The Writing on the Ground

Since the birth of writing, rulers have dictated their values to be spread with the written word. General literacy is a relatively recent phenomena. It provides the common people with the ability to distribute their values.

Having the ability and having the possibility are two different things. The means of production and channels of distribution are in the hands of the rulers. Practically all newspapers, magazines, books, films and TV-programs are corporate products. Corporations are profit hunting enterprises with an interest in maintaining the prevailing order and promoting the glory of money while marginalizing the needs of people.

There is the internet, you say. Yes, there is. It is a possibility.
It’s where a YouTube film about a cute cat (there are many of them) can generate millions of views while an important talk by Michael Parenti (there are many of them) gathers a few 1000 viewers.

I don’t know why I bother.

“They say the play of life is a tragedy,
We know how it ends, you see.
But there’s no director, script, rehearsals or plot
and each actor thinks they play a major role.
That’s a farce to me.”
Dartwill Aquila

(Tomorrow: Media and Murder)