[Englecturers] ENGL 1C

[Joshua Fenton]

For anyone teaching 1C, check out Frontline's "Persuaders" episode,
available in full online at
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/

 

The episode is divided into 4 fifteen minute segments and is a wonderful
expose on the applicability of semiotics in the marketplace and politics.
Here is a brief description from the website:

In "The Persuaders," FRONTLINE explores how the cultures of marketing and
advertising have come to influence not only what Americans buy, but also how
they view themselves and the world around them. The 90-minute documentary
draws on a range of experts
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/interviews/>  and
observers of the advertising/marketing world, to examine how, in the words
of one on-camera commentator, "the principal of democracy yields to the
practice of demography," as highly customized messages are delivered to a
smaller segment of the market.

Take the 2004 presidential sweepstakes for example. Both the Republicans and
the Democrats were prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to custom craft
their messages. "What politicians do is tailor their message to each
demographic group," says
<http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/persuaders/interviews/swire.h
tml>  Peter Swire, professor of law at Ohio State University and an expert
on Internet policy. "That means.Americans will live in different virtual
universes. What's wrong with living in different universes? You never
confront the other side. You don't have to deal with the uncomfortable facts
that go against your worldview..It hardens the partisanship that's been such
a feature of recent American politics."

 

You can buy the DVD, but why when access is free?

 

Joshua Fenton

 

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