DPU Soc Podcast

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the way propaganda, particularly media coverage of social demonstrations, can affect the collective memory of social movements in society. Using sources from Sacchi et. al.(2007), Fleck (1979), and Hall (2003), I discuss how ideology becomes scientific fact by first being accepted by the thought collective of social communities, and how it is the media’s job to shape ideologies. I discuss in the literature and through three case studies of New York Times articles how the public memory of social events can be affected by the way they are reported—particularly examining a lawsuit in Atlanta in 1967, a comment from the British Prime Minister on the Movement for Black lives protests, and an article on GOP bills passed at the state level. I lean on an article by Phelps and Hamilton (2021)  reiterating how media coverage of protests, particularly coverage of the murder of Michael Brown was rife for ideological debate over race and “…. the value of Black lives”. Right leaning media outlets chose images that dehumanized and criminalized Brown and the Movement for Black lives protesters alike, while left leaning media outlets chose images that humanized Brown and displayed images of peaceful protesters and militarized police. Mainstream media outlets fell in the middle (pg. 12). What this choice does in affecting collective memory of a social event, is paint protesters as the problem, and the barrier to solutions—in effect criminalizing them to eliminate their voice. If individuals in the future were to attempt to recall this information, one in four individuals, according to Sacchi et al. (2007) would be likely to recall the experience of social demonstrations incorrectly.

Keywords: Protests; Propaganda; Collective Memory; White Racial Frame; Inequality; Michael Brown; George Floyd; Breonna Taylor

Working paper available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Ptd93eLRgD_qJ3ls9mqIN282wy0Llmp/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117161160486464753725&rtpof=true&sd=true

for questions, please email [email protected] at DePaul University (2021) or Garrett Riley of Music by Underscore Motif Productions, Llc. est. 2021 @ [email protected]

This is a podcast episode featuring music written by the producer during April. It is meant to be a more relaxed episode, and able to assist individuals in taking a few minutes to be present in the space that they are in.

Tracklist:

.presentinspace

.samonesperformance

.plahsinfluence

.squaw

(All music is under express licensure to Music by Underscore Motif Productions, LLC)

This is the first episode of the DPU Soc Podcast featuring executive producer and DPU sociology club staff officer, Garrett Riley. In this episode Garrett introduces the DPU Soc Podcast and discusses his interests. Garrett also discusses his capstone paper, "Job Loss, Job Insecurity, Individuals, and Public Policy", and what Garrett hopes people take from this episode is an understanding about the difference between job loss and job insecurity, the way job insecurity impacts individuals, and how political actors and the current economic crisis affect policy that affects individuals in the workplace.