- The media would never report any losses of battles but often tell the complete opposite to boost morale, or make a fake report an attack by an enemy to justify to the masses why they are going to war. Furthermore this kept the masses in check and ensured that even their own thoughts were controlled by the state; independent thinking was not allowed.
- Germans restricted the media, as it was state run.
- Media gave an Hegelian perspective, basically stating that Germany had to destroy everyone to get closer, or achieve divinity/heavenly state.
- Absense of Plurality (no tolerance of ethnic minorities/different cultures).
- People became a resource of the state, and no one cares about them, and their rights become void.
- Intellectuals fear, and want to exterminate the masses (e.g. Hitler).
- The masses were thought to not be able to vote responsibly - problem with democracy.
- Carey - The masses are the mob when they achieve basic literacy (they have power). Because of their numbers, they make themselves a political heavyweight.
- The masses bring about fascism by being manipulated by people like Goering.
- The masses are aware who they are voting into power, but still allow themselves to be manipulated as they are incompetent and need to be directed.
- Nietzsche wants to keep the masses controlled and in a docile state, so they have no power or political influence which is intellectually above their head.
- Totalitarianism is a rule where the state control through terror. There is no independant source of information, your individual thoughts and claims will be dismissed, and their is no legal trials which leads to no justice.
2. How does modern state differ from classical or medieval state according to Arendt. Refer Hobbes, Rosseau, JS Mill, Hegel and Marx:
- Modern state has much more control over the masses, because of tools such as the media which is a huge weapon in controlling what people think. Medieval states controlled society’s though their monarchy such as in with the England the ‘ divine right of kings’, which meant society believed God had given them to right to win.
- Hobbes - Without state ruling everything would be total anarchy. We must submit ourselves to the government for protection. State of nature would rule without harsh state intervention.
- Rousseau – is a more liberal thinker, and believes there should be a social contract between public and state, and they should have a limited ammount power. The state should be the only people that can use force, but only a slight ammount. State should listen to the general will of the people, and anyone who did not want to be free will be forced to be free.
- JS Mill -believes people should be able to do what they want, as long as no one else is harmed by these actions. Strong believe in Free speech and didn’t believe in censorship.
- Hegel- Believes that Germany or Prussian state's attenpts at eliminating everbody else will bring Germans closer to God and is the natural way of the world.
- Marx – An atheists who doesn’t believe that a God exists. He thinks state is a tool of oppression to keep lower classes down. A Liberalal thinker due to the fact that he thinks state should not have total power. Mass culture attempts to eliminate diversity.
3. Analyse Nietchsze and modern literacy movements in journalism, popular culture and the masses:
- Writes in short, to the point almost headline like statements.
- Goes for shock element.
- Amorality - morality without it coming from a single source (e.g. religion)
- Speaks in metaphors (e.g. overman)
- All you have is your body - Freud
- Influenced modern journalism massively, with headlines, sticking to facts, going for shocking statements or stories.
- Believes everyone will have their own individual take on his work.
4. Explain the fascination for intellectuals and some journalists of the film citizen Kane.· William R Hearst is Careys theory in action, a semi-literate member of the masses gaining power through literacy:
- William Randolph Hearst is basically Careys theory in action. A semi-literate member of the masses gaining power through literacy.
- Hearsts yellow journalism was the first kind of modern journalism which is no commonplace, with it's short bursts, headlines and often exaggerated stories about crime to make people want to read.
- Kane wanted power and nothing is ever enough to satisfy him.
- Freud's reasoning behind his actions and theories is due to him to never being accepted by his mother, as he was put up for adoption at a young age. This links to the film Kane as unable to obtain rosebud so tries to obtain every material possession to make up for it.
- Freud - Inner conflict. Your suppress inner-self and create outer-self that you present to the world.
- Freuds believes that our personality is shaped by our parents interaction, and rejection can lead to what happens to Kane, although it was a chance for him to have a better life. Kane appetite to always have more could be interpreted as Freuds need for approval from parents.
5. Asses Freud on the media from Page 3 to BBC and from to cosmopolitan Jerry Springer:
- Freud's idea that we are all obsessed by sex is represented in modern advertising.
- Collumns such as ‘dear Deirdre’ are heavily influenced by Freud, and focuses on our voyeur inclinations.
- 'Page three' was brought about due to the theory that men weren’t breast fed as children in the 40’s and 50’s, thus they would be fascinated by breasts.
- Shows like Jerry Springer emphasise Freud's views on ego, and super ego.
