Monday, January 29, 2007

Orwellian ideology hidden within '24'

A great article I came across today, one exposing some propaganda in the show on Fox called 24. The article, "The Orwellian Ideology of 24" by Matt McCaffrey, further supports my argument that the most dangerous propaganda is the kind people don't think they're being subject to - like a harmless, prime time television show. On Fox.

McCaffrey brings to our attention how "[24] pushes the absurd dichotomy of 'state vs. terrorist' — the 'You are either with us or against us' mentality. No room is left for anyone who genuinely cares about the preservation of personal liberty." And with various examples of this being reported and documented, this is true in today's Bush-led republic.

McCaffrey also points out that " [24] glamorizes the illegal actions of the state and convinces the viewer first, that Americans are always at risk from all manner of terrorists, and second, that the only thing preventing these potential disasters are the adrenaline-fueled adventures of federal agents."

Even a commercial is tied into this ridiculous glamorization of federal agents. In the commercial a new cell phone (one used by the characters in the show) is shown, then a voice asks, "Do you want to cruise the streets like a government agent?" Oh, yes indeed, I do! Can I rape personal freedoms too?