uploading dissonance

Uploading Dissonance

Overview• YouTube and the US occupation of Iraq –

Christenseno Propaganda vs. public diplomacyo Noopolitik

• Amateur Photojournalism and the Myth of Media Democracy – Nemanico 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 by US

Defense Departmento “boots on ground

perspective”

3 Types of Videos

oStreet fightingoSurgical warfare oGood deeds

Steetfighting

Surgical Warfare

“Good Deeds”

Good deeds? – Opposing Content

Good deeds? – Apache Kills

Traditional Propaganda

Propaganda vs. public diplomacy

• Propagandistic Dissonance• Realpolitik and noopolitik• What we see here is noopolitik—

o Control over thoughto “deliberate, regulated decontrolo 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 oWe’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 democracyo 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?

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?