Using Arts for Conservative Purposes
by Michael van der GalienBig Hollywood and Big Government have done tremendous work in recent weeks. They have proved without a doubt that the Obama administration and its allies have gone too far. They’ve crossed the line. Federal agencies are turned into propaganda tools. This is something we haven’t seen in the U.S. since, well, ever. This administration knows no shame. Everything is permissible in order to push its legislative agenda through the collective throat of the American people. And the MSM are covering it all up, refusing to spend time and attention to the ACORN scandal first and now the NEA scandal.
It’s a good thing there are conservatives willing to expose this administration for what it is.
President Obama and Kalpen Modi, Associate Director of the Office of Public Engagement
But the question is, what’s next? How can this be countered and how can the Obama administration be forced to back down? As it is, liberal groups, news organizations and individuals continue to cover up for the administration. Perhaps someone will be thrown under the bus again, but the thugs of Team Obama will remain in place and continue to “transform America.”
Exposing their tactics is necessary to fight them, but it’s not enough to actually beat them. Mr. Breitbart and team have learned that the tactics the left has used against conservatives for decades; to discredit them works wonders. But if conservatives want to take back the government, we have to copy the left’s organizing skills as well.
It’s an outrage that the NEA has been turned into a propaganda tool by the most liberal president the U.S. has ever had. But there is a reason the administration spoke to artists on the August conference call and was willing to take the risk of exposure: artists influence the people. The effect isn’t always immediate–it may take years for artists to truly influence society as a whole–but it’s there. If you want to “transform” society you need artists on your side.
Liberals have always understood this. They’ve been working with artists for decades. A lot of art already is politicized. The only reason this is a scandal now is because the radical left isn’t some fringe group at this moment but is in charge of the government. As Buffy Wicks put it, “we [meaning they] won.”
If they weren’t in charge of the government but were still activists, some would still be outraged, but it would not be considered a big thing. The strategy is nothing new–the only new aspect of it is that these people have taken over the government and continue to use artists as propaganda tools.
Whether we like it or not, this strategy has paid off. Liberals have influenced society tremendously by, among other things, using the arts to indoctrinate the American people. They’ve done this in the United States and in Europe. They’re influencing society by doing what free market thinker Friedrich Hayek told conservatives to do: getting second-hand dealers of ideas on their side who then slowly but surely influence society by a constant and never-ceasing flow of propaganda.
If we conservatives want to fight back in the long run, instead of just bringing down this particular liberal administration, we have to do what liberals have been doing for years. We too have to get as many second hand dealers of ideas on our side. Then and only then will be successful in the long run.
Breitbart has taught us that the strategies the left has used to discredit the right can be used against them. We have to act on that, continue to do what Breitbart and some here at Big Hollywood have been doing. But we have to do more than that: we have to destroy and create. And the wonderful thing is that to do this we can learn from the left once again, we can use their tactics against them in this aspect as well.
If we want the victories of the last weeks to be permanent, we should copy the left’s strategy in every way possible. Destroy and create.
Let’s get going.
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65 Comments
That's a photo of a drug deal you've posted there. Obama just scored some wicked chronic from Kumar.
It is ironic Obama can fire the head of GM but can't touch the heads of ACORN. He even worked there and knows where some of the bodies are burried.
So let me get this straight. After all the posts on this site about Obama propaganda and Obama=goebbels, and how artists shouldn't just tow a government line, now you're saying propaganda is fine as long as it's conservative?
Hmmmmmm.
Is it me, or do they look like they are about to French Kiss?
[...] behalf of contributor; Update: A Michelle Obama connection? Michael van der Galien, Big Hollywood: Using Arts for Conservative Purposes Sister Toldjah: Profiles in liberal hypocrisy Mark Epstein: Sarah Palin scares “children.” Why [...]
Yep, still waiting for those movies, TV shows and poster art about freedom and getting the government off your back in out of your wallet.
Yep. Still waiting.
Yep.
Never happen. Not a f_cking chance. The Left owns Hollywood and the conservative money men are all either RINOs or too f_cking stupid to see that this is where their money needs to go.
Check out the Conservative Music Underground at: http://www.myspace.com/rogerweber
Rock music that leans to the right can be hip and fun, not preachy and whiny. Give it a listen!
Never happen. Not a f_cking chance. The Left owns Hollywood and the conservative money men are all either RINOs or a bunch of p_ssies who can never be convinced to pour their money down what they see as a hole.
It wouldn't be okay if it came from a president's administration or a judge or a congressman or a non-partisan group. If it comes from individuals or groups that are allowed to be partisan then it's okay for both/all sides.
I totally agree with you. The left gets very angry when we conservatives speak of morals, but that is basically what holds us back. They play dirty, they cheat, and they lie–then they deny it all and point at the conservatives.
I would love to see the Republican Party work together to bring about real change. Honest change that will benefit our children and be a source of patriotic pride.
Hey, are you gonna have a new edition of "Nobama" for 2012?
The bombast and holier than thou propaganda that Roger Ailes, Dick Cheney, Robert Nowak, Rush Limbaugh,Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, Dennis Miller, and Sarah Palin have created is so confusing and filled with deceit that Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike can not separate them as Politicians, Entertainers and Spin Doctors. Ailes in particular is responsible for this lack of distinction and consequently partly to blame for our great country slipping into a sad bi-partisan abyss. Conservatives who say that their camp is truthful and fighting a disparity of media untruths are either liars or ignorant.
Either way they don't deserve to lead a country or for that matter a school district.
If the Right adopts all of the Left's strategies, we'd be no better than they are as we'd have to adopt their mindset of lies, deceit, extortion and thuggery as well to totally defeat them. I don't see that happening while still maintaining our standards, morals and ethics. Some methods will work to a certain degree without compromising our principals however you need follow all of the rules in the Liberal handbook to truly defeat them and then we'd be no better than they are.
Right now the Left is vastly over-reaching and that is what will do them in. That along with sites such as this to expose the garbage they are pulling on a daily basis will tip the scales back to the right. More and more of the public are getting fed up with all the Left is trying to do to this Country, even those that lean to the Left .
Wrote a piece on the right and creative types who are right. We are rubbish and helping our own.
There is an error, there has been a time when Government Sponsered Propoganda was the norm. That time was the Great Depression and President F.D.R. was the sponser. How many murals have you seen in your lifetime that was done during the depression? They use the heroic stance and poses. They glorify the worker. I could go on but there is more than a passing similarity to Faccist and Nazi and Communists Propoganda of the time. You also have to remember that FDR was an fan of Mousilini. FDR believed there was no problem that a properly motivated government could not solve. I was actually quite popular during those times.
There is an error, there has been a time when Government Sponsered Propoganda was the norm. That time was the Great Depression and President F.D.R. was the sponser. How many murals have you seen in your lifetime that was done during the depression? They use the heroic stance and poses. They glorify the worker. I could go on but there is more than a passing similarity to Facist and Nazi and Communists Propoganda of the time. You also have to remember that FDR was an fan of Mousilini. FDR believed there was no problem that a properly motivated government could not solve. I was actually quite popular during those times.
WOW, had never thought of that. How do you become so arrogant, and if your a woman, how do you stay married to a person like that. Unless that is how you are too. Two completely selfish people. I guess the trip to NYC confirmed that.
I figured he was asking about the cucumber in the guy's pocket….
I have a kid (16)in High School and Junior College at the same time and leans a little left but even he was bothered that his U.S. History teacher (J.C.) was very anti U.S. in his teachings.How do you defeat %75 of college teachers where we have to send our kids.They've got years to spread the left wing agenda to thousands of kids.
The good thing (for conservatives) is that liberals are natural cowards. Consider how many roaches ran for cover when the ACORN videos first broke. Liberals are aonly strong when they gang up on someone they perceive to be weaker. As soon as that perception fails, they'll bolt, bleat, and sell their own mothers to save their own skins. At the very worst, we can fall back on the Washington method and I'm not talking about DC.
The good thing (for conservatives) is that liberals are natural cowards. Consider how many roaches ran for cover when the ACORN videos first broke. Liberals are only strong when they gang up on someone they perceive to be weaker. As soon as that perception fails, they'll bolt, bleat, and sell their own mothers to save their own skins. At the very worst, we can fall back on the Washington method and I'm not talking about DC.
It's only confusion to liberals. To people that like freedom, personal responsibility, and small government have no trouble at all grasping the concept. Sorry if all that goes over your head.
It's only confusion to liberals. To people that like freedom, personal responsibility, and small government, there is no trouble at all grasping the concept. Sorry if all that goes over your head.
Maybe we need to start out building a Republican party. There is a good reason we are starting out again as grass roots. We have many elitist currently running this party. While the Democrats have a machine.
Looks to me like ol' Kumar there is thinking "Barry, babe, ya know I love ya, but man, go easy on the garlic"
Palmtree, you must have missed this sentence–
"the only reason this is a scandal now is because the radical left isn’t some fringe group at this moment but is in charge of the government. ".
It's not a matter of artists influencing society, but rather the government actively recruiting artists to convince people to buy into one party's pet programs. That's why it's a problem. The NEA is supposed to be apolitical. It was created to support art for art's sake, not be a mouthpiece for whomever is in power at the time.
[...] Using Arts for Conservative Purposes – An interesting piece by Michael van der Galien about beating the progressives at their own game. Destroy and create. [...]
Well Truth Hurts appearently the truth isn't the only thing that hurts you, I think cognitive thinking might make you wince a little too. The distinction that seems to be slipping your grasp is that the truth is what conservatives strive for, whereas deception is the goal for liberals. Still don't believe me, spend a few hours on Youtube reviewing any of Obama's campaign speeches and then make a list of how many of those promises have been kept versus those that were blatantly broken. As a courtesy I'll give you a heads up for things to look for: no lobbyists, greater transparency, not raising taxes, responsible spending, campaign finance, bi-partisan cooperation, and about a dozen others I'm forgetting at the moment.
I will agree with you that conservatives are not being truthful about fighting media untruths, but only in as much as it is difficult to disprove a story that has never been reported on to begin with by the MSM. Ah didn't see that one coming did you?
" …Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike can not separate them as Politicians"
You include Republicans and Independents yet you only list conservatives as people "confusing and filled with deceit". You really think people on your side are that stupid? I'll help you out. Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin have been politicians, not talk show hosts. Robert Novak was a columnist and appeared on TV but was not a politician. Only Ailes was in the Whitehouse as an Media Consultant to Nixon, Reagan, GHW Bush and Giuliani and involved in entertainment. All the others are talk show hosts and authors, not politicians. Notice that all but one of the people on your list are either politicos or entertainers, but not both.
On the other side we have people like the very Liberal James Carville who was a strategist for the Clinton campaign and a cohost of CNN's Crossfire, appears often on CNN's news program, The Situation Room, and hosts a weekly program on XM Radio. Then there's the Leftist Al Frankin, who had his own "The Al Franken Show" on Air America whose goal was to "get Bush unelected". He has since gone on become a Senator from Minnesota. There's George Stephanopoulos, former Clinton Advisor and Communications Director and now ABC News's Chief Washington Correspondent along with his own Sunday show. Before Meet the Press, Tim Russert worked as a special counsel, and later as chief of staff, to U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Democrat from New York. In 1983, he became the counsel to New York Governor Mario Cuomo, also a Democrat.
I'd say your side has plenty of people mixing politics with entertainment. Truth Hurts, doesn't it?
Consider this author as a part of the new conservative war of ideas.
Envision a superhero who actually takes faith seriously, and utilizes conservative principles in their lives.
No, no – I see what you're saying, but ultimately, morals aren't arbitrary the "benefit" of playing dirty, cheating and lying comes at a HUGE cost. And, there is intrinsic benefit to leading a moral life, not the least of which is participating in the creator's overall plan for humanity, which will ultimately succeed. We have to have grace with one another, and not be puritanical in our endeavor to lead moral lives. But we shouldn't view our endeavor as a disadvantage, either! Far from it!
This is a big task before us: sorting out how to adopt effective strategies that are legit, and reject those tactics that are unacceptable. For example, we need to clear up the ambiguity between art that is "propaganda," and art that is useful and persuasive, with the primary difference being its source. We can't throw out legitimate strategies just because the left uses them as well!
I'm grateful for this post and this discussion. As a conservative graphic designer myself, I've been asking the same questions and searching for answers. Those with the cash and the organization on our side need to befriend some quality designers, fast. I find that our side tends to think it shouldn't have to bother with mere packaging, that the brilliance of its logic should be enough. But that treats people like robots, not like humans that respond to their environment based on far more than cold logic. Designers are experts at studying how people tend to interpret visual data, and then creating effective communication. And effective communication = persuasion.
I think what Palmtree was getting at was that Michael wasn't advocating for conservative art to be created by the government – propaganda, which is objectionable – but that it be created by citizen conservatives, thus not objectionable. Thus your original argument is invalid.
Truther:
All your post really amounts to is an exercise in holier-than-thou namecalling. Give me a couple of examples of the "deceit" that Robert Nowak and Dennis Miller have created, and we'll go from there.
(Dennis Miller? What the Hell?)
"We are rubbish"? What does that mean, exactly?
Work on your self-esteem, pal.
Does he have to wear spandex?
I don't think the right can emulate what the left has done the last 30 years, at least not on the same scale. The left has relied on deceit and double talk to get where they are today. They do so knowing their base is too lazy to think for themselves and too ignorant to know any better. Just look at what they've done to public schools and inner city communities for example. It is the core of their belief system to deny any responsibility for every aspect of their failings. The result of this is all too often another lie and extensive finger pointing to someone else.
Conservatives just don't roll that way. We usually take full responsibilty, even when it's not warranted, for our mistakes. So until the general population wakes up and sees that it was liberal policies that have impoverished them for so long, I don't see how we can overcome this disparity. Don't get me wrong we are making slight headway, just not enough to really turn the tables in a significant and lasting way.
And if we adopt too many of their tactics, then what have we really won?
While art is part of the equation, the schools are an even bigger influence. We need vouchers, NOW, EVERYWHERE, and we need to take the voucher money out of the government schools. We need to fre the teachers from the thugs who own their unions. And we need to write the textbooks.
But that is for the long run, for the children. For the adults, yes, we need artists. I think however the time is right for conservative voices to get a hearing. Here (Bighollywood) are some of the seeds of this movement, and I think we can make it grow.
Heather, the graphic designer, addresses the more important part of the problem, i.e., putting your money behind the "second-hand dealers of ideas". Having writers, filmmakers, musicians, artists on your side is not possible if they do not have the venue to produce and sell their art. Rush Limbaugh is not where he is because he's a conservative and has a radio program – he's where he is because 20 million people tune in each week. The Passion is not in the top 20 films of all time, and the #1 R-rated film because of its content, but because millions of people bought tickets. A conservative artist knows that "coming out" may keep him/her from getting the job or negatively impact book, ticket, CD sales; until you have conservatives who head up studios, publishing houses and music companies – the public has to be the "equalizer" by going green in the one way that counts.
I think am great caption for the picture would be " I'm going to kiss you, Kalpin" , "not until you've had a breath mint, lover!".
Machine? More like Rube Goldberg: Of, pertaining to, or being a contrivance that brings about by complicated means what apperantly could be accomplished simply. Like using eight D cell batteries to recharge one D cell rechargeable. There are uberelitists in the dumbicrat party. Yes, we Repubs need to get our act together, but we mus'nt look to the other party as inspiration.
[...] Michael van der Gailen on Big Hollywood [...]
There's a reason Lenin coined the term "useful idiots".
Don't question the spandex.
Here's a novel thought.
Make ART without "liberal tell", sucker punches or propaganda.
Then cast the film with actors whose political ideology is unknown, directed by a director who didn't sign the the petition in favor of a child rapist, produced by a producer who hasn't shot off his or her mouth about his/her politics.
Why not make a Tom Clancy novel as written? Option "Two Seconds After" about the devastation to America when nukes create an electromagnetic pulse that fries all electronic circuits in the nation. Talk about a "Mad Max" fright. Andrew Klavan's book about stopping a terrorist attack at the Kennedy Center was a page turner. Film it. Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen Here" about a Fascist takeover of the USA might make a good film (haven't finished it yet). "Waiting" was a marvelous, intellectual science fiction thriller. How come no one has optioned that book?
Until then, we continue our unorganized, quiet, unpublicized boycott of Lefty films. Let's hope "2010" is the next bomb. Cuzack deserves it.
I've been wondering about a kind of "conservative Facebook." A very simple, easy-to-use Web site which would allow candidates and organizers to connect with supporters and volunteers. Make it sortable by activity type and location. Using my own region as an example, I simply don't know about any rallies in the area until after they happen. And my attempts to volunteer for a candidate last fall fell on deaf ears. It would be highly useful if a candidate could quickly call up the names of everyone within a given district willing to drive voters or stuff envelopes or whatever. Anybody have some seed capital and a couple of servers to spare?
Great idea. You would be beating them at their own game, too. How would you keep the riff-raff out?
and here I thought he looked as if about to kiss him a wet sloppy one.
Was thinking the exact same thing.
noooooobama Umm umm Ummmm
noooooobama Umm umm Ummmm
But you see time amd time again those principles keep getting in the way of the ever more extreme democrat.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Michael Chavez and csrock. csrock said: Big Hollywood » Blog Archive » Using Arts for Conservative Purposes http://bit.ly/SrnkV [...]
Looks like Obumbler is a bit of a "close talker".
What's the problem, palmtree? Don't like the idea of the liberal playbook of lying, cheating and corruption used against you?
Yeah, Dick Cheney is awesome!
There are lots of books – bestselling books – which would have been made into thrilling movies already if it weren´t for the ideology. As it is they have the wrong ideals, the wrong villains, the wrong heroes for modern H´wood.
I sometimes wonder if even Die Hard could be made today the way it was. Remember that it pits a regular American against a bunch of extremely arrogant foreigners who don´t know their western heroes.
Hans Gruber: "…but who are you? Just another American who saw too many movies as a child? Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he's John Wayne? Rambo? Marshal Dillon?"
People pay real money to see such a guy getting his ass kicked. But H´wood thinks it´s above that.
I just got involved in grassroots Republican politics, and the people are VERY nice. I haven't been to any meetings yet, but there's one coming up. When the house district chairman emailed about local meetings, they said, "If anyone needs a ride, we've got X number of people willing to drive you to and from the meeting." That's a sort of organizing technique, to make sure no one's situation prevents their participation. I look forward to putting my name on the "willing to give rides" list.
Also, the local organization abhors the thought of another McCain-type presidential candidate. We're working to make our corner of the GOP a conservative one. No wimps out on the tough issues. Another impressive thing: Even those who have their pet causes aren't Johnny-one-notes. It's really great, and it makes one (me, at least) feel more useful by making this effort. I'm very encouraged by what I've heard and read thus far.
I just got involved in grassroots Republican politics, and the people are VERY nice. I haven't been to any meetings yet, but there's one coming up. When the house district chairman emailed about local meetings, he wrote, "If anyone needs a ride, we've got X number of people willing to drive you to and from the meeting." That's a sort of organizing technique, to make sure no one's situation prevents their participation. I look forward to putting my name on the "willing to give rides" list.
Also, the local organization abhors the thought of another McCain-type presidential candidate. We're working to make our corner of the GOP a conservative one. No wimps out on the tough issues. Another impressive thing: Even those who have their pet causes aren't Johnny-one-notes. It's really great, and it makes one (me, at least) feel more useful by making this effort. I'm very encouraged by what I've heard and read thus far.
I just got involved in grassroots Republican politics, and the people are VERY nice. I haven't been to any meetings yet, but there's one coming up. When the house district chairman emailed about local meetings, he wrote, "If anyone needs a ride, we've got X number of people willing to drive you to and from the meeting." That's a sort of organizing technique, making sure no one's situation prevents their participation. I look forward to putting my name on the "willing to give rides" list.
Also, the local organization abhors the thought of another McCain-type presidential candidate. We're working to make our corner of the GOP a conservative one. No wimps out on the tough issues. Another impressive thing: Even those who have their pet causes aren't Johnny-one-notes. It's really great, and it makes one (me, at least) feel more useful by making this effort. I'm very encouraged by what I've heard and read thus far.
I just got involved in grassroots Republican politics, and the people are VERY nice. I haven't been to any meetings yet, but there's one coming up. When the house district chairman emailed about local meetings, he wrote, "If anyone needs a ride, we've got X number of people willing to drive you to and from the meeting." That's a sort of organizing technique, making sure no one's situation prevents their participation. I look forward to putting my name on the "willing to give rides" list.
Also, the local organization abhors the thought of another McCain-type presidential candidate. We're working to make our corner of the GOP a conservative one. No one wimps out on the tough issues. Another impressive thing: Even those who have their pet causes aren't Johnny-one-notes. It's really great, and it makes one (me, at least) feel more useful by making this effort. I'm very encouraged by what I've heard and read thus far.
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