Arts / Culture

The Best Propaganda Ever

by Sheldon Rampton — December 21, 2007 - 9:40am

Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will" is sometimes ranked as the most effective propaganda film of all time, although she claimed that it was simply an "art film."

The latest email bulletin from the

Main Source: 
http://listverse.com/politics/top-10-propaganda-videos/

Playing Public Relations Games

by Diane Farsetta — December 13, 2007 - 2:22pm

"Sixty percent of US consumers polled agree that the government should regulate the sale of violent or mature video games," states a press release from the PR firm Hill & Knowlton (H&K).

Main Source: 
Washington Post, December 11, 2007

A Preview of "Stop-Loss": A Film by Kimberly Peirce

by Judith Siers-Poisson — November 19, 2007 - 3:29pm
  • Topics: Iraq, Arts / Culture, Ethics, Human Rights, Politics, U.S. Government, War / Peace

    • On Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Hollywood came to Madison, Wisconsin. Paramount Pictures sponsored a free pre-release screening of "Stop-Loss," which is due to hit theaters nationwide on March 28, 2008. (It will be released in the U.K. on April 18, 2008.) Writer and director Kimberly Peirce, best known for directing "Boys Don't Cry," was in attendance and took part in an extended questions and answer session after the screening.

    Nike's Hunt for Cool

    by Diane Farsetta — October 25, 2007 - 5:10pm

    Big brands often rely on "coolhunters" to "scour the globe's streets, stores, clubs and hidden haunts picking up clues as to what's hot, what's next. ... At Nike, the drive to recruit under-the-radar influencers like [Los Angeles tattoo artist] Mr. Cartoon is on the rise and a key part of the company's strategy." Nike CEO Mark Parker "has moved to aggressively link Nike with those who can help maintain the company's standing among what he calls the 'influencers of influencers'. ... In addition to Mr.

    Main Source: 
    Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), October 24, 2007

    Jamming Pearl Jam

    by Sheldon Rampton — August 9, 2007 - 4:00pm

    "Over the weekend," comments SaveTheInternet.com, "AT&T gave us a glimpse of their plans for the Web when they censored a Pearl Jam performance that didn’t meet their standard of 'Internet freedom.' During the live Lollapalooza Webcast of a concert by the Seattle-based super-group, the telco giant muted lead singer Eddie Vedder just as he launched into a lyric against

    Main Source: 
    SaveTheInternet.com, August 9, 2007

    People Have the Power: Patti Smith Rocks Madison, CMD!

    by Patricia Barden — August 7, 2007 - 12:24pm
  • Topics: Activism, Journalism, Arts / Culture

    • In addition to being a tech geek, I'm a rocker. I've been playing guitar since I was a teenager. So when Patti Smith agreed to a silent auction to benefit the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD) at her concert in Madison, Wisconsin, I began looking forward to meeting the quintessential godmother of punk rock. Little did I know how special the evening would turn out to be.

    The concert was held at the Barrymore Theatre on August 5. As CMD staff were soliciting auction items, executive director John Stauber asked me if I "had an old guitar laying around that I'd like to donate." I mulled his question over for a few days and then offered my 1958 Gibson LG-1 acoustic guitar.

    News Release: Patti Smith's August 5th Gig will Benefit the Center for Media and Democracy

    by John Stauber — July 30, 2007 - 6:08pm
  • Topics: Arts / Culture

    • Contact:
    John Stauber, Executive Director, Center for Media and Democracy
    608-260-9713

    (NOTE: This info is updated at: http://www.prwatch.org/node/6329)

    Beat poet, writer, punk rock legend and Rock And Roll Hall of Fame member Patti Smith and her band will crank it up this Sunday, August 5, 7:30pm, in Madison, at the Barrymore Theater. Their appearance will benefit the work of the Wisconsin-based Center for Media and Democracy (CMD).

    Hundreds of Smith fans packing the theater will have an opportunity to bid on items in a silent auction, with auction proceeds fully supporting the work of CMD.

    Rapper Mocks Direct-to-Consumer Drug Ads

    by Bob Burton — July 30, 2007 - 12:00am

    The New Jersey rapper, Sudden Death, has launched a free-to-play track which mocks the drug industry's direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA). The song, titled Pillagers, describes the experience of a man taking two dozen pills for various conditions being prescribed the notional drug Liquiplox that "relaxes the lining of your throat making it easier to take pills". "Liquiplox isn't for everyone.

    Main Source: 
    Pharmaceutical Marketing, July 23, 2007

    More on "Strange Culture"

    by Sheldon Rampton — June 29, 2007 - 2:19pm
  • Topics: Activism, Genetic Engineering, Arts / Culture, Human Rights


    • I've been asked how people can find the movie, "Strange Culture," the documentary about the trial of artist-activist Steve Kurtz that I described in my blog post earlier this week. The director of the film, Lynn Hershman Leeson, has her own website as well as a separate movie website, which includes sales and exhibition information. YouTube also has a brief video that features interviews with Kurtz and the director, as well as the movie trailer.

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