This film could not shock, amaze or confound any intelligent American citizen that has survived the legacy of the Bush family. What did shock, amaze & outrage was the recent election that followed this saga into the same old, same old, sick sad tale of woe. How elected congressmen and women were dismissed out of turn, how congressional rules of conduct were flaunted and ignored needs to be documented. The Mses Bush senior have a PhD in manipulation of media and nasty little tricks. It is only through citizen journalism, web distribution of documentary film and relentless participation in YOUR government that we avoid armed confrontation with so called legally elected officials.
The websites, music videos, blogging, grassroots organizing, public speaking engagements and investigative journalism is never enough. The civil rights era demanded a sustained, determined effort with clearly stated goals. It is a disgrace that within less than 50 years we are still dealing with not only the right to vote, but the responsibility to honour all who fought to ensure this right. Our recent history proves that truth will out if we are willing to demand it be heard, by any means necessary.
Resoundingly, everyone needs to demand their constitutional right to vote. A functioning democracy demands vigilance. Complacency is a greater enemy than anyone person's political ambition. The Karl Roves are a symptom and not the disease that has infected the electoral process. Malcolm, Tupac, Ms McKinney and many others we have considered in this class all attempted to diagnose the madness let loose on a willfully ignorant public. Why do you think HOW to vote, HOW government works, HOW to organize is as elusive as a pirate map?
Of interest regarding our elected Congress; not ONE member of this legislative branch had a son or daughter serving in the military in a combat capacity when they voted to declare war. If the war on drugs failed, if the prisons are overwhelming filled with unemployed minorities, by all means find a war.If you place a value on your opinion having an effect on your world, these documentaries, websites and blogposts have offered a myriad of starting points. How disgraceful to consider President Obama as a one term wonder.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
American Blackout
How we determine the truth is through the analyzation of conjectures. Until we actively consult the inner cortical regions of our brain, propositions have no face. It's through careful analysis that we obtain truths in reality. Truth is so dependent on a truth-seeker, that without this medium, we have no truth. This is precisely why political documentaries have the power to inform.
In reality we are often presented with material that resembles factual content. How we determine a thing's authenticity is by its presentation. But, this is no indication of a thing's truth. Facts and truths remain disparate entities. A fact is conditional based on accepted theoretical knowledge. For example, it is a FACT that I typed on my keyboard to write this essay. In truth, I would say that this did actually happen. However, the TRUTH isn't necessary in stating this fact. Truth has no purpose other than to convince, or to fill a void of perceived untruths. For this matter, truth remains an interpersonal affair. Truth cannot be determined without a truth-seeking entity. For this, political documentaries are supremely effective sources for delivering quasi-truths. The truth of me typing on my keyboard rests in someone's belief in knowing that this occurred. My individual truth doesn't hold up.
American Blackout is a political documentary that unveils the realm of "truths" and "facts". In this film we see that facts can be disguised as truths with clever deceptive tactics. It is a fact that so and so won the primaries, but what about the truth? So often we place accepted facts as accepted truths, and we use them interchangeably. This is troublesome because some people are crazy. Some people believe there is factual evidence for our "intelligent design". But this is no indication of a truth.
In reality we are often presented with material that resembles factual content. How we determine a thing's authenticity is by its presentation. But, this is no indication of a thing's truth. Facts and truths remain disparate entities. A fact is conditional based on accepted theoretical knowledge. For example, it is a FACT that I typed on my keyboard to write this essay. In truth, I would say that this did actually happen. However, the TRUTH isn't necessary in stating this fact. Truth has no purpose other than to convince, or to fill a void of perceived untruths. For this matter, truth remains an interpersonal affair. Truth cannot be determined without a truth-seeking entity. For this, political documentaries are supremely effective sources for delivering quasi-truths. The truth of me typing on my keyboard rests in someone's belief in knowing that this occurred. My individual truth doesn't hold up.
American Blackout is a political documentary that unveils the realm of "truths" and "facts". In this film we see that facts can be disguised as truths with clever deceptive tactics. It is a fact that so and so won the primaries, but what about the truth? So often we place accepted facts as accepted truths, and we use them interchangeably. This is troublesome because some people are crazy. Some people believe there is factual evidence for our "intelligent design". But this is no indication of a truth.
"We'd rather hold onto the myth than fight for the reality"
Another disheartening film about how screwed up everything is. I think it's interesting to compare the way the media portrays the fringe left vs. the fringe right. And Cynthia McKinnon in all reality isn't even that much of a fringe person. How do right wing pundits get people to do what they want them to do?
I was struck by the scene where McKinnon is looking at her computer screen and Bush is winning by a landslide in the 2004 elections and she says something to the affect of, "they're very good at what they do, you have to give it to them."
I was horrified by the political strategist who was intent on decimating her reelection, it was as if she was a piece of game that he was hunting in one of his matching Hummers. I don't think the media talked enough about people who weren't allowed to vote. I remember the talk about hanging chads to the point that it was mind numbing.
Apathy doesn't only happen to the young or black. I feel like most Americans don't feel like the government truly represents them and it's a mystery as to how people get into office and then they seem incapable of solving the simplest of problems. It is ironic that after this election Obama did manage to get elected -- but one of the reasons that Obama did manage to get elected is that he's Christian. I know conservative Christians and others who voted for Obama and against Proposition 8.
While Republicans are currently fighting tax cuts for the middle class unless the wealthy also get tax cuts, they've blocked unemployment, and they're decimating health care one has to wonder what it is that makes poor people vote for them. If people really examined the issues they wouldn't support these people.
There was a study that came out right before election day that said young people weren't going to vote. They were disenchanted. They got all excited about Obama and allowed themselves to believe in him and then nothing seemed to happen. Personally, I feel like things would be a lot worse if Obama had lost and don't think that people should criticize him because if we do we're leaving ourselves open to a Republican win in 2012, but then I wonder if that's fair.
Sometimes it seems like the smarter people are the more they feel confused. I did a radio news piece about young people not voting in this last election after I learned that a 19 year old smart woman that I know didn't know who was running for Governor. I interviewed her and she said she didn't feel like she truly understood the issues. I hope she ended up voting but the process is really broken.
Here is the college students guide to voting. Which appears to have been written before the 2008 elections. It provides a useful guide about what the voting requirements are in every state. The League of Pissed Off Voters is cool, it appears to be in San Francisco only and founded in 2003. They're actually going to have a holiday party on December 8 which is a good example of using the virtual to facilitate face to face interaction.
There are also some resources here: the Freechild project and Millenial Politics and Mobilize.org.
I was struck by the scene where McKinnon is looking at her computer screen and Bush is winning by a landslide in the 2004 elections and she says something to the affect of, "they're very good at what they do, you have to give it to them."
I was horrified by the political strategist who was intent on decimating her reelection, it was as if she was a piece of game that he was hunting in one of his matching Hummers. I don't think the media talked enough about people who weren't allowed to vote. I remember the talk about hanging chads to the point that it was mind numbing.
Apathy doesn't only happen to the young or black. I feel like most Americans don't feel like the government truly represents them and it's a mystery as to how people get into office and then they seem incapable of solving the simplest of problems. It is ironic that after this election Obama did manage to get elected -- but one of the reasons that Obama did manage to get elected is that he's Christian. I know conservative Christians and others who voted for Obama and against Proposition 8.
While Republicans are currently fighting tax cuts for the middle class unless the wealthy also get tax cuts, they've blocked unemployment, and they're decimating health care one has to wonder what it is that makes poor people vote for them. If people really examined the issues they wouldn't support these people.
There was a study that came out right before election day that said young people weren't going to vote. They were disenchanted. They got all excited about Obama and allowed themselves to believe in him and then nothing seemed to happen. Personally, I feel like things would be a lot worse if Obama had lost and don't think that people should criticize him because if we do we're leaving ourselves open to a Republican win in 2012, but then I wonder if that's fair.
Sometimes it seems like the smarter people are the more they feel confused. I did a radio news piece about young people not voting in this last election after I learned that a 19 year old smart woman that I know didn't know who was running for Governor. I interviewed her and she said she didn't feel like she truly understood the issues. I hope she ended up voting but the process is really broken.
Here is the college students guide to voting. Which appears to have been written before the 2008 elections. It provides a useful guide about what the voting requirements are in every state. The League of Pissed Off Voters is cool, it appears to be in San Francisco only and founded in 2003. They're actually going to have a holiday party on December 8 which is a good example of using the virtual to facilitate face to face interaction.
There are also some resources here: the Freechild project and Millenial Politics and Mobilize.org.
Cynthia McKinney is on to something. Even if she has a tendency to make charges that she cannot always back up with sufficient proof to keep her detractors from skewing her message, she is on to something. The Republican crossover voters in Georgia who kept her off the Democratic Party ticket should be ashamed of their dirty tricks (and did you follow the seedy story behind the similarly funded Republican Trojan horse Alvin Greene as the nominal Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in South Carolina?) We need people to keep pushing the envelope—maybe Julian Assange and WikiLeaks will bring to light a few of these national skeletons hidden in the closet…
It is somewhat dispiriting to see how, even when the facts are laid out, people still refuse to believe. It is clear that because of the connivance of Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004 both presidential elections were stolen. Perhaps the second time Americans were just blindly following the old saying that in wartime “you shouldn’t switch horses midstream.” As a result, the worldwide economic mess, looted national treasury, and two completely unnecessary and murderous wars left behind by the George W. Bush administration were perhaps even more than the Republicans could stomach—maybe that’s why they allowed the ludicrous McCain-Palin ticket in 2008.
There were a spate of documentaries made during this period in addition to American Blackout, and Michael Moore hit several blockbuster homeruns, from Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, and Capitalism: A Love Story, to his first free movie on the Internet, Slacker Uprising. The public went to see them in droves, and they clearly had an impact on the political climate, but it may be questionable as to how long lasting the effects were. They undoubtedly helped to get Barak Obama, the first African-American president, elected. These and other such documentaries also methodically exposed the facts of repeated electoral fraud, the manipulation of events to wage unjustifiable wars in a shameless putsch for empire, allowing financial practices that ultimately resulted in international economic collapse, and pushing tax cuts and spending policies that exploded the national debt and increased the income and assets of the wealthiest 2% in the country.
So, it is hard to believe what has been happening of late. Just this weekend, and just in time for the Christmas holidays, Republican threats of filibuster in the lame-duck Senate were used to block the extension of unemployment benefits unless the Bush-era tax cuts for those earning over $1,000,000 (!!!) were extended. And the wars overseas continue, and the debt continues to rise, and the recently enacted modest reforms in health care are increasingly under attack in the courts, and the almost universally unpopular Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell policy in the military remains in place, etc., etc.
When I went online to check out relevant blogs and videos, I was genuinely shocked at how many were clearly right-wing, and how mean-spirited and downright racist many of them were as well. However, I did find a few good ones. I am not sure who The Young Turks are (see “Cenk’s Rant” below), but they certainly have an interesting viewpoint worth listening to. And, in spite of the fact that much was made of the fact that young voters turned out in relatively small numbers last month, as it happens the numbers have not been all that much different in past midterm elections (see “2010 Youth Turnout” below). Something about the sexiness of a presidential election seems to make the difference… And then there is music (see “Rock the Vote Artist: Tumbledown” below).
TheYoungTurks | November 02, 2010 | 3,020 likes | 145 dislikes
Cenk's Rant After 2010 Election Results
“That’s it—I was right. If anything, I am going to double down, because there was the faction within the progressive movement that said, “No, no, no—Play nice. The Democrats need to be supported, and if, you know, if you just support the Democrats enough, and you cheerlead for them, they will deliver, and they will win and they’ll do this, and they’ll do that…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDS2LScjkNc]
2010 Youth Turnout About 20%
Comparable to Recent Midterm Years
Jonathan M. Tisch
College of Citizenship and Public Service, Medford, MA – An estimated 20.4 percent of young Americans under the age of 30 voted in Tuesday’s midterm elections, compared to 23.5 percent in the last midterm election (2006). The change in the turnout rate is outside the margin of error (+/-2%), according to Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), the nation’s premier research organization on the civic and political engagement of young Americans. Almost nine million Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 voted. Almost 10 million people in the same age group voted in 2006. [http://www.civicyouth.org/youth-turnout-about-20-comparable-to-recent-midterm-years/]
Younger voters were racially diverse, voted democratic, and approved of President Obama. They were mostly a subset of the 2008 electorate, and they held mixed views on what to do about the economy. [http://www.civicyouth.org/youth-voters-in-the-2010-elections/]
Featured Rock the Vote Artist: Tumbledown
[http://www.rockthevote.org/music/featured-artist/]
“Arrested In El Paso Blues” by Tumbledown Album: “Empty Bottle” (Alternative—2:28)
Rock the Vote: What does the right to vote mean to you?
Mike of Tumbledown: It's my voice in this country. No matter what the outcome seems to be, knowing that I have or had a part in it is very important to me.
Rock the Vote: What change would you like to see in our society in the next year?
Mike of Tumbledown: I'd like politics to become less subservient to corporations and more policy based on the workers and backbone of America.
Jim McKinney
American Blackout
A political documentary is given power through its ability to convince the viewer that there is an injustice being perpetuated against them as an individual and that only by mass movement can it be rectified. In Hoffer's 1951 work "The True Believer" he warned that " a rising mass movement attracts and holds a following not by its doctrine and promises, but by the refuge it offers from the anxieties, barrenness and meaninglessness of an individual existence." Many mass movements have sought and effected positive change in society, while others, such as those that seem to be rising in popularity now that offer redemption to the crisis-stricken and desperate are ones to worry about.
In addition, while new digital technologies can offer people glimpses of information and events that they would otherwise miss due to geography or chronology, they can also contribute to things such as "slacktivism" in which people and groups utilize the power of "awareness," rather than by donating money for the work, volunteering, and reflecting upon their own passive or active participation in said problem. "Only by addressing our own racism (however inadvertent it may be at times) can we grow movements for social justice. By giving short shrift to the subject, internally or in the larger society, we virtually guarantee the defeat of whatever movements for social transformation we claim to support, " Tim Wise
The film "American Blackout" should not surprise those who work to challenge the continued existence of institutionalized racism, despite popular political declarations that we now live in a "color-blind" society. It is only by acknowledging that we do not live in a post-racial society that we can continue to move towards racial equity instead of away from it.
AMERICAN BLACKOUT
I feel that the people give a political documentary its power, the people felt wronged and they seek the truth.Some people film the situation and events to try and uncover the truth behind political people and their hidden agenda.Also the majority of people never really get to see small indy flicks or documentaries so i feel that the internet along with youtube, netflix and facebook make it a whole lot easier for people like myself who work and go to school to view great relevant media and social and real life content.
American Blackout was a very informational documentary that talks about how certain minority groups mostlt African Americans were discriminated on did not get to vote, some were not even on probation with clean records ans still were not allowed to vote due to so called errors, go figure.I feel that they should have held a re-election due to all of the controversy.I also feel that if they had a re-election George Bush may have not been voted President.It is sad to see modern day racism in the form of voting,I feel that everyone has the right to vote.Just look what happened recently,Barak Obama became the president of the United States Of America, due to better voting systems and huge public demand for a change,we are still in a crisis, but it seems that the people wanted a new leader to try and guide the people in a new positive uplifting direction.I personally feel that youtube,twitter,facebook and myspace play a huge part in the influence of todays people both young and old exspecialy the youth they thrive on social networks and cell phones,netflix helped me to see many great documentaries and small indy films of which i may have never got to see due to my hectic schedule. i really have enjoyed this class..thanks, Daniel Frias Jr, here are some clips of American youths sharing their opinions on political culture.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_gK4LyDeQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrGIBTdPC2A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GcA1eEx4Mg
American Blackout was a very informational documentary that talks about how certain minority groups mostlt African Americans were discriminated on did not get to vote, some were not even on probation with clean records ans still were not allowed to vote due to so called errors, go figure.I feel that they should have held a re-election due to all of the controversy.I also feel that if they had a re-election George Bush may have not been voted President.It is sad to see modern day racism in the form of voting,I feel that everyone has the right to vote.Just look what happened recently,Barak Obama became the president of the United States Of America, due to better voting systems and huge public demand for a change,we are still in a crisis, but it seems that the people wanted a new leader to try and guide the people in a new positive uplifting direction.I personally feel that youtube,twitter,facebook and myspace play a huge part in the influence of todays people both young and old exspecialy the youth they thrive on social networks and cell phones,netflix helped me to see many great documentaries and small indy films of which i may have never got to see due to my hectic schedule. i really have enjoyed this class..thanks, Daniel Frias Jr, here are some clips of American youths sharing their opinions on political culture.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_gK4LyDeQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrGIBTdPC2A http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GcA1eEx4Mg
Vote. Or Else. Really.
A documentary is powerful when a wrong is exposed and the disenfranchised are given a voice.
What amazed me in American Blackout is the numerous instances of perceived, if not real, conflicts of interest. Katherine Harris part of the Bush campaign and counting Florida's vote? Blackwell part of the Bush campaign and counting Ohio's vote? Ohio registrations go up by 25% plus in some areas and there are less voting machines? AND BEST OF ALL? NOBODY (except those waiting online for hours) SEEMED TO CARE!!!
Cynthia McKinney brought up questions that nobody wanted to answer. Barbara Boxer brought up questions nobody wanted to answer. Instead of getting answers (though some "redresses" were made such as the provisional ballet) they are mocked "Earth to Barbara Boxer?" and in the case of McKinney, politically outmaneuvered in the primaries.
Obama's election was historic in that it was a perfect storm: New guy promising change, the disenfranchised relate to the new guy, economy is in the gutter and everyone hopes new guy can fix that. New guy was also smart in his use of technologies. As he did fundraising campaigns for others up for reelection he made sure to collect emails and cell phone numbers at each stop. By the time he decided to officially run for President he had a huge database of potential donors (especially the $5 kind) and, more importantly, voters. After announcing his candidacy at every event he asked participants to take out their cell phones call 10 people and tell them to vote. New guy definitely knew how to get the vote.
(BTW, Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin is a fascinating read)
Fast forward to the 2010 election results where Obama himself acknowledged a "shellacking". It turns out "[a]ccording to exit poll data, under-30 voters were the only age demographic to vote for Democrats, with the youngest voters (18-24 year olds) giving Democrats a 19-point margin." Whether there is some bias to this quote (it was published by Rock the Vote folks after all) it's certainly not as gloomy as the media made the youth vote appear. Agreed, the youth turn out wasn't at the 65-70% levels, but neither was any other group.
See? Look at these kids all feisty and getting voters registered.
So there you go, it wasn't the disenfranchised youth that allowed the Tea Party invasion. It was the disenfranchised middle-agers that will allow DADT to continue and the dismantling of access to health care (just wait for that arthritis or chronic high blood pressure to kick in - those meds are seriously expensive!) and best of all? a $700 billion rebate to the very rich.
MTV host Andrew Jenks claims with technologies such as Twitter and Facebook today's youth is used to be engaged all the time. It's about time that politicians understand that and stop tapping the youth only during the presidential election.
Now how do we fix the voting machines?
Coffee Party
The strength of a political documentary can be measured by how relatable the subject at hand is, or how it directly impacts the viewer. For example, An Inconvenient Truth is relevant and holds more ground today over Fahrenheit 911 because global warming, climate change, and the ramifications of continuing to neglect our planet can and will affect us all. Fahrenheit 911 doesn't have the same re-play value, especially in regards to affecting the present or future. Therefore I believe one is more powerful than the other.
American Blackout explores the voter disenfranchisement from Florida in 2000 and Ohio 2004. These years were more apparent than those of the past, let's not kid ourselves into thinking these tactics are new. I believe technology has played a role in highlighting these injustices. Voting is important, and being denied that right is not what this country is about. However we've put such a huge emphasis on voting that often times I think the youth is unfairly targeted. New technologies such as Facebook, and You Tube, are always seeking the youth vote, but far too often I hear "just go out and vote, even if you don't know what's going on, just go vote!" Vote simply to vote, what is that all about? Statements like that are ignorant and I really think if a young adult or even an older person is not informed enough, either get educated on the issues or don't vote if you don't want to. It's not about voting just to vote, it's about voting for something/someone you believe in!
"If you don't vote? Because it's YOUR VOTE!"
What gives a political documentary it's power? I think it is in the power to effectively persuade and make you are about the issue the film maker is presenting. It grabs you and makes you want to do something. This week’s film American Blackout did that for me. Before watching this film I had no idea who Cynthia McKinney was. The film introduces her and the issues well. It talked about Cynthia McKinney in context of the bigger picture (which is marginalized African American voters). McKinney like President Obama both benefit by today’s technology and youth support.
But in the recent midterm election things went sour of the democrats. I thought this quote is was very fitting. My friend posted this on Facebook after her state (Minnesota) went Red.
“thanks you lazy dems who didn't go out and vote, now we are going to have to listen to rep. john boehner for the next 2 years. ugh. lets continue to support shipping jobs overseas, giving corporations tax breaks, and allow wall street to rob the American people. oh, while we are at it say goodbye to the environment.” – Vangie C.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTY__NRKzcU
Saturday, December 4, 2010
The more informed youth!
I believe controversy is what gives political documentary it's power. Anytime you talk about a sensitive issues you are going to get people fired up and get people involved, which would give a film more power the more it's talked about. Look at a lot of the Micheal Moore films, some are not really great films, but he makes films that promote controversy and they become wildly powerful films. I think that is exactly the point, get people talking and shed some light on some important topics! Many of these films have a David and Goliath feel, small man blows whistle on a big corporation or someone showing us another dark side of dirty politics.There have been many well done documentaries that I have watched that are on more simple subjects and a lot of those films never seem to get very popular. The documentary films that do seem to have more power behind them are the ones people talk about and they all seem to come with a big taste of controversy!!
Look at this weeks film American Blackout, filled with controversy. At first I didn't care for the film or Cynthia McKinney. The more I watch this film I was like ... "wow, maybe the Bush victory really was tainted". I love how she seemed like a normal American up there on capital hill speaking the voice of many of us. I wish there were more people like her in our government. This film showed how media could be used in so many ways, showing past voter turn out and broke them down in race, age and voting habits. Then taking numbers and using them to a political parties advantage or by the stroke of a pen changing where voting booths are sent.
Even know there are many, many avenues for us to get in touch with our political leader through media, I think the face to face and see the public is still number one. I like how Cynthia McKinney was at rallies and or knocking on peoples doors and made herself seen. I know this weeks question wants us to talk about communities and their linkage to their political leaders. I know for me it's an overload of media crap during election times. Political leaders use many forms social media to persuade our vote. It's all over the Internet, junk in email, all over the TV and my favorite, the recorded messages sent to my cell phone. I guess the media is a good avenue for the common person to feel like they have a voice, blogging or sending an email to your local politician is a something people didn't have in the past that now people can use to feel more connected. Maybe since young loving there electronic media is the reason why they have shown up to vote in such big numbers in the past decade, they feel much more informed by all the social media!!
A few video that talk about the youth vote in America!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N70hP4dPFx8&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEE8QTZqrwU&NR=1
Look at this weeks film American Blackout, filled with controversy. At first I didn't care for the film or Cynthia McKinney. The more I watch this film I was like ... "wow, maybe the Bush victory really was tainted". I love how she seemed like a normal American up there on capital hill speaking the voice of many of us. I wish there were more people like her in our government. This film showed how media could be used in so many ways, showing past voter turn out and broke them down in race, age and voting habits. Then taking numbers and using them to a political parties advantage or by the stroke of a pen changing where voting booths are sent.
Even know there are many, many avenues for us to get in touch with our political leader through media, I think the face to face and see the public is still number one. I like how Cynthia McKinney was at rallies and or knocking on peoples doors and made herself seen. I know this weeks question wants us to talk about communities and their linkage to their political leaders. I know for me it's an overload of media crap during election times. Political leaders use many forms social media to persuade our vote. It's all over the Internet, junk in email, all over the TV and my favorite, the recorded messages sent to my cell phone. I guess the media is a good avenue for the common person to feel like they have a voice, blogging or sending an email to your local politician is a something people didn't have in the past that now people can use to feel more connected. Maybe since young loving there electronic media is the reason why they have shown up to vote in such big numbers in the past decade, they feel much more informed by all the social media!!
A few video that talk about the youth vote in America!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N70hP4dPFx8&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEE8QTZqrwU&NR=1
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Bitter Brew
“Congress stresses me out... It’s hard not to be cynical.”
-Lauren Anderson, 21-year-old senior at American University in Washington, D.C.
Source: The Fiscal Times “Disillusioned Young Voters” 2010
“It’s like picking a team when you really don’t want to root for either team.”
-Kristin Johnson, 23-year-old student and Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Source: The New York Times “Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats” 2010
The power of documentary, for me, is it’s ability to make me temporarily care about injustices that I am not otherwise willing to exert much effort in changing. I consider myself a very representative specimen of my generation: postponing marriage and children, not yet settled in a career, over-educated for my job, disillusioned with everything including politics, hit hard by the recession, cynical beyond my 27-years, and identifying with or even liking neither Republicans or Democrats. Like many in my generation, I was totally absorbed in politics between 2000 and 2008, and truly felt that young people had the power to change things. I understand now that I was only a little bit right. We elected Obama, but who cares anymore.* Frankly, there are so many things to be pissed off about that I can’t get it up anymore for any of them. I wish there was a little purple pill for this kind of impotence.
I was moved by Cynthia McKinney in American Blackout. Her story is a sad one, and I wonder how on Earth she has the strength to wake up every morning and fight the good fight over and over when it is apparent her life is a lonely one, shut up in her house with the blinds closed, conspired against daily, and slandered. From the movie it was apparent that she felt like it was worth it, and I’m sure it is, but I can say that things are different now than when that movie was made. Obama created a lot of interest in politics for young people during his campaign and election, but that interest is largely gone in a poof on anger on the one hand and apathy on the other.
I had a hard time finding videos made by young people about enthusiasm for the electoral process that were made after 2008, so I posted some videos that I found that are about that void.
I am from Colorado, a state that was formerly Republican and now is a muddled purple. I found this video to be relevant to the discussion, as it shows just how different this year is from 2008 for young people who perhaps don’t want to care anymore.
And here is CBS’ Washington Unplugged segment on why young people historically don’t vote en masse like older voters.
I cannot bring myself to artificially engage in politics anymore for I feel so powerless myself that I cannot summon the strength or interest to advocate for other young people to get involved. Instead I believe young people should do what truly interests them even if that disconnects them in some way. Meditate. Grow a garden. Read. Work your little job, raise a family if that’s your thing, try to eke out a living, make as small a footprint as possible, and then pass quietly into the ether of space. I cannot in good conscious tell people that caring about politics will somehow enrich their lives. Unless you are a millionaire, our government is no longer capable of helping you, and besides, who said it should in the first place. It seems to me the more cooks in the Congress, the worse the soup tastes.
*Despite this, I did vote in the midterms; I always have and always will. Sisyphus!
-Lauren Anderson, 21-year-old senior at American University in Washington, D.C.
Source: The Fiscal Times “Disillusioned Young Voters” 2010
“It’s like picking a team when you really don’t want to root for either team.”
-Kristin Johnson, 23-year-old student and Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Source: The New York Times “Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats” 2010
The power of documentary, for me, is it’s ability to make me temporarily care about injustices that I am not otherwise willing to exert much effort in changing. I consider myself a very representative specimen of my generation: postponing marriage and children, not yet settled in a career, over-educated for my job, disillusioned with everything including politics, hit hard by the recession, cynical beyond my 27-years, and identifying with or even liking neither Republicans or Democrats. Like many in my generation, I was totally absorbed in politics between 2000 and 2008, and truly felt that young people had the power to change things. I understand now that I was only a little bit right. We elected Obama, but who cares anymore.* Frankly, there are so many things to be pissed off about that I can’t get it up anymore for any of them. I wish there was a little purple pill for this kind of impotence.
I was moved by Cynthia McKinney in American Blackout. Her story is a sad one, and I wonder how on Earth she has the strength to wake up every morning and fight the good fight over and over when it is apparent her life is a lonely one, shut up in her house with the blinds closed, conspired against daily, and slandered. From the movie it was apparent that she felt like it was worth it, and I’m sure it is, but I can say that things are different now than when that movie was made. Obama created a lot of interest in politics for young people during his campaign and election, but that interest is largely gone in a poof on anger on the one hand and apathy on the other.
I had a hard time finding videos made by young people about enthusiasm for the electoral process that were made after 2008, so I posted some videos that I found that are about that void.
I am from Colorado, a state that was formerly Republican and now is a muddled purple. I found this video to be relevant to the discussion, as it shows just how different this year is from 2008 for young people who perhaps don’t want to care anymore.
And here is CBS’ Washington Unplugged segment on why young people historically don’t vote en masse like older voters.
I cannot bring myself to artificially engage in politics anymore for I feel so powerless myself that I cannot summon the strength or interest to advocate for other young people to get involved. Instead I believe young people should do what truly interests them even if that disconnects them in some way. Meditate. Grow a garden. Read. Work your little job, raise a family if that’s your thing, try to eke out a living, make as small a footprint as possible, and then pass quietly into the ether of space. I cannot in good conscious tell people that caring about politics will somehow enrich their lives. Unless you are a millionaire, our government is no longer capable of helping you, and besides, who said it should in the first place. It seems to me the more cooks in the Congress, the worse the soup tastes.
*Despite this, I did vote in the midterms; I always have and always will. Sisyphus!
Monday, November 29, 2010
LISTEN & ACT
Political documentary receives its power from the raw, uncensored, and real message that is conveyed to the audience. The power lies in the truth of the film, the story behind what most of us seem to know. Filmmakers have the thirst for knowledge and truth, however way they can get it. It is the job of the filmmakers to send out the message, whether positive or nasty, it must be spoken to the audience. American Blackout is a great example of uncovering the truth in our society and slapping it onscreen for everyone to see and realize what is going on behind the media they see on television. This film doesn’t make you sit there and feel sad and hopeless, but rather angry with the motivation to change the system. This film wants to make you scream while keeping you closely engaged to every word and movement of the people in the film.
Daily Kos – State of the Nation was voted as one of the top blog sites for politically active bloggers, having more than 2 million users per month. This site combines a news organization with its community as a whole. There are so many interactive links along with videos and diaries. Not only do powerful political figures post on the site, but every day Americans have the opportunity to speak and release their feelings and thoughts. How great is it to get to read and comment on political figures’ thoughts, it is almost as if your speaking with them face to face. It contains a multiplatform of media that will get you anywhere you want to go.
This YouTube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBrKceZXoeE) is JK Citizens music video for Rock the Vote and has already gained over 150.000 views and growing. This hip hop artist is relating to the youth that need to be informed and become politically involved and what better way than rapping a video about it. It is refreshing and hopeful to see the youth involved and no look away as if it will not affect them.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
the power to do more than watch
Empowerment gives a political documentary its power.
If the documentary doesn't show or inspire its viewer a way to do something about a problem
that is raised in the documentary, then the documentary is not as powerful as it could be.
For example, I the documentary Promises moved me to tears, but did not move me to action so I would not consider it a powerful documentary.
The fact that I watched the documentary will probably not change the world or any small part of it. I feel powerless to do anything about the situation between Palestine and Israel.
I have been most impressed with Van Jones' blogs. He has a great way of linking communities of color with environmental issues. For example:
When Obama named Hilda Solis as his choice for Secretary of Labor, Jones blogged
"Headlines are heralding her as the first Latino to hold the post.
But the green jobs movement is jumping for joy not only because she's brown.
It's because she's green." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/new-labor-secretary-is-br_b_152246.html
This gets the interest of both "brown" readers and advocates and "green" readers and advocates and shows all of them how if you care about one, you must care about the other.
The Communities for a Better Environment, another organization that also works on environmental justice issues, which combine the fight against racism with the fight against environmental degradation, blogged about about sending a delegation to a conference "to help strengthen the movement for social and environmental justice. The US Social Forum is a space for people working for positive change to build relationships, learn from each others’ experiences, and share analysis of the problems our communities face."
The other blog posts seemed to have the same tone - they informed the reader of events.
It seems that they were writing for the "choir" and would not help make connections between apolitical members of communities and political legacies the way Jones' posts do.
http://communitiesforabetterenvironment.wordpress.com/
Both blogs discussed voting in recent posts - Prop 23 in particular. I think it's important to discuss elections in ways that engage youth.
I liked that video the vote could engage youth - even those who were too young to vote and those whose citizenship status would prevent them from voting. Anyone can volunteer to be a videographer, dispatcher, drivers, uploader/tech support, bloggers, etc. http://videothevote.org/volunteer
It is amazing to me how rapidly new technology becomes a part of life and politics.
I traveled to Ohio as an election observer and I thought we were pretty high tech by communicating via cell phones - whether it was with our monitor partner or our off site emergency contact.
A couple years later, I'm a little more high tech and am used to instant replies. I texted BLACKOUT to 75444, as directed from the documentary, and expected a reply within seconds if not minutes. 4 minutes later and I already feel my enthusiasm for participating start to fade (Note: it is now 11 and 1/2 hours later and I haven't received a reply). I looked at the website and everything seemed to be in anticipation of 2006. I didn't bother to sign up for the e-newsletter. This seems to be common from a few of the documentary websites that we've looked at.
It is really disappointing to see an outdated website, especially for a subject that is still relevant or even more relevant now than when the documentary was released.
This youtube video was like a youthful newscast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3pWmqrzekw
I liked this video of elderly twins voting for the first time. (note: it's at the end of the clip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjmz81TzdhI&NR=1
The video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjmz81TzdhI&NR=1
If the documentary doesn't show or inspire its viewer a way to do something about a problem
that is raised in the documentary, then the documentary is not as powerful as it could be.
For example, I the documentary Promises moved me to tears, but did not move me to action so I would not consider it a powerful documentary.
The fact that I watched the documentary will probably not change the world or any small part of it. I feel powerless to do anything about the situation between Palestine and Israel.
I have been most impressed with Van Jones' blogs. He has a great way of linking communities of color with environmental issues. For example:
When Obama named Hilda Solis as his choice for Secretary of Labor, Jones blogged
"Headlines are heralding her as the first Latino to hold the post.
But the green jobs movement is jumping for joy not only because she's brown.
It's because she's green." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/van-jones/new-labor-secretary-is-br_b_152246.html
This gets the interest of both "brown" readers and advocates and "green" readers and advocates and shows all of them how if you care about one, you must care about the other.
The Communities for a Better Environment, another organization that also works on environmental justice issues, which combine the fight against racism with the fight against environmental degradation, blogged about about sending a delegation to a conference "to help strengthen the movement for social and environmental justice. The US Social Forum is a space for people working for positive change to build relationships, learn from each others’ experiences, and share analysis of the problems our communities face."
The other blog posts seemed to have the same tone - they informed the reader of events.
It seems that they were writing for the "choir" and would not help make connections between apolitical members of communities and political legacies the way Jones' posts do.
http://communitiesforabetterenvironment.wordpress.com/
Both blogs discussed voting in recent posts - Prop 23 in particular. I think it's important to discuss elections in ways that engage youth.
I liked that video the vote could engage youth - even those who were too young to vote and those whose citizenship status would prevent them from voting. Anyone can volunteer to be a videographer, dispatcher, drivers, uploader/tech support, bloggers, etc. http://videothevote.org/volunteer
It is amazing to me how rapidly new technology becomes a part of life and politics.
I traveled to Ohio as an election observer and I thought we were pretty high tech by communicating via cell phones - whether it was with our monitor partner or our off site emergency contact.
A couple years later, I'm a little more high tech and am used to instant replies. I texted BLACKOUT to 75444, as directed from the documentary, and expected a reply within seconds if not minutes. 4 minutes later and I already feel my enthusiasm for participating start to fade (Note: it is now 11 and 1/2 hours later and I haven't received a reply). I looked at the website and everything seemed to be in anticipation of 2006. I didn't bother to sign up for the e-newsletter. This seems to be common from a few of the documentary websites that we've looked at.
It is really disappointing to see an outdated website, especially for a subject that is still relevant or even more relevant now than when the documentary was released.
This youtube video was like a youthful newscast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3pWmqrzekw
I liked this video of elderly twins voting for the first time. (note: it's at the end of the clip) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjmz81TzdhI&NR=1
The video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjmz81TzdhI&NR=1
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Iraq for sale documentary
i just watched this documentary on Netflix and it was very disturbing to see all of the madness that goes on for money, first off i felt bad for the families who lost love ones due to the war, i also question the indipendant contractors and their motives, is money worth risking your life?also some bad information led to the arrest of innocent Iraq citisens of whom were then brutally beaten and tortured for weeks on end.It i sad to hear and see what goes on during the war,all of the big indipendant contractors were living large, one guy made 50millon dollars for doing so called extra securityactions. also most marines seen the money to be made and risked everything to work in Iraq for these indipendant companies. Plus not to mention all the inocent children and people that lost their lives to this tragic war. a must see,,here is a post since its late and many people are a sleep now and can not chat. thanks, Daniel Frias
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Thursday, November 4, 2010
SLLA at Second Life or virtual terrorism 2.0
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| Grand Theft Auto |
While I still make doc films & stop action Japanese Sci-Fi inspired animation shorts, part of my current day job involves searching for & uncovering sources of terrorist funding in the very real world of the 21st century. My only obvious qualification for this type of work is that I am really good at CLUE. Imagine my surprise when I began reading articles from 2006, 2007 & 2008 about terrorist attacks by the SLLA in the virtual world of Second Life. (And yes I found most of this by searching the web)
I find this germane to our discussion of Nonny de la Pena's epic effort with Unconstitutional & Gitmo. To 'get' Gitmo I do not need to be caged in a virtual world. I already have the picture literally, in real time from AbuGrabe to Guantanimo. I agree with another classmate, that if this parallel world of virtual experience ellicits a reaction and wakes people up to the behavior
exhibited under the rubric American Patriotism make more!
But I question the intrusion of the real into the virtual universe. Quantum physics notwithstanding, universes do collide. Apparently in 2006 Second Life, founded by Linden Labs experienced an exponential growth in new participants, and the
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| creators of Second Life |
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| Book |
Linden Lab. Demanding: "The establishment of basic 'rights' for Second Life players. Having consulted widely we now believe the best vehicle for this is Linden
The SLLA organized and executed several terrorist attacks on the virtual sites of various Real World companies. These terrorist attacks began in 2006 continuing through 2007. To emphasize again, these were virtual terrorist attacks upon virtual constructs in a virtual world. The SLLA was really creative in their planned attacks, planting bombs outside the Reebok store. In questionable taste, they flew a helicopter into the Nissan building. The SLLA bombed the ABC store and bum rushed their way 'into' the American Apparel store incuring acceptable civilian losses of virtual customers. Do virtual causalities and "androids dream of electric sheep"?
The SLLA organized and executed several terrorist attacks on the virtual sites of various Real World companies. These terrorist attacks began in 2006 continuing through 2007. To emphasize again, these were virtual terrorist attacks upon virtual constructs in a virtual world. The SLLA was really creative in their planned attacks, planting bombs outside the Reebok store. In questionable taste, they flew a helicopter into the Nissan building. The SLLA bombed the ABC store and bum rushed their way 'into' the American Apparel store incuring acceptable civilian losses of virtual customers. Do virtual causalities and "androids dream of electric sheep"?
While some of us may find this to be a "get a life” moment; the Real World companies that were attacked in the virtual world of Second Life were real serious in their responses. Real World Nissan responded as if this occurred in the Real World. Online virtual Nissan sent in a virtual crew to clean up the crime scene, had virtual bodies removed and put into virtual coffins. Worth noting, virtual Nissan did NOT close their business in real life or Second Life. Real World ABC responded by taking action to protect their online/virtual sites. ABC's most popular site known as Sandbox had the capability of interactive object construction. ABC found the site was being abused; objects that were offensive/inappropriate were posted in the aftermath of the 'terrorist attack'. ABC began monitoring the site on a regular basis and back tracing all visitors to the site. The Real World American Apparel store was the only company attacked to close their virtual business and move out of Second Life.
We are being asked to evaluate the different platforms available online as emerging digital media and to evaluate their application in the world of 2010-2011. We are invited to work with a gaming platform as part of this assignment. The "how and why" of utilization as applied to these digital platforms is still being determined. This bit of web history could be dismissed as a very Gibson cyber punk moment. In hindsight we might be tempted to write it off to a more idealistic, naive, momentary expression of fascination with avatars & a new media.
It might be an amusing story of a group of people with too much time on their hands, except for the seriousness with which the Federal Government regards ANY form of terrorist attack. An attack on access to free trade, even in a cyber world is considered an attack on the real world. It was not by accident that the 9/11 attacks took place on the World Trade Center. The fall out from this is an interesting read. Our own military executes Real World precision bombing missions with these gaming platforms & drones. The virtual world is also utilized as one more way to teach & recruit would be very Real World Terrorists.
National Security is cold blooded in their response to perceived terrorist attacks in the Real World and in Gitmo world.
Linden Labs, avatars, machinima videos, smart games and even Grand Theft Auto are all powerful teaching tools when used with purpose. Laptops, smart phones, i-pods connect your every moment to the world wide web, accessing all the digital platforms we consider every week. By our usage and purpose we can recut/reframe/reuse any and all source material available. We redefine the phrase 'by any means necessary' everytime we log on. If you are interested in reading more regarding the SLLA please comment & I will send the URL’s
National Security is cold blooded in their response to perceived terrorist attacks in the Real World and in Gitmo world.
Linden Labs, avatars, machinima videos, smart games and even Grand Theft Auto are all powerful teaching tools when used with purpose. Laptops, smart phones, i-pods connect your every moment to the world wide web, accessing all the digital platforms we consider every week. By our usage and purpose we can recut/reframe/reuse any and all source material available. We redefine the phrase 'by any means necessary' everytime we log on. If you are interested in reading more regarding the SLLA please comment & I will send the URL’s
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