Proposal for Semester Project 2

For the semester project, I plan to create a video that goes over the media in terms of how it is used in molding the public opinion and feeds the “herd mentality” of society for political or economic purposes and such. The video will also touch upon the treatment of women by the media in that perspective and how this exploitation of both mind and therefore behavior has seen success without much of a strong opposition. I will be focusing upon Edward Bernays, a successful public relations consultant, majorly due to his significant assistance in mass manipulation techniques in the United States and the influence it had on the country’s events from then onwards.

My presentation will also have a bit of content upon Edward’s famous uncle Sigmund Freud, who was a psychoanalyst known well for his theories on the unconscious mind and had a great part in the creation of Edward’s techniques. There are a few other psychologists that I may add in, if time and space may allow it, who have developed upon the same ideas left by Edward and how their work has helped manifest much of the ways and lifestyles of today’s society. In the video I’d like to put in relevant parts from documentaries on society and culture and other research material from books by Bernays and others. I was inspired mostly by the BBC documentary named “Century of the Self” (2002) by Adam Curtis, which I watched a long time ago and felt it might connect well to women in society and art. I’ve also read excerpts from books and other writings by Bernays from which I will be borrowing information for this research.

The basic message I wish to give through this video is aimed towards the common people of our society, especially the younger generations who have yet to go out in society to face the full extent of its pressures and also women, so that they can read through the messages given by the media in regards to their image and hopefully rebel against it. If people were to start to critically observe the major forces that guide their society instead of just taking in anything thrown at them by those sources, perhaps it will convince the higher powers that humans are not like cattle that can’t take care of itself and therefore need to be exploited and led by a power figure for their own good. Perhaps equality for all humanity may not seem like a far-fetched possibility then.

Sources

Propaganda (1928) by Edward Bernays

“Century of the Self” (2002) by Adam Curtis

The Bernays Typescript on Publicizing the Fashion Industry 1925-27: “Hats and Stockings”.

Manipulating Public Opinion (1928) by Edward Bernays