mass. Both men see the downside of losing individuality and interpretation to the large corporation and demand the recognition of personal decline.
In conclusion, the conformities of society discussed in both cases prompt the reader and viewer, respectively, to ponder their personal worth and standing within the social order. If one can easily lose the truth to propaganda and their contributions of labor to the machine and mass production, then what values and what virtues do they offer the world and their culture?