What are the roots of the US propaganda in Russia?

[Εἰρήνη]

I would like to talk about US propaganda in Russia.

I touched on this issue in my comment to the Session 13 June 2015, but I would like to share more details.

Most major Russian TV channels broadcast US movies. Some government channels put US movies only at night, most other channels do it 24/7, every day. Among other things, the majority of broadcasted US movies contain propaganda of guns, robots, violence, US “heroic” military/police, sex as the most important thing in life, “free” sexual relationships with multiple partners, abomination to women, unhealthy food and so on.

Thus, a person who watches Russian television gets heavily exposed to these ideas 24/7. Those movies promote loyalty to the US and its values.

Same situation with the US popular music in Russia. Many main stream radio stations play US popular/commercial music.

Government and non-government popular internet portals are full of articles about US celebrities. I would say more than 50% of celebrity news is about the lifestyle of US celebrities.

Many Russians don’t question the overabundance of US propaganda in Russian mainstream media, including government-owned channels, and seem to enjoy it.

When I ask people who live in Russia about this, most of them say that the reason why US movies are broadcasted on Russian television is because they are more interesting than Russian-made movies, have more visual effects and because Russians don’t know how to make good movies and don’t have money to make movies. Same opinion about US-made songs: supposedly Americans are better at making music than Russians.

I simply refuse to accept this argument.

I don’t know of any US main-stream TV channel, radio station or an internet portal that would broadcast Russian movies, songs, or write praising articles about Russian celebrities. Have you ever watched Russian films of Fox? Or read about lifestyles of Russian celebrities on Yahoo?

With everything that is going on in the political arena between Russia and the US right now, it is at least strange that Russian government allows the US to use Russian main stream media channels to promote US values.

Does Putin not see it?

This issue in not only of local importance. People who live in the US and in many other countries are bombarded by the same diverted ideas. The wide-spread confusion is manifesting everywhere. And it is not a recent problem, although modern technology escalated the pace of things.

As Lobaczewski says:

Any attempt to explain the things that occurred during the first half of our century by means of categories generally accepted in historical thought leaves behind a nagging feeling of inadequacy. Only a ponerological approach can compensate for this deficit in our comprehension, as it does justice to the role of various pathological factors in the genesis of evil at every social level.

Meaning, that we need to dig deeper to understand the scale of the problem.

I think, what is happening is the implementation of a continuing plan to corrupt and destroy the social system of every government and confuse the people.

What do you think about it?

 

[Beau]

I think, what is happening is the implementation of a continuing plan to corrupt and destroy the social system of every government and confuse the people.

What do you think about it?

I think it's a tough situation for Putin. If he refuses to allow Western culture to be available to his citizens, then he's going to be attacked by the West for censorship. Perhaps Putin is leaving it up to each person to decide whether they will allow themselves to be influenced by Western culture. Maybe he has more respect for free will and choice than you're giving him credit for?

 

[Keit]

I think it's a tough situation for Putin. If he refuses to allow Western culture to be available to his citizens, then he's going to be attacked by the West for censorship. Perhaps Putin is leaving it up to each person to decide whether they will allow themselves to be influenced by Western culture. Maybe he has more respect for free will and choice than you're giving him credit for?

Yeah, totally agree.

Besides, during the last years there has been an ongoing revival of things that are Russian, including quality movies and series. Also many people (with brains and common sense) can see the TV for what it is and don't watch it. As in any society there is a wide range of people and sheeple.

Actually, the recent political circus and sanctions help Russian people to make a choice, what ever it is. So far, based on recent polls, this so called US propaganda fails miserably. Russians like actions better than action movies, and Putin does what Russian people like. :)

Sure, there are incidents like the one with "twerking bees", but still, Russians become more and more comfortable with being themselves.

 

[Altair]

With everything that is going on in the political arena between Russia and the US right now, it is at least strange that Russian government allows the US to use Russian main stream media channels to promote US values.

Does Putin not see it?

Do you think Putin's government could simply prohibt broadcasting of the US films? Would you expect it from a decent democratic leader? There are many private TV channels in Russia and they all have to fill up their broadcasting time and it wouldn't work with Russian films/music only. Besides that, I think many Russians are immunized to some extent from this propaganda films and regard them just as an entertainment and don't starkly identify themselves with that.

 

[Siberia]

In addition to what others have already mentioned, I could only add that imo, there are good films and not so good films and also very poor quality films of all kinds and origins. Some Hollywood films are very good, as well as some American music is brilliant too. Why would anyone forbid American art in Russia? Only because the current American government is going crazy (not only towards Russia, but towards the American people too)? Governments come and go, and the art stays, if it's good art. If not, it gets quickly forgotten, whether it's Russian, American or any other.

Russia is a free country, we don't "sanction" art for political reasons. Besides, there are plenty of high quality channels in Russia, you don't have to watch poor quality ones. It's just a matter of choice. As for me, I almost don't watch TV at all - be it Russian or any other TV, but that's just me, and other people choose what they like. OSIT :)

 

[Niall]

Meaning, that we need to dig deeper to understand the scale of the problem.

I think, what is happening is the implementation of a continuing plan to corrupt and destroy the social system of every government and confuse the people.

What do you think about it?

I think you summarized the scale of the problem very well, that even Russia is bombarded with 'corrupt information'. I've no doubt that Putin sees the problem - he once said the internet was a CIA plot! - but I guess, for whatever reasons, his government currently tolerates - or is limited in its ability to block - corruption from abroad.

 

[Joe]

Meaning, that we need to dig deeper to understand the scale of the problem.

I think, what is happening is the implementation of a continuing plan to corrupt and destroy the social system of every government and confuse the people.

What do you think about it?

I think you summarized the scale of the problem very well, that even Russia is bombarded with 'corrupt information'. I've no doubt that Putin sees the problem - he once said the internet was a CIA plot! - but I guess, for whatever reasons, his government currently tolerates - or is limited in its ability to block - corruption from abroad.

As others here have said, Russians are "normal" human beings too, they want diversion and materialism, and America does that very well. I don't think it would be in the Russian government's interests to try to impose that level of restriction on the Russian people, and they probably know it.

 

[Deleted member 11729]

fi Besides that, I think many Russians are immunized to some extent from this propaganda films and regard them just as an entertainment and don't starkly identify themselves with that.

I can totally relate to that to be immune on that American propaganda, as lived in Communism for more than 50 years, there are still generation and the way how you rise your kinds and family, that allows us to see more clearly what is entertaining and what is propaganda.

 

[Siberia]

fi Besides that, I think many Russians are immunized to some extent from this propaganda films and regard them just as an entertainment and don't starkly identify themselves with that.

I can totally relate to that to be immune on that American propaganda, as lived in Communism for more than 50 years, there are still generation and the way how you rise your kinds and family, that allows us to see more clearly what is entertaining and what is propaganda.

Yeah, exactly. Btw, for all who'd like to watch high-quality Russian art TV, you might wish to watch channel Kultura: _http://tvkultura.ru/. It's really great.

 

[SeekinTruth]

Yeah, I agree with the general gist of what all the others said. I rarely watch TV myself. There are a lot of great Russian films and music and culture in general from the past and the present, so Russians certainly have choices - and it IS their choice. But I also agree that the vast majority of popular culture is extremely toxic. FWIW.