View Full Version : Hollywood War Propaganda!


Ishmael
Wed, 17th Dec '03, 5:07am
Ok Here is a tricky poll: Whoever gives the best example gets one of me ma's strawberry-rhubarb pies.

We all know that countless war movies come out of hollywood and that they all present a certain spin on American wars and American foreign policies etc. No one can argue with this, and thus THAT IS NOT THE TOPIC!

The topic is this: Name a hollywood movie that promotes the American war machine (What other war machine would it promote?) that is NOT A WAR MOVIE. It's so gratifying to pick these out because they are often very subtle.

My Example: In Hulk with Eric Bana, the US Army is chasing hulk through the desert with helicopters. The propoganda: 1) The helicopters featured in that movie are not currently in the Army arsenal, but the Army is lobbying for access to that technology. 2) The Choppers are chasing Hulk through the desert, he is dodging stinger missiles left right and centre, all the while the soundrack played is Arabic Folk Music! This promotes the Normality of US choppers flying around Arabic deserts launching missiles! This is not much a strech, folks.

If you don't think this idea is stupid, please present to me your best Hollywood Non-War War Propoganda!

Grovflab
Wed, 17th Dec '03, 12:30pm
Hmmm, then why does their .50 cal hmg sound like a wasp trapped in a bottle? This is one of the nasties infantry weapons around, and I know for sure it sound VERY different from what you hear in the movie.

Shralp
Wed, 17th Dec '03, 6:23pm
I think the reason they're playing Arabic Folk Music is to subtly imply that Arabs will grow to 12 feet tall and smash things if you anger them. I have at least as much evidence as you. :1eye:

Actually, I know that guy who did military advising on the Hulk (Nick Teta, he's in the credits). He's a Navy Seal and to my knowledge he has nothing to do with the Army or military procurement in general.

ejsmith
Thu, 18th Dec '03, 1:35am
This is not much a strech, folks.Ok. I'm going to call it a kneed, then. Like what you do with dough before you let it rise.

Seriously. There are some subliminal messages which my brain just isn't advanced enough to absorb. I think there's quite a few other people who are just as "immune" to this as I.

However, I did notice on the movie Aladdin that Disney changed a couple of lines to the song. Um. And then kept the originals in the soundtrack that I bought. :)

[ December 18, 2003, 01:53: Message edited by: ejsmith ]

Ishmael
Sun, 21st Dec '03, 8:58pm
That's how a subliminal message works. If you don't notice it, then it has an impact. It is only when you make a consious note of it, that you can decide whether to accept or reject the message.

Manus
Mon, 22nd Dec '03, 4:00am
That's right, it's about all the seperate images which our brains connect together to form a cogent message, or about something that we don't notice at all so it registers in our sub-concious, super-ceding our rationality as it acts upon our thoughts.

Not surprising that this happens actually, Hollywood is one of the most pervasive medias of information in existence, you get those movies everywhere.

It doesn't even have to be deliberate, it is just the case that if a movie is made by a supporter or someone culturally indoctrinated in the American war machine -or anything else for that matter- then his perceptions will be transposed to the film, which in turn registers in our subconcious. Doesn't mean they are conspiring, so don't raise your hackles folks ;)

I think it is really pointless debating whether this can be proved or not, the fact that it is subliminal means that it could not be proved- but this certainly doesn't mean it isn't happenning.

Mystra's Chosen
Mon, 22nd Dec '03, 8:25am
indoctrinated in the American war machine -or anything else for that matter- then his perceptions will be transposed to the film But I think the supporters are more subtle in their "propaganda". When there's a movie that shows the anti side to America, it's usually dedicated to it. :)