Propaganda: Engineering Consent (2018)

Propaganda: Engineering Consent Poster
Original Title: Propaganda : la fabrique du consentement

How can the masses be controlled? Apparently, the American publicist Edward L. Bernays (1891-1995), a pioneer in the field of propaganda and public relations, knew the answer to such a key question. The amazing story of the master of manipulation and the creation of the engineering of consent; a frightening true story about advertising, lies and charlatans.

Background:
The documentary "Propaganda: Engineering Permission" from 2018 investigates the strategies and techniques utilized by governments and corporations worldwide to affect public opinion, control the masses, and shape social norms. The film uses a frightening depiction of how info, or typically misinformation, can be used to manipulate individuals's perceptions and decisions in modern society.

Themes:
The movie broadly explores Edward Bernay's theory on "engineering authorization", asserting that popular opinion can be affected and controlled discreetly through info control. Different propaganda techniques such as the control of mass media, ad, disinformation, and public relations are strategically examined in the movie. It inspects the role of these methods in promoting wars, bolstering corporate power, and maintaining political control.

Fear and Consumption:
One substantial focus is how fear-related propaganda incites intake. The documentary lays out how industries typically create a consumer-driven society where need-based buying is replaced by desire-based acquiring. Fear of being excluded, or fear of not adhering to societal requirements, drives individuals to consume items they frequently do not require. It also touches upon how this sort of marketing technique develops an unlimited cycle of usage and a throwaway culture.

Propaganda in Politics:
The documentary shows how politicians make use of these manipulation tactics to craft public approval, produce assistance for wars, and keep power structures. Connecting these approaches to the increase of populism in politics, it offers a sobering analysis of how different governments utilize propaganda to secure power while promoting their agendas under the guise of democracy.

Media Manipulation:
The movie shines a light on both historical and modern usages of media as a propaganda tool. Edward Bernays' creation of public relations, promoting of the term 'newspeak' by George Orwell, the use of radio by Hitler and the Nazi celebration, the function of tv and print media in the Iraq war, and the modern-day impact of social media and 'phony news' are all dissected in the film.

Conclusion:
"Propaganda: Engineering Consent" is an effective assessment of the manipulation of public imagination and societal norms through tactically curated info. In spite of the chilling depiction of manipulation in the media, politics, and marketing, the film likewise encourages audiences to question and inspect the info they consume. Through its in-depth examination of the modern-day penetration of propaganda, the movie underlines the power of notified citizens in a democratic society. The documentary serves as a tip that understanding and recognizing these techniques is usually the primary step to neutralizing their effects. It promotes that discernment and independent thought are crucial tools for withstanding propaganda.

Top Cast

  • Sébastien Desjours
    Self - Narrator (voice)
  • Anne Bernays (small)
    Anne Bernays
    Self - E. Bernays' Daughter
  • Noam Chomsky (small)
    Noam Chomsky
    Self - Linguist
  • Stuart Ewen
    Self - Historian
  • Chris Hedges
    Self - Journalist
  • David Miller
    Self - Sociologist
  • Shelley Spector
    Self - Visual Artist
  • Larry Tye
    Self - Writer
  • Edward L. Bernays (small)
    Edward L. Bernays
    Self - Publicist (archive footage)
  • Carlos Castillo Armas (small)
    Carlos Castillo Armas
    Self - Politician (archive footage)
  • Charlie Chaplin (small)
    Charlie Chaplin
    Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)