I am entranced by the magic of Enrique Dussel’s ideas about liberatory ethics. are rooted in a critique of Western modernity and colonialism. He proffers that traditional ethics are often shaped by oppressive systems, focused on promoting the ideals of the dominating side much. Senator George Graham Vest may have said it best, “history is written by the victors and framed according to the prejudices and bias existing on their side.’ This helps us see the need for implementing something like Dussel’s liberatory ethics which call for a focus on verbalizing the experiences of those oppressed by these systems. An honest approach to combat the push to maintain the status quo, challenging the powers that be who perpetuate inequality and injustice. Dussel aspires to be an ethical voice for everyday life, speaking for the interests of the immense majority
Chomsky and Herman’s “Propaganda Model” shares that the media serves the interests of powerful elites by shaping news for the agenda of the powers that be. The model outlines five filters that shape media content: concentrated ownership of media outlets, dependence on advertising for funding, reliance on government and corporate sources for information, organized repelling of dissenting voices, and a prevailing ideology of fear of a distinct enemy. These things skew the coverage, trashing alternative perspectives and reinforcing the message to maintain the current power structure. Currently Journalism cannot be a check on power because the very system encourages complicity.
Examples of these filters can be seen in everyday media consumption. For instance, this article by WebFx https://rb.gy/16p1qyLinks to an external site. speaks of the top 6 corporations who own the majority of Mass Media in America. They direct content, limiting limit coverage of issues that challenge their interests. Advertisers spend money in forums that mimic their ideals like with My Pillow’s Mike Lindell and Fox while not sharing the wealth with others like CNN. I’ve also observed how the media pivots from stories like the Genocide in Gaza preferring to focus on the false specter of Anti Semitism with our elected officials mimicking the message. Creating an enemy is the last of these pillars. A prime example is how we use the words fascist and communist thrown about to describe our two major political parties fully knowing we will never be a communist country.
Yes, you nailed all the key ideas from Dussel and the Chomsky/Herman Propaganda Model. This morning, I read a timeline of the April protests on the Humboldt campus and was thinking about the quote you included: “[H]istory is written by the victors and framed according to the prejudices and bias existing on their side.” And, yes, as you note, mainstream media (corporate journalism) is not going to be able to call the powers that be to account, given that these powers are writing their paychecks. So what then? I believe that independent, honest journalism exists. I can name a few places to start: Propublica, CalMatters, some local news including the North Coast Journal and Lost Coast Outpost that are not part of huge media conglomerates. Also, some parody news outlets sneak in journalism disguised as comedy, slipping under the radar. John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” comes to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ii0DCREzA
Of course, I wouldn’t be a student media team adviser if I didn’t mention the independence of student media.
Thanks for your post. You leave me pondering, again, how we the people can make our way out of manufactured consent and the duopoly.
Hi Marc,
Your sharing of Vest’s quote, “history is written by the victors and framed according to the prejudices and bias’ existing on their side” was a thought-provoking addition to an analysis of media bias and helped to explain the basis for our collective standard of ethical decision-making. By framing all future decisions, and using a heavily biased culture (Western/Eurocentric thought) as our basis for making ethical choices, we make choices that benefit the dominate culture who crafted these ethical systems to their own benefit. Dussel’s reframing of ethical systems to one that considers all people, especially and including those oppressed by the dominate system, is a well-reasoned response to inequality. Thanks for sharing your analysis of liberatory ethics, and for your inclusion of other sources of information on the topic; it made for an insightful read.
Hey Marc,
Your article was very insightful on Dussel’s thoughts of liberatory ethics, and I enjoyed how you mentioned the fact that he pushed for those who were oppressed and challenged. One quote that stood out for me was, “challenging the powers that be who perpetuate inequality and injustice. Dussel aspires to be an ethical voice for everyday life, speaking for the interests of the immense majority”. I thought this was a great way to word his beliefs. He clearly cared about people who were not given the privilege to be themselves on their own land. I also liked your last paragraph on a pillar you have seen in recent media.