tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781533.post92496657016070299..comments2024-03-23T14:04:57.635-05:00Comments on Father Hollywood: A Tale of Two Political PropagandasRev. Larry Beanehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06705910892752648940noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781533.post-55894161177448013912010-12-17T22:16:15.673-06:002010-12-17T22:16:15.673-06:00An interesting contrast in styles: The fascist-mac...An interesting contrast in styles: The fascist-machismo of Putin vs. the progressive metrosexual professor. <br /><br />One could argue that Putin's image is slightly homo-erotic. <br /><br />Additionally, while one side of American political perspective likes Obama the other side likes the "manly" side too. G.W. Bush certainly portrayed himself as a Texas good ole boy. Despite her beauty, Sarah Palin is more "manly" in her actions than Obama. Ironic....Matthias Flaciushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16694173538247881415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781533.post-24718934313729967712010-12-17T11:14:53.962-06:002010-12-17T11:14:53.962-06:00Dear BT:
I have to admit that I'm skeptical o...Dear BT:<br /><br />I have to admit that I'm skeptical of all politicians regardless of their party or nation. To rise to that level in national politics (especially in the era of TV - and more so now given the 24-7 nature of cable coverage) requires a certain amount of marketing, image-peddling, and the telling of a story. Entire careers are devoted to this.<br /><br />Some stories are more authentic than others - but Ronald Reagan was also a Hollywood actor. It doesn't mean there is no truth to the image - but it does mean he knew how to play to a camera audience. Politicians + play-acting = propaganda. <br /><br />My grandfather rode horses in West Virginia because that was how you got from one place to another in the mountains. But then again, he was a common laborer without a press corps filming him and focus groups monitoring the public opinion polls in response. Our whole political process is contrived and phony. I think that's what turns me off by the whole lot of them, whether they want to be seen as androgynous or masculine. <br /><br />I don't care if you eat trendy ice cream and stick out your pinky when you sip tea, or fire an M16 and chug long-necks - just enforce the Constitution. That's what gets lost in all this image nonsense.<br /><br />The pictures that go to press of politicians are never spontaneous. I would not be surprised if Ronald Reagan had stage makeup on when he was being photographed swinging an ax. And ditto for Putin playing James Bond for the cameras.<br /><br />But at least Reagan was careful not to be photographed hanging curtains or sitting like a princess next to Barbara Walters and the gals. I'll give him that...Rev. Larry Beanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06705910892752648940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781533.post-28768520197219075392010-12-17T09:33:46.647-06:002010-12-17T09:33:46.647-06:00Fr. H.-
It may have been a photo op, or maybe not,...Fr. H.-<br />It may have been a photo op, or maybe not, but Reagan actually did work on his ranch. He did clear brush for exercise and for horseback riding trails. He didn't have to of course. Plus, he was a man who actually made something of himself, coming from nothing. FWIW.The Rev. BT Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14699707490165113926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781533.post-9867565248458576382010-12-16T18:51:06.529-06:002010-12-16T18:51:06.529-06:00Dear Exiled:
I suppose Putin knows which end of t...Dear Exiled:<br /><br />I suppose Putin knows which end of the gun to point. And he may well be genuinely "manly." I'm just skeptical because so much of politics is based on image and perception. Politics is filled with propaganda.<br /><br />Once again, what has happened in America is that the propaganda has changed from Theodore Roosevelt clad in outdoorsman attire to Barack Obama wearing a bicycle helmet.<br /><br />That demonstrates a real shift in our culture with regard to masculinity.<br /><br />Thanks for writing!Rev. Larry Beanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06705910892752648940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781533.post-32030624423587506702010-12-16T17:21:55.336-06:002010-12-16T17:21:55.336-06:00I am pretty sure as a (former?) KGB agent, Putin k...I am pretty sure as a (former?) KGB agent, Putin knows which end of a gun to use. What always worries me is what is not shown in those photos - who or what is he shooting at? I always think of Putin as Kamal Khan from the James Bond movie Octopussy hunting human game.<br /><br />The idea of photos portraying a US president in a certain light go back to the early days of the camera. Teddy Roosevelt hunting things, FDR never shown in his wheelchair, Kennedy looking fatherly and strong. We in America don't vote for a person as much as we vote for an image.The Exiledhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05779493683587938683noreply@blogger.com