The Problem with Protesting today.
At least you do have an opinon/idea.....however, most large corporations do object to the use of their clothing/logo etc. be used in any public or private demonstration or even and especially any commercial endeavor. Some will even pursue legal avenues.
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- 6 points
i want to know how we can cover protest actions on tv without reducing the meaning of the event to the same old shot: yelling people holding signs; or the other shot: cops in riot gear whacking folks, with tear gas streaming.
is there a way to portray these actions in a manner that wouldn't cue the viewer to go back to sleep? ho-hum, more of those malcontents?
wish i could figure how those images lost all meaning. and what to do about it.
ideas?
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- 4 points
[QUOTE BY= archivegrl]
is there a way to portray these actions in a manner that wouldn't cue the viewer to go back to sleep?[/QUOTE]
Please dont take this in anger, but..
Who cares if the fat arse watching tv goes back to sleep?
Protesting isnt about the people watching TV. Its about the people on the streets, making a difference, for however long they can.
Ok check this out
G8 protests in Scotland.
Is the protest about getting a bunch of media coverage, or about accomplishing whatever you set out to accomplish?
If your protesting just to get a bunch of media coverage, i would argue your doing it for the wrong reasons and wont accomplish much.
If your protest is to the point, and has a decisive goal (i.e. shut down a g8 convention) and you accomplish that goal, hasnt it achieved its point? Reggardless of whatever media coverage it gets?
If you have a problem with the way the media is covering a protest, become the media.
Thats what protesting is all about, not taking some one elses shiat any more and doing something about it.
Think boston tea party.
Just a bunch of anachist lunatics destroying property.
But what DID they really accomplish?
What kind of media coverage do you think that event got?
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- 4 points
I'm glad your suggestion addresses some of the visual aspects of protests as we have utterly lost a common language (more on this below). Other problems with protesting today involve both the actions of govt and the corporate media.
1) I don't think the corporate media has given other than token coverage to any recent protest in the US other than the Seattle WTO protests where the corporate media heavily covered mostly the acts of vandalism (which for all we know may even have been perpetrated or incited by establishment agent provacateurs). Then their lack of accuracy when they actually do offer any coverage is criminal. They consistently under report participation. In addition, the coverage of protests within the US certainly pales when compared with the coverage of protests (with which the establishment agrees) in other countries (for instance, protests against the elections in Ukraine).
2) One reason corporate media can easily ignore US protests is the conspiracy of media silence on the subject. Another reason it can easily ignore US protests is the organization/coordination of the govts. For instance, the govts mandate routes with lots of turns so photos or videos of the event can't really illustrate the numbers of participants with a "long" shot.
Given all this coordination between the members of the establishment (media and govts), the politicians can then easily ignore the protests, the protestors, and their message.
Example on the language problem we current suffer under: I just heard John Sweeny (? sp), president of AFL-CIO, state that the union's 2004 election campaign was the most successful in the unions' history. Wow! They lost! So, apparently someone has decided "success" has a new meaning which somehow doesn't encompass the concept of "winning".
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- 2 points
Although i'm young and have not demonstarated in any protest or marches, I feel i may have an idea on how to allow the public to get more envolved.
Often I've seen protests with lots of creative costumes, props, and music which is all well in good except it's too reminesant to the hippie cleche, and so is not taken seriously by government officials, corporations, or the general public. It's also a turnoff to people who feel they should be apart of a protest, but are too afraid to becuase they're affraid of being considered left wing extremist. demonstrators need to convey to everyone watching that they are the same as everyone else, and to destroy the stereotype left over from the sixties.
If i may, i recomend, instead of colorful costumes, music and art, instead the protesters need to wear thier work uniforms. Wheather it's a Mc'donalds uniform or scrubs. By doing this it tells observers "Im the same as you, and just as important! My ideas and thoughs are just as relevant as yours!" It may seem simplicit but thats often what works the best. Imagine instead of seeing protesters dreesed in costumes and funny hats you see a bunch off pissed off workers who look dead serious outside your office, or home. Nobody is ever affraid to show they're pissed off, but they might be uncomfortable walking with someone holding a giant puppet over thier heads.
Remember i haven't actually participated in any public protests myself, but thats exactly where my point of view is coming from.
Thank you.
Arthur Busch
For dead kittens sake, stop repeating clever phrases and soundbytes that aren't based on logical reasoning.