"And, consequently, the art of propaganda or public information becomes one of the most powerful forms of directive statesmanship"
About this Quote
Propaganda, in Grierson's formulation, isn’t a dirty trick; it’s a governing instrument. The line is built like a quiet syllogism: if modern societies are too vast and complex to be steered by law alone, then shaping perception becomes a legitimate tool of statecraft. The phrase "consequently" does a lot of work, presenting persuasion not as a choice but as an inevitability of modern governance. By pairing "propaganda" with the softer "public information", he anticipates the stigma and tries to launder it, insisting the practice can be civic rather than coercive. That rhetorical pivot is the subtext: control the story, and you control the consent.
Context matters. Grierson, a key architect of British documentary film culture, came of age as mass media and mass politics were colliding: World War I’s information campaigns, the interwar expansion of radio and cinema, and the rise of totalitarian spectacle in Europe. Documentary, in his hands, wasn’t merely observation; it was a public utility, designed to educate citizens into a modern state - to make bureaucracy feel like common sense. "Directive statesmanship" is the tell. He’s not describing a neutral flow of facts but a guided one, where leaders don’t just respond to public will; they manufacture the conditions under which the public will forms.
The quote works because it refuses the comforting fantasy that politics is primarily about policy. It’s about attention, framing, and emotional calibration - a truth that feels even sharper in an era of algorithmic feeds and permanent campaigning. Grierson is offering a warning and a blueprint at once, depending on who’s holding the camera.
Context matters. Grierson, a key architect of British documentary film culture, came of age as mass media and mass politics were colliding: World War I’s information campaigns, the interwar expansion of radio and cinema, and the rise of totalitarian spectacle in Europe. Documentary, in his hands, wasn’t merely observation; it was a public utility, designed to educate citizens into a modern state - to make bureaucracy feel like common sense. "Directive statesmanship" is the tell. He’s not describing a neutral flow of facts but a guided one, where leaders don’t just respond to public will; they manufacture the conditions under which the public will forms.
The quote works because it refuses the comforting fantasy that politics is primarily about policy. It’s about attention, framing, and emotional calibration - a truth that feels even sharper in an era of algorithmic feeds and permanent campaigning. Grierson is offering a warning and a blueprint at once, depending on who’s holding the camera.
Quote Details
| Topic | Vision & Strategy |
|---|
More Quotes by John
Add to List
