Blog 2 - Manufacturing Consent

In Manufacturing Consent, I think there were some interesting perspectives taken by the visual techniques in supporting Noam Chomsky's Propaganda Model. The visual techniques that were used were very basic, but very clever and creative in terms of trying to get the message across to the audience.
Some of the techniques used in the film are photography, visual comparisons, visual following of the words when Noam Chomsky was speaking, and repetition.
Photography: There were many photos displayed in the film about the Cambodia Genocide, and East Timor Genocide. This use of the technique captures the intensity of the atrocities of Genocide in which most U.S. public had no idea of! This was cleverly done because it not only supports the Propaganda Model, but the visual display created a sense of emotion in the audience to react and question why the hell were these two horrific news not covered in major newspapers, and other corporate media?!
Visual Comparisons: In addition to this, the visual technique of simplicity is again demonstrated in the film by showing a comparison of how long a column of news were for the East Timor Genocide compared to Cambodia Genocide. The columns were then rolled out onto the floor for a better understanding of how much was covered in the U.S. corporate news. There was this simply visual comparison that made it easy for any audience to understand what was going on!
Words into Pictures: One example that I love in the film is the Cambodia genocide. As the film has Noam Chomsky speaking in the background, you visually see this intense E.R. room filled with surgeons carefully cutting out and ultimately altering the real facts of the current events of a mass genocide in Cambodia. This technique implies the obvious, but it captures the essence of what corporate-owned news mass communication media does in the United States! Even it was not true, the visual display make it so easy to understand and relate to. It keeps the film interesting, and it creates a visual story telling of its own.
Repetition: Repetition is a strong form of influential technique in whatever form it may be. This technique was practiced in the film to really drill into the audience’s subconscious mind! For instance, in the film Noam Chomsky himself was being cut short in television interviews! How did we know that? Repetition, repetition, repetition! The film captured every part of the scenes when Noam Chomsky was broadcast on a show on television, but with the same ending words from the Host of a show that said “Mr. Chomsky we are out of time, thanks for being on this show!” WE ARE OUT OF TIME. This perfect example demonstrates how the corporate media works even on Chomsky!