Vamnali hall public meeting: manufacturing consent, infotainment
Cinematographer: Shaina Anand
Duration: 00:21:09; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 235.020; Saturation: 0.052; Lightness: 0.333; Volume: 0.399; Cuts per Minute: 38.574; Words per Minute: 120.734
Summary: Rough cut starts with shots of Dadar station. Meeting at Dadar called by Trade Union Solidarity Committee members after September 11, to condemn America's preparations for war in Afghanistan. Towards the latter portion of this clip, the filmmaker – Shaina Anand (SA) again turns the camera on mainstream media to follow the aftermath of 9/11 – the anthrax attacks, the attacks on Sikhs, the USA Patriot Act... numerous instances where the discerning individual should have an inkling as to the hypocrisy of America's War on Terror. The parody is more pronounced when we see scenes from the satirical American animated sitcom – The Simpsons, juxtaposed with the highly suggestive lyrics in two Hindi songs. Back and forth parallel cutting between Bush and Modi ensure the viewer detects the religious fundamentalism both leaders propagate.
It opens with a shot from the footbridge looking down at the trains and the tracks at Dadar, Railway Station. There are a series of shots, from the platform, following people rushing about, trains passing by, the general chaos in Mumbai's railway stations. The foot bridges, a panoramic view from the bridge, an overhead shot of the flower market just outside the station. All this while, a voice over by the owner/ Editor of the Mumbai-based Marathi daily Mahanagar - Nikhil Wagle at a Trade Union Solidarity Committee meeting in Vanmali Hall. anti-war demonstrations against America's war in Afghanistan.
Related links:
Nikhil Wagle
communalism
October 14, Dadar
?Wagle?: In the past 4 days, in the whole world, there have been anti-war demonstrations. On Sunday in London's Trafalgar Square, 50,000 people protested against the war. In Australia there were protests, in Germany there were protests. Likewise (
antiwar.com) and many other sites which you can find and access, where there are like-minded people, with whom we can build friendships with the war environment on one side, the anti-war movement should gather more strength, we should keep this in mind
Banner 1: Trade Union Solidarity Committee
Banner 2: Vanmali Hall
It's been a month since
September 11. I oppose any form of violence, be it in Bombay, Kashmir or New York. But when the violence happens in New York, or Washington, then America says it is a global fight. This of course doesn't surprise me at all, for the Americans are efficient with their marketing. They are smart... (keep this in mind). Our Pepsi's the world's Pepsi, Our Coca cola is the world's Coca cola, Our CNN is the world
s CNN, and so our war should be the world's war. This is the marketing they have been doing. For the past month through every broadcast medium.
9/11
Australia
Dadar Railway Station
Germany
London
Trafalgar Square
anti-war
australia
cable news network
cnn
coca cola
cocacola
dadar
flower market
germany
london
mumbai streets
nikhil wagle
pepsi
protest
railway station
september 11
terrorism
trade union solidarity committee
trafalgar square
tusc
vanmali hall
violence
war in afghanistan
worldwide protests
Vanmali Hall
america
2001 anthrax attacks
Mumbai
al qaeda
america
anti afghanistan war
anti american
anti war
banana boat song
black comedy
cable news network
cnn
coca cola
darul-islam
entertainment
extremists
fear
fundamentalism
george bush
global terror
hate crimes
imperialism
information
infotainment
islam
islamophobia
jihad
john ashcroft
manufacture consent
mumbai streets
muslim
narendra modi
nikhil wagle
parody
pepsi
september 11
sikh attacks
taliban
terror
terrorism
the simpsons
trade union solidarity committee
tusc
usa patriot act
worldwide protests
Nikhil Wagle continues to talk at the TUSC meeting. He talks about how US policies created Taliban. He uses the metaphor of a
burkha being torn off America's face to say that America's hypocrisy is now in the open.
Related links:
TUSC
Terrorism happened to America... so it's a huge thing. They (America) have murdered world over. Chemical weapons... Who started making them...? Vietnam war... that's when their airplanes started chemical and biological warfare. They've been used first by America. And today... I read a piece of news... this Laden, his parents and his family and Bush's family have business ties. Feel like doing it so create him... feel like doing so... so destroy. What is this! What sort of lethal imperialism is this... terrifying dangerous Imperialism. In the past month watching this black comedy, it's become some sort of entertainment. THE VEIL HAS BEEN TORN OFF AMERICA'S FACE rather dramatically. Insecurities are out in the open.
(Placard): US policies created Taliban - TUSC
You made Laden... he turned around, You made chemical weapons, they backfired, You made biological weapons, They hit back at you... And now you ask all of us " fight our war"...
Take stock of your own weapons, and what's happening to them, then tell the world... tell the world.
That
burkha has really been torn off America (keep this in mind).
biological warfare
chemical warfare
george bush
imperialism
osama bin laden
taliban
us policies created taliban
After the attack, there were increased on Asians, on Muslims, on Sikhs. The reason they are giving is that Sikhs have a turban and a beard and look like Laden, so people in America think they are Laden's army... hence the attacks. It is satire to me, a black comedy that's being played out, adn we are sitting on the edge and watching. And the irony here is that the middle class in India and upper middle class find these things so attractive. "America" means freedom in its Ultimate form.... America means wealth and prosperity...
America means security
Wagle continues about the aftermath of September 11... the hate crimes, the victimisation of Sikhs, Islamophobia and how ironic it is that the middle class in India still believes that America stands for freedom.
Related links:
Sikh attacks
9/11 aftermath
Dadar
beard
hate crimes
muslim attacks
post september 11
sikh attacks
turban
America
New York
Shots of footage from Television, and news coverage of 9/11 events and its aftermath. The clip begins with a montage that emphasises the 'American Dream' with shots of successful looking business people, an astronaut, scientists. Then there is a opera sounding lullaby ?--? that plays while the shot reveals a ?cityscape in New York?, the dome of the ?White House?, to the American flag. The next sequence jumps between news of the aftermath of 9/11 and a Hindi song with a multi-cultural group, many of them are wearing turbans, doing a song and dance sequence. The scene is taken from Hindi film
Aa Ab Laut Chalen set in New York with the Twin Towers in the landscape. The lyrics of the song are deviously juxtaposed with news coverage, and many meanings are implicit, explicit. News coverage include important events like the anthrax attacks and US policy changes like the controversial passing of the USA Patriot Act, the anthrax letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, mailed about a month after 9/11. The full text of the second anthrax letter: "You cannot stop us. We have this anthrax. You die now. Are you afraid? Death to America. Death to Israel. Allah is great." Even a proverb in Dari - is the Afghan dialect of Farsi (Persian) finds a spot in the montage. After this clever back adn forth, the last line in the song is about how nothing rings true in this foreign land... soon after which we loop back to the beginning of the clip with the 'Welcome to home of the world's best companies'.
Related links:
Dari
anthrax attacks
John Ashcroft
USA Patriot Act
CIA
Washington DC
Welcome to the home of the world's best companies
(NYSE): AOL Time Warner, General Electric, Pfizer, Tyco, EMC;
Johnson & Johnson, Hewlett-Packard, Vodafone, Wal-Mart, Alcatel;
Leaders across all industries...
Genentech, Viacom, Siemens, Vivendi, FedEx;
Texas Instruments, Home Depot, Wipro, SAP, AIG;
NYSE
Newsreader: Ashcroft is asking Law enforcement officials... why.... some 5000 people currently there on temporary visas.
US Attorney General John Ashcroft: We have in detention about 563 individuals, who are being detained on Immigration and Naturalisation Service items related to the events of September 9/11
Song: Dear mates, forgive me, I've come to tell you something, I want to explain something about myself to you.
Security personnel, bioterrorism squads in masks, uniformed soldiers and a man being frisked while Newsreader reads: Breaking News this evening, potential attacks against the US ?by a non specific target .....? gives the government to believe that there may be additional terrorist...
Newsreader: ?...? nearby Three Mile Nuclear Power Plant was being what they called a fresh...?--?
More frisking, more squads, a man in an FBI t-shirt are seen as the newsreader continues: FBI is coming in with a full team to the area, to try this track this down... This is serious.
Hindi song continues: Dear mates, please forgive me,
I've come to tell you something, I want to explain something about myself to you...
?Newsreader? Reading : Death to America, Death to Israel, You die now
The envelope of the anthrax letter addressed to Tom Brokaw, host of 'NBC Nightly News with Tom Brakow': Tom Brokaw NBC TV, 30 Rockefeller (Plaza), New York NY 10112
VO: We received positive tests for ?cutaneous? anthrax from one of our colleagues who works on ?__?
Rainbow Room, NBC TV Studio at Rockefeller Centre.
Shot of American Media building : VO: ?__?
Newsreader standing in front of the United States Postal Services building : An NBC employee has contracted a cutaneous anthrax...
Newsreader: Traces of anthrax discovered at a CIA mail-sorting facility
Newsreader: A White House mail screening facility also testing positive
Senate leader Tom Daschle : At about 10.15 this morning, a member of my staff opened an envelope.
AMERICA STRIKES BACK
Shots of women wearing head scarves while newsreader's voice over runs: Today's' most controversial recommendation is that immigrants should have to swear an open allegiance, declaring their loyalty to Britain. This goes further than the Home Secretary's comments that immigrants should learn English.
Hindi Song continues: My home's threshold calls out to me,
I yearn for my own kind (2)
Newsreader: Lift the segregation that communities ?condemned?, there could be worse trouble in the future
Race Report
Hindi song continues. In the background the Twin Towers are visible: In this foreign land... something doesn't feel right
United States Postal Service, Villa Park Station, Trenton, New Jersey with newsreader's VO: Anthrax has been found in at least 4 more post offices
Shot of Washington DC Postal Office with VO: The anthrax attacks continue. Today confirmation that two postal employees have died as a result of ?inhaling? Anthrax
Shot of sign which reads 'No mail Please thank you' while Newsreader VO: ?This prompted incredible scare?
Song continues: Do they still, in happy times send sweets to every house?
Footage of scientists in laboratory courtesy US Army with VO: Some disease organisms are so tiny, that a single drop of liquid culture may contain millions of them. Breathing in only a few could cause infection
Song: Come out your arms around me, I am but our shadow (gun shots are heard)
Proverb written in Urdu and translated into English: Whatever you don't like for yourself you must not like for others. - Proverb (Dari)
Bush: I don't have any anthrax.
Song: In this foreign land, nothing has the ring of truth,
Desire has no value here
Shot of American Flag. The ticker reads 'America Mourning while newsreader reads: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said quote "This place symbolises freedom."
Song: I have come to stay in your heart
Welcome to home of the world's best companies
AOL Time Warner, General Electric, Pfizer, Tyco, EMC;
Genentech, Viacom, Siemens, Vivendi, FedEx;
White House
2001 anthrax attacks
aig
alcatel
america
american flag
american media
anthrax letter
aol time warner
big blunkett
bioterrorism squad
central intelligence agency
cia
david blunkett
defense secretary donald rumsfeld
emc
fbi
fbi t-shirt
federal bureau of investigation
fedex
freedom
genentech
hewlett-packard
home depot
home secretary david blunkett
immigration and naturalisation service
johnson & johnson
music
nbc
new jersey
new york
new york stock exchange
pfizer
sap
segregation
siemens
texas instrument
three mile nuclear power plant
tom brokaw
tom daschle
twin towers
tyco
uk home secretary
united states postal services
us attorney general john ashcroft
vivendi
vodafone
wal-mart
washington dc
white house
wipro
general electric
viacom
In this clip the speaker illustrates the hegemony of the West over information and entertainment and argues that they manufacture consent. In between, there are clips from a Hindi or Bollywood Film Disco Dance and Song sequence -
Dil Chaata Hai a shot of underwear clad model on catwalk wearing a top with American Flag print on it, a shot from 'Simply Malaysia' TV advertisement with many brightly coloured Malay women, clever cuts with scenes from the ?popular? satirical American animated sitcom - The Simpsons with Nelson and Bart, shots from animated parody version of Harry Belafonte's Banana Boat Song (Day-O) - Osama bin Laden - Nowhere to run, Nowhere to hide, a shot of a BMW V8, followed by one of many formally dressed men shaking their heads, then an overhead shot of a traffic jam, and finally a shot of a cow's face and two women walk by shaking their heads.
Related links:
Dayo Banana Boat Song parody lyrics
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Manufacture consent
The Simpsons
Vanmali Hall
MJ Pandey: These are the biggest ones, there's Disney, Bertelsmann, Viacom, and the company that runs Star over here - News Corporation. These five companies, all Western infiltrate the entire globe's information, entertainment adn newer information technologies, all this is under their proprietorship. Our newspapers... waht are their sources? Again... all Western agencies - Reuters, AFP, UPI, APA... Associated Press. These are the four big agencies that spread news around the world. In the television sector, let's see who sells clips. There's the World Television Network... and Reuters TV. In the world of 24 hour news networks, we see three big players, all from the Western world. Of course most dominant here - CNN, FOX, CNBC, whose owners are General Electric and Microsoft. So our whole world of information and the world of entertainment and print media has been completely captured by Imperialism and its forces. If we don't understand this kind of Imperialism, we understand nothing of today's world.
THE MANUFACTURE OF CONSENT HAS BECOME A PROFIT-MAKING INDUSTRY. This agenda is very simple... it is a one-liner... to spread the 'American Model' across the globe. What is this 'American Model'? What are its important parts?
Malaysia
Song: That land of dreams is where we were bred
Nelson Muntz: Shows what you know. Hey check this out!
Song: Wherever we go, we spread the magic
Day O, Day O
Lady in advertisment: I know I'm not the biggest customer, but... they make me feel like one.
Song: We know how to steal your heart and your night's sleep. We are the new, why should our style be old?
Back to The Simspons where Nelson is shooting at a car, as Bart watches, Nelson: That's my dad's shooting car. Just three more payments and it's ours
Bart: oh Cool!
Shot of a ?--? man speaking with newsreader with VO: My wife and I will be able to fulfil our dream of buying a car, said this man. Because cuts in tariffs will make imported products affordable
Newsreader: Others too agree that cheaper imports will bring them higher living standards.
Maruti 1000 ad: ?--? the traffic
Newsreader: And for many urban consumers, that's definitely good news
Bart: I do what I want, when I want... oh God!
Song continues: We are the new, why should our style be old? (2)
MJ Pandey: We shall see that one value being pushed very hard is CONSUMERISM.
That you must buy, go out and buy, whether you have a need or not. Buying will bring you happiness. And related to this consumerism...
INDIVIDUALISM. Think for our own selves, not your neighbours, or neighbouring countries. These two go together - Consumerism and Individualism. The other value being created is a love for entertainment. Serious issues will come and go. Man must be entertained at all times... what has been called infotainment, the News too... must be entertaining. And so, entertainment rules
afp
american model
apa
associated press
bertelsmann
cheaper imports
cnbc
cnn
consumerism
disney
entertainment
fox
imperialism
individualism
information
mainstream media
manufacture consent
microsoft
news
profit-making
reuters
reuters tv
simpsons
star tv
television
upi
world television network
This clip has a lot of war footage that was shown on popular TV news Channels. They include shot of soldiers, guns firing, helicopters. shots of the war in Afghanistan, footage of American soldiers, one is jumping with a parachute, low-angle view of a tanker, tagline for CNN-'Be the first to know', shot of 2 simulated American soldiers lying in formation in the desert, ready to attack, a scene from Hindi film
?--? where man gestures with a paper plane, moer war footage with shots of bomb blasts and soldiers courtesy US Department of Defense (DOD), short clip from the flash animation where bombs are falling while Osama bin Laden is dodging them as Banana Boat Song Day O parody soundtrack plays. Some more scenes from the Simpsons. There is some stunning news footage of ancient caves near the site of US army bombing in Afghanistan where civilians are taking refuge. There are Shot of BBC's current affairs news programme - World Toda y introduction but camera focuses especially on WOR. Soundtracks of various News programmes - CNN, NDTV, Zee News.
Related links:
Dayo Banana Boat Song parody lyrics
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The Simpsons
War in Afghanistan
More intriguing, more complex, more compelling
VO: US fighters and bombers taking out key Taliban targets
Song: The world's going bad.. let it go, The world is fighting... let them fight, We will sing our tune
CNN News anchor: Look at the world from a broader perspective
Newsreader: Several teams are cocked and ready to go in
The Simpsons:
Bart: Can I get a shot now?
Nelson: Hang on. First I've got to try peg you in the stomach
Bart: Mmmm....
Now let's play with airplanes... Sir?
Song: The world is upset... Let it be,
Ties are breaking... let them break
We lost someone ... who cares? Do not fear.
?--? 80% of US bombing is now pounding frontline Taliban troops
That US jets continue to attack Taliban frontline positions
??: I would like to show you some gun and camera footage showing target destructions
Pressure continued today with further bombing of...
Nawaz Shariff...
?...? Al Qaeda...
?--?Direct the bombing to make it more ?evil? more effective
From the animation: One bomb, two bomb, hit the floor
Bart Simspon: That's all I got
DOD footage: In this case the picture speaks for itself
Newsreader: As these pictures from Al Jazeera show
... but some bombas are still hitting the caves
Shot of a set of caves with newsreader's VO: ... beside them, people dispossessed are now living in the ancient caves
... ?--? by bad weather, small arms fire
Song: Lightning flashes in our eyes, Our breath is a storm, What is fear or loss, We don't even know
Shot of children walking near caves: Nasruddin's family has been here for over a week now, and see no way out. Their house is destroyed and they have no resources or money to rebuild it.
Song: It's for us, isn't it, the sky and the land.
This small space, open to the weather will be home for all 5, until they are given help.
Shot of 'what lies' with VO: What is on the surface and what lies beneath
Newsreader: Nowhere to resupply... and nowhere to go...
Newsreader: Is about perspectives...
Newsreader: Cut off supply lines and communications
and present different points of views
Song: Beyond even the skies is where we belong
TV Screen shot - Media Partners, 25, Review, M&CSaatchi, Official Hotel, Shangri-La Hotels and resorts with VO: Media Partners
Strategic Intelligence, Independent research - Insightful decisions with VO: and a ?--? research partner
?BBC? newsreader: They have little of their old life left, and they have almost nothing to eat. This proud family are making the best...
NDTV newsreader: Time now for a break coming up
?American? Newsreader: And we'll have more news for you at the top of the hour now back to...
Song: We will keep singing the song in our hearts
Afghanistan
al jazeera
al qaeda
ancient caves near bombing
bombs
caves
day obanana boat song parody
dispossessed
guns
nawaz shariff
news programmes soundtracks
soldiers
us department of defense
war in afghanistan
Sound of applause, TuSC: In the past month... via broadcast and the TV war, the images that we have seen of the Muslim society, a wrong message is being sent to the whole world, you and me too. Small children ask me, young kids ask me, 'Why are Muslims like this?" This reminds me of the time of the riots, but we've seen the people Thackeray hurt, 10 years ago. Ashok Singhal and his
Bajrang Dal, we've seen them knock the Babri Masjid down. Fundamentalism exists in Hinduism also, in Christianity also, in Buddhism too, it exists as the same evil in all religions among all people who blinker their eyes and cover their ears adn don't like to see another point of view. I find absolutely no difference between Laden and different types of fanaticism, their colours might be different, their faces are one, their methods are one (keep this in mind). Just like Thackeray and Singhal can't represent all Hindus, so also Laden and the Shahi Imam cannot represent all Muslims (keep this in mind). Please tell this to the people... tell this to them.
FRIENDS WE HAVE TO BE WARY OF ALL THIS... BECAUSE ONE TERRORIST ALWAYS ASSISTS THE OTHER... THEY WORK TOGETHER. OSAMA BIN LADEN IS GOING TO REALLY HELP THACKERAY, ADVANI AND ASHOK SINGHAL, of this I have no doubt, no doubt at all. Terrorism does not create itself over night. Terrorism cannot be wiped out in a day either. Terrorism is a deformity of humanity,and this distortion is created by society. Its establishments, its systems. ONE THE ONE SIDE WE HAVE TO RESIST IMPERIALISM, BUT ALSO WE HAVE TO RESIST FUNDAMENTALISM OF ALL KINDS (KEEP THIS IN MIND). AND WHEN WE CONDEMN FUNDAMENTALISM, I DON'T JUST MEAN LADEN AND ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM, BUT ALL FAITHS... HINDU FUNDAMENTALISM INCLUDED
VO from NDTV Promotional Piece: You often overlook the most important point, myopic views can cloud your vision. For the right look at the world over with us, Watch news of the day through our looking glass. The day looks clear.
TUSC meeting at Vanmali Hall, Wagle is still addressing those present. He expresses his concern of the growing Islamophobia and the criminilisation of Muslims, and says that fundamentalism exists in all religions and that the fundamentalists are not representatives of that religion.
The shot goes back to the road outside Dadar Station, the bridge, the road from a train compartment, to a shot of street lamps to a shot of a new moon in the sky. A bus goes by and soon after, a fire truck races by. Passing Mahim Church a church sign reads 'The right train of thought cant make you to a better station in life' and another sign reads 'Our Lady of Salvation'
Mahim Church
Siddhivinayak
Vanmali Hall
advani
ashok singhal
babri masjid
bajrang dal
church sign
dadar station
fanaticism
fire truck
fundamentalism
mahim church
new moon
new moon
railway station
shahi imam
street lamps
thackeray
Montage where Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi makes statements that are juxtaposed with George Bush and his justifications for his war in Afghanistan. Also shots of then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and news coverage of the war are woven into eachother.
Narendra Modi Profile
Narendra Modi: These people have a political road-map. They have dividewd the world into 3 parts.
Bush: I want justice and... there's an old poster out West taht I recall says 'Wanted'
Modi: Not just for one person but for all humanity and their wishes
Jihad (Striving in the name of God) becomes religious ?obligation? of all Muslims
Blair: They want to put Islam against Christianity
Comes from Mr Bin Laden himself
Modi: Darul-Islam (Islamic Fundamentalism), the idea to convert the whole world
Blair: They want to put Arab against Western
Bush: We are smoking out his cave
Modi: This is the major thinking of the Indian philosophy
Shot of anti-war protests, burning of theAmerican flag: ?Osama Zinda Hain!?
Modi: When I say
Musalman (one who voluntarily surrenders his will to Allah ), it does not mean Islam
Bush: We don't hold any religion accountable. We are fighting evil.
Osama Bin Laden
Modi: Because you cannot blame a religion, and one should not
BBC newsreader: Osama bin Laden
Bush: We donot fight against Islam,
We fight against evil
Bin Laden's role
Bush: Our war is against evil, not against Islam
Discovery Channel: Osama bin Laden
Modi: And we are not against any religion...And no one should be... and any Hindu can never be
Whatever message you try to sell through repetition, repetition, repetition
arab
christianity
darul-islam
george bush
islam
jihad
justice
narendra modi
osama bin laden
sell
tony blair
west
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