Michael Barnes
I have enjoyed reading Annalee Newitz for years now, (and their monthly podcast Our opinions are correct with Charlie Jane Anders) and this latest in another thoroughly researched and engaging banger.
he book covers the origins of Psychological Warfare in the united states including the American Indian Wars (better characterized as a war on Indigenous peoples); the story of the Coquille tribe's recovery of their "lost map" was a fascinating example of how reclaiming history can empower marginalized communities.
The rise of Psychological Warfare codified by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger better known as the science fiction writer Cordwainer Smith, whose stories I read growing up. The 'brainwashing scare' that lead the stories like The Manchurian Candidate. Interestingly Linebarger's believed that the ultimate goal of psyops was to end war, not to perpetuate conflict. He advocated for investing in public education, opening national borders, and supporting a robust free press.
The psychology of the authoritarian personality and the f (for fascist) test developed early in the 20 century; the War Department’s launch of a Propaganda Section during World War I; Edward Bernays’s application of his uncle Sigmund Freud’s theories to the field of advertising; the gender politics of early comic books (including censorship campaigns or why the early Wonder Woman comixs were awesome); the role of the Russian state’s Internet Research Agency in the 2016 election.
And loved that in the final chapter one of the tools suggested to resist this nightmare was public libraries, which for me is always a litmus test for what I think of a person is what they think of public libraries.
All leading to the contemporary use of psyops in the United States that see Culture Wars Weaponized Stories Against Each Other and the specific qualities and functions of off-line libraries.
I have enjoyed reading Annalee Newitz for years now, (and their monthly podcast Our opinions are correct with Charlie Jane Anders) and this latest in another thoroughly researched and engaging banger.
he book covers the origins of Psychological Warfare in the united states including the American Indian Wars (better characterized as a war on Indigenous peoples); the story of the Coquille tribe's recovery of their "lost map" was a fascinating example of how reclaiming history can empower marginalized communities.
The rise of Psychological Warfare codified by Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger better known as the science fiction writer Cordwainer Smith, whose stories I read growing up. The 'brainwashing scare' that lead the stories like The Manchurian Candidate. Interestingly Linebarger's believed that the ultimate goal of psyops was to end war, not to perpetuate conflict. He advocated for investing in public education, opening national borders, and supporting a robust free press.
The psychology of the authoritarian personality and the f (for fascist) test developed early in the 20 century; the War Department’s launch of a Propaganda Section during World War I; Edward Bernays’s application of his uncle Sigmund Freud’s theories to the field of advertising; the gender politics of early comic books (including censorship campaigns or why the early Wonder Woman comixs were awesome); the role of the Russian state’s Internet Research Agency in the 2016 election.
And loved that in the final chapter one of the tools suggested to resist this nightmare was public libraries, which for me is always a litmus test for what I think of a person is what they think of public libraries.
All leading to the contemporary use of psyops in the United States that see Culture Wars Weaponized Stories Against Each Other and the specific qualities and functions of off-line libraries.