Modern Propaganda 2011

Propaganda as defined in Webster’s Dictionary is information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation etc.; a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position, but as I see it, it’s definition is a modern day four letter word -  S-P-I-N and during this very heated mayoral race in Chicago,  the spin is out of control!  

Every time I turned on the television in the past week, there was one of the candidates pandering to the camera in a commercial, in a debate or in an interview. Each one attempting to be more charming and believable then others.  Each one claiming that they are the only candidate who promises to tackle unemployment, revamp Chicago’s school system, and put more cops on the beat if elected.  Each one claiming the others have no interest in the poor and working class of Chicago.  In fact, one candidate claims another wants to actually raise the taxes on the poor, while giving the wealthy a pass on paying taxes!  Another candidate claims her opponent is a self proclaimed crack-head!  

I realize mayor of the City of Chicago is a very desirable job, but do the candidates, or should I say their spin doctors, really think the voters believe this stuff?  Do they really think the voters believe that their candidate is the only one that wants safer streets,  smarter kids and booming businesses?   I guess they must, or is it the only way their candidate will get noticed!!

Beat Street

Beat Street is a 1984 drama film, featuring New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s. The movie focuses on break dancing DJ-ing and graffiti. From 1984-2011, hip hop has changed drastically.

When hip hop was first forming, it was a new underground style of music, fashion, dancing; a new way of life. It was new to many people outside of urban areas and Beat Street was able to introduce hip hop to the world. Hip hop was about smooth beats, rhythmic delivery, and the clever rhyming of the lyrics.

Now, instead of funky beats, wild outfits, and spinning on your head on linoleum, hip hop, or rap, artists talk about getting high, getting girls, and getting money. The substance beats that started this movement have been replaced by bass rhythms and auto-tune. It seems now that rappers and hip hop artists make music no longer for what they believe in, but for what will sell and make them famous. No longer do they sport puffy jackets and crazy sunglasses; instead they wear their pants at their knees and tattoos as their attire.

Has the original hip hop movement that once was only found in the Bronx move on and forever been transformed into something else? Has Beat Street been closed?

Hungry for Attention

In Black Boy, by Richard Wright, we see from the very beginning, how young Richard does crazy, outlandish things in order to receive attention, positive or negative, from his mother, father, brother or anyone else around him. He accidentally burns the house down, kills a kitten, and complains of hunger all in order to win over the attention from his family members which is being used on something else. Although Richard's actions are extreme, are we all really so much different from him?

Are we all just hungry for attention? Do we strive for acknowledgment and recognition to make our life complete and satisfy our search to be noticed? Attention is the feeling of approval, that someone cares to give you their time and respect. All people have a narcissistic craving for the world and all of the people in it to revolve around them, the "American Hunger," which Richard clearly amplifies. 

So look into yourself. Do you feel a part of you is always craving the attention of others? Don't fall under Richard's spell where it becomes your life. As we read on we will see how Richard evolves and matures, seeing if he is always starving for attention.