Listen to the entire program<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n![\"programming](\"\/home\/graphics\/programming-the-nation.jpg\")
Texas Governor Rick Perry just released a new advertisement for his Presidential campaign in which he slams President Obama\u2019s economic plan. The first half of the ad is filled with apocalyptic imagery that graphically transforms Obama\u2019s campaign logo into a \u2018zero.\u2019 But in the second half, Perry presents himself as the better candidate, with ubiquitous images of the American flag being flashed throughout the scenes. If you’re not paying attention, you don’t notice the flag imagery consciously [see ad below]. The implication that Perry, the \u201creal American,\u201d would make a better President, intentionally or unintentionally plays into the \u201cbirther conspiracy\u201d fomented by Obama\u2019s extreme rightwing critics. But Perry\u2019s ad is part of a long tradition of subliminal messaging in both politics and business. By definition, for something to be classified as subliminal it must be \u201cbelow an individual\u2019s absolute threshold for conscious perception.\u201d This includes marketing techniques like ad placements in movies, whisper ads and backmasking intended to influence the viewer\u2019s behavior. The real effect of this type of media on people has been debated by professionals and at times labeled as conspiracy. However, it\u2019s existence is well documented and widely accepted. In his new film \u201cProgramming the Nation?\u201d Jeff Warrick questions what influences subliminal messaging really have had on the public asking, \u201ccould such techniques really be contributing to a variety of social, political, and economic problems currently present in our culture?\u201d Warrick\u2019s documentary explores the early history of studies of the unconscious mind going back to Sigmund Freud that influenced the development of marketing in the US. Programming the Nation explores the validity of subliminal messages not only in advertising, but also from historical examples in popular culture such as film and music, and in politics and even the defense industry. His documentary includes interviews with Noam Chomsky, Mark Crispin Miller, Amy Goodman and clips of controversial adverting media throughout history.<\/p>\n
GUEST: Jeff Warrick, writer, director, and producer of Programming the Nation<\/em><\/p>\nProgramming the Nation will begin on Friday September 23rd at the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, 8000 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA<\/p>\n
Watch the trailer of Programming the Nation here: <\/p>\n