Re: Barnes Loses It

[Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Very interesting post if i may say so Ellie.

I have no trouble in believing Barnes' mob is now a cult. I have comrade
Proyect's word for that and that suffices.  But what intrigued me was that
although I agree with what you say, when one reads Barnes' post he is
describing a process which is actually happening on the media. All the
examples he cites of the choreographing of media spectacle are
factual.  But he is wrong in his conclusions. why - precisely?  What
mistake is he making?

I think the problem is that firstly he is offering us a crude reading of
the media as simply manipulative. He is also not allowing for the capacity
of the media to facilitate the expansion over moral distance.

The problem with the media as manipulators tout court is that it does not
allow for a creative reading of the media.  We are not simply empty vessels
into which the bourgeoisie pour their ideas via the media.  we can interact
and be critical.

Secondly the media can help us to expand our capacity to empathise over
distance.  The sight of those poor unfortunates jumping to their death
stays with me still, even though it happened many miles away and I never
knew any of them.  There is nothing pornographic at all about this.

What Barnes does not understand here is that we all share a common core
humanity and at times the media can allow that to come to the
fore.  something like that happened to me as I sat and watched the images
from New York.  My first thoughts were of what is happening to Lou.  I then
thought of what might be happening to my old friend Jack Holland and his
family.  I have never met Lou but the new media has meant that I can
identify with him - not always positively mind you.


Of course the bourgeoise is trying to exploit the new media and our
sympathy for the victims of Sept 11.  But what Barnes cannot seem to grasp
is that a growth in human empathy aided by the new media can never be
appropriated by capitalism.  Indeed as you point out in your post it is
anathema to capitalism.  That is why working people are more interested in
listening to criticisms of bombing campaigns.  They now know what it is like.

regards

Gary


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