One technique used in manufacturing consent that stood out to me as a propaganda model was the use of clippings of newspapers and such written accounts of Chomsky being an important intellectual. The film basically went over how people are persuaded to believe things based on how the media presents it. The film, being part of the media, in and of itself, uses similar techniques to convince its audience of designed information. These clippings attempt to persuade the audience to believe what Chomsky has to say because if he is compared to philosophers such as Descartes or Rousseau on those “Philosopher Flashcards”, he must know what he is talking about. It soothes concerns that individuals may have in regards to what he is saying. After a few snippets about how Chomsky is the greatest thinker of our age, his radical views on anarchism don’t seem quite so bad. This is done because people have preconceived notions of how things should work. So if a 20 year old guy in a leather jacket said the same things as Chomsky about questioning and fighting power, many people would disregard him out of hand. In order to give Chomsky’s views weight, it was necessary to elevate him like this.
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