I’ve learned in my publication class that Images are often the deciding factor if one will read the article attached to it. Or buying a magazine.
Meaning, if you have a really powerful image, there will be a higher chance that people will read the article next to it.
I guess… that’s why I’m in Photography major.
I’m learning to make stunning images so that people will read what God has to say. It doesn’t make sense to me, because God’s words are so powerful you don’t need anything attached to it. But sadly, people are not interested in what God has to say. Just like how people need to see miracles before they want to consider (not even decide) if they want to listen to God.
I watched a video about the origin of … I don’t know what you will call it, I personally think it’s advertising but… they call it public relations. It’s about how Edward Bernays, after recognizing the potential of his uncle Sigmund Freud’s theory of the inner irrational desires of self, succeeded in manipulating the masses into buying things they didn’t need… by tapping onto their inner irrational desires.
The most famous example was how he got American women to smoke, when in those days, it was taboo for women to do so. A client of his was asking him if he could make the women smoke so that cigarettes could be sold to a wider audience.
Bernays persuaded a group of rich women to hide cigarettes under their clothes and attend a yearly parade in which thousands of Americans would attend. He also instructed them to light up their cigarettes dramatically at his cue, when they are in the parade. Bernays then told the press that he had heard a group of debutante were going to protest by lighting up their ‘torches of freedom’. He knew the press and all the photographers would be there to capture the moment. And he even got ready the phrase, “torches of freedom”. The idea was to make cigarettes a symbol of male power (penis) and that if women can smoke them, it’s a symbol of challenging the male power. In Sigmund Freud’s idea, it is how women can now have their own penises. (For this you have to read Sigmund Freud’s writings on Penis Envy in women)
This is the start of advertising, propaganda, manipulation and mass consumerism.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8953172273825999151#
This is the link to the documentary of Edward Bernays by BCC.
And there you have it, manipulation of the masses. Done, by reaching out to the inner desires that you may not even have noticed. Advertising firms, giant corporations and politicians have used it. And it’s evident everywhere in our world. Ever wondered why when you think of sports shoes, you only could think of a few brands? And the most common brand is Nike. The power of image and words.
This is an exhausting topic… I wish I could elaborate it… but it’s better for you to find out yourself from the experts (via documentary videos i.e BCC Documentary series, writings, essays and books).
My knowledge is so limited. If we can expose all these, if we can understand the workings of our minds and hearts, if we can be more aware of these tactics and psychological abuse done by money-making bullies, if we can be better informed, if we can be trusted to make the best decisions for ourselves… we wouldn’t be abused mentally, psychologically, emotionally and physically.
