Comments on: The Perversity of Propaganda http://visualcultureblog.com/2012/05/the-perversity-of-propaganda/ Visual Culture, Politics and Criticism. Thu, 09 May 2013 16:45:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: duckrabbit http://visualcultureblog.com/2012/05/the-perversity-of-propaganda/#comment-107362 duckrabbit Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:13:15 +0000 http://visualcultureblog.com/?p=1485#comment-107362 By the way I believe these are not even the Assad's children. By the way I believe these are not even the Assad’s children.

]]> By: admin http://visualcultureblog.com/2012/05/the-perversity-of-propaganda/#comment-60306 admin Thu, 31 May 2012 07:52:04 +0000 http://visualcultureblog.com/?p=1485#comment-60306 Mike, I am glad to hear that your co-worker's experience of pre-revolution Syria was that everything was normal. Where did he go? Did he go to Damascus, did he go to Homs, or did he go to a little village? What religion, if any, does he belong to? Is he an Alawite? Sunni? Christian? Druze? Does he have any political allegiances? Does he, or any of his family, work for the state? My point is that your statement that 'everything was business as usual' really depends on whom you are referring to. Syria didn't just become a repressive regime over night. Human rights abuses and the violent crackdown on the opposition were escalating long before the beginning of the revolution. Have a look at Amnesty International reports on Syria if you are interested. As for the reading of the photograph, it is obvious that James Nachtwey was asked to portray Asma in a particular light. I am not suggesting that she was told to hold on to the Lego box, yet at the same time, the Lego box fulfils an important function in the image as it signifies a family-friendly atmosphere and an encounter with the West via one of it's celebrated products. It's hard to believe Bashar al-Assad would be hanging on to the Lego box. Instead, he appears to be engaged with his son playing with a car. The later activity is less focused on 'building', or 'constructing' than it is focussing on 'driving' or 'racing'. These two significations stand in contrast to each other and are clearly emphasised in the photograph. Do you have an alternative reading? I am curious to know. For me, the photograph is highly propagandistic. Mike, I am glad to hear that your co-worker’s experience of pre-revolution Syria was that everything was normal. Where did he go? Did he go to Damascus, did he go to Homs, or did he go to a little village? What religion, if any, does he belong to? Is he an Alawite? Sunni? Christian? Druze? Does he have any political allegiances? Does he, or any of his family, work for the state? My point is that your statement that ‘everything was business as usual’ really depends on whom you are referring to. Syria didn’t just become a repressive regime over night. Human rights abuses and the violent crackdown on the opposition were escalating long before the beginning of the revolution. Have a look at Amnesty International reports on Syria if you are interested.

As for the reading of the photograph, it is obvious that James Nachtwey was asked to portray Asma in a particular light. I am not suggesting that she was told to hold on to the Lego box, yet at the same time, the Lego box fulfils an important function in the image as it signifies a family-friendly atmosphere and an encounter with the West via one of it’s celebrated products. It’s hard to believe Bashar al-Assad would be hanging on to the Lego box. Instead, he appears to be engaged with his son playing with a car. The later activity is less focused on ‘building’, or ‘constructing’ than it is focussing on ‘driving’ or ‘racing’. These two significations stand in contrast to each other and are clearly emphasised in the photograph. Do you have an alternative reading? I am curious to know. For me, the photograph is highly propagandistic.

]]> By: Mike http://visualcultureblog.com/2012/05/the-perversity-of-propaganda/#comment-59904 Mike Tue, 29 May 2012 08:56:42 +0000 http://visualcultureblog.com/?p=1485#comment-59904 At the time of the photo shoot, a revolution in Syria was not occuring. A co-worker born and raised in Syria even travelled back there with his wife to visit friends and famuly and everything was business as usual. I really think you are grasping at straws here. A lego box is no coincidence? Are you kidding me? At the time of the photo shoot, a revolution in Syria was not occuring. A co-worker born and raised in Syria even travelled back there with his wife to visit friends and famuly and everything was business as usual.
I really think you are grasping at straws here. A lego box is no coincidence? Are you kidding me?

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