[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAO-lZ4_hU[/youtube]
Presented at the Library of Congress, June 23rd 2008.
Tag: technology
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Problems and Solutions –
We spend a great deal of class time discussing ways to facilitate critical analysis through a process of applying various criterion. I think there’s a great deal of relevance in this process, but I also think it’s important to refine our efficiency in applying this skill-set to external and internal agents; however, it often seems that people have an easier time being critical of others’ models than their own, and certain beliefs are very deeply imprinted. For example, if I were to suggest that most of us are as deeply enslaved as pre ‘War Between the States’ ‘negroes’, most responses would be less than sympathetic. However, I think if we are methodical in our application of critical analysis – internally and externally – we are forced to confront paradox and hypocrisy. Contrary to the assurances of the propagandists, Western Civilization is not free or just. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to convey this understanding when the citizenry has been collectively misled.
radical:
- (botany, not comparable) Of or pertaining to a root (of a plant).
- Of or pertaining to the intrinsic nature of something.
- Thoroughgoing.
- The spread of the cancer required radical surgery, and the entire organ was removed.
- Favouring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter.
- His beliefs are radical.
- (linguistics, not comparable) Of or pertaining to the root of a word.
- (chemistry, not comparable) Involving free radicals
- (slang) Excellent.
- That was a radical jump! (Wiktionary)
It’s unfortunate that ‘radical’ has come to be derogatory in modern society, but it speaks volumes to our collective delusion. For those who recognize some value in radical critical analysis of social institutions, online documentaries offer a fantastic medium for subverting culturally pervasive assumptions and superstitions. To that end, the producers of 2007’s ‘most-watched Internet documentary of the year’, Zeitgeist, have been especially successful. “Zeitgeist” suffered from a number of iffy suppositions, but most of them center around the ‘scholarship’ of Acharya S. Nonetheless, the sequel, “Zeitgeist Addendum” has just been released, and I feel it’s worthy of your attention.
Zeitgeist: Addendum
Saturday, 4 October 2008A confession: despite being one of the most popular internet movies of all time, I’ve never watched Zeitgeist. I’ve tried on a few occasions, and always been turned off — and physically turned off — within a few minutes by the apparently portentous and pretentious nature of the film. Maybe it gets better? Who knows.
It was therefore with some trepidation that I approached Zeitgeist: Addendum, which was released yesterday. Thankfully, the arty guff that I found so off-putting in the first film only lasted 3 or 4 minutes, before the movie proper started.
Addendum kicks off into one of the best short descriptions of how the monetary supply and FRB works that I’ve seen for a while. Having illustrated the stupidity of this system, the film moves on to look at the activities of ‘economic hit-men’, and how the CIA and the ruling political/corporate elites have worked to undermine legitimate foreign regimes who have had the temerity to put the interests of their populations before those of transnational corporations. The entirely accurate view painted of how institutions like the World Bank, WTO and IMF have conspired to screw over developing nations for corporate benefit will, I’m sure, raise the hackles of neoliberal shills everywhere.
The film then takes a somewhat major swerve into the left field. Having identified some of the problems apparently inherent in any monetary-based economy, there’s quite a long look at how a resource-based economy might be preferable (necessary?) for humanity. The movie then brings the two threads together, by explaining how the norms and values of our current society — and the institutions within it, both secular and religious — conspire to create an ‘intellectual materialism’; a mindset that unthinkingly accepts the status quo, and leads us to act as sheep. Needless to say, the last portion of the movie is of the uplifting “it doesn’t have to be this way” variety; something that I’m never going to knock anyone for suggesting.
My major criticism of the film is possibly an invalid one: lack of depth. I suspect that the target audience is people new to the topics presented, and a fairly shallow skim through some areas was the film-makers intent. Having said that, and acknowledging that most of the readers here will be familiar with much of the factual material already, I found the movie a perfectly reasonable way to spend a wet and windy weekend evening. (link)
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uZuK-PTCH8[/youtube]
The complete documentary is viewable here. It’ll be two hours well-spent, and the thesis holds special relevance to us as Social Studies educators.
Categories
Link Dump #1 –
There’s No Arguing With Conservatives … No, Seriously, Scientific Studies Prove It
A new study out of Yale University confirms what argumentative liberals have long-known: Offering reality-based rebuttals to conservative lies only makes conservatives cling to those lies even harder. In essence, schooling conservatives makes them more stupid.
Prof tells students: ‘Undermine Palin’
Students in an English class at Metropolitan State College in Denver have been told to assemble criticisms of GOP vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin that “undermine” her, and students say they are concerned about the apparent bias.
…
The assignment was just one issue that several students raised. Hallam, who previously told students he expected them to be “courteous,” assigned an essay about Palin’s nomination acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention.
“Arguably, the entire event was designed to present Sarah Palin in an idealized – indeed, as if her life is like a fairy tale in which America could be included if she is voted into office with John McCain,” he wrote in a copy of the assignment provided to WND by students. “Note her body language, facial expressions, the way she dressed, what she said and who she pointed out or talked about in her speech. How do these elements form a ‘fairy tale’ image about Sarah Palin as a person and as a politician that the Republican Party may wish its members and the American public to believe? How may the story ‘Sleeping Beauty’ and/or Tanith Lee’s ‘Awake’ be used to compare the image of Palin with fairy tales, especially as they portray women, their behavior, and their lives?”
He said students should find commentaries that criticize Palin.
“Using clear reasoning, explain how these sources may undermine or otherwise paint a different picture of Palin as a person and as a politician than what she or the Republican Party may wish the American public to believe,” he said.
There was no opening for students to find commentaries or statements supporting Palin or her positions. But Janna Barber, who is among the students who have raised concerns about the instructor, said she would do the assignment and include a number of supportive arguments as well.
OLPC faces ‘vicious’ rivalry in laptop market
When the One Laptop per Child organization first mooted the idea of a super low-cost laptop aimed at schoolchildren in the developing world some years ago, it was arguably on its own in the market.
Since the not-for-profit organization first unveiled its coveted wind-up PCs, however, it’s seen the number of commercial interests hungry for a piece of the same pie grow and grow.