Jack Perry is clearly the "devil" character. He is the one who keeps the endless supply of joints coming in the front door of the reefer den mentioned above. He is seemingly a small-time hood with a taste for corrupting some of Dr. Carrol's students, especially the males. I have often wondered if there is an underlying statement contained in that bit of the movie. Most likely not, but it does provide for that little question mark to pop up.
Jack and his female accomplice, Mae Coleman, run the reefer den that is Dr. Carrol's bane. While Mae is definitely no snow-white dove, she continuously voices concern over Jack bringing up "those kids." His response to this, "...you've got more static than the radio," clearly shows what he thinks of Mae's mothering instinct. How devilish of him!
Misinformation
Of course, the appearance of the primary characters of good vs. evil is only a part of the story. Good propaganda requires some form of misinformation. Reefer Madness is brimming with misinformation. It begins with a "foreword" that rolls past setting up the basic ideas.
"Foreword: The motion picture you are about to witness may startle you, It would not have been possible, otherwise, to sufficiently emphasize the frightful toll of the new drug menace which is destroying the youth of America in alarmingly increasing numbers. Marihuana is that drug-a violent narcotic-an unspeakable scourge-The Real Public Enemy Number One! Its first effect is sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter; then come dangerous hallucinations-space expands, time slows down, almost stands still....fixed ideas come next, conjuring up monstrous extravagances-followed by emotional disturbances, the total inability to direct thoughts, the loss of all power to resist physical emotions...leading finally to acts of shocking violence...ending often in incurable insanity. In picturing its soul-destroying effects no attempt was made to equivocate. The scenes and incidents, while fictionalized for the purposes of this story, are based upon actual research into the results of Marihuana addiction. If their stark reality will make you think, will make you aware that something must be done to wipe out this ghastly menace, then the picture will not have failed in its purpose... Because the dread Marihuana may be reaching forth next for your son or daughter...or yours...or yours!" (Emphasis in the original.)
Form that point, things only become sillier, and much less than truthful. The first person we actually see smoking "pot" is a guy with a far out hairdo, and an interesting piano playing style. Our Bozo-haired hero finishes his tune and slips into a closet of some sort. He whips out a cigarette case, and uses the cigarette he's already smoking to light his "joint". He then begins a ritual of hot-boxing said joint while laughing and looking just a bit on the insane side. While it is clear from watching the film he's getting more smoke into his lungs through his nose than by actively inhaling it via mouth, he seems to be catching one hell of a buzz. He is my favorite character, and he doesn't speak a word! His eyes say it all!
I have been an on-and-off pot smoker for about fifteen years of my life. I have smoked some pretty amazing buds in my lifetime. However, just puffing has NEVER given me a buzz. As a matter of fact, it wasn't until my third attempt at smoking pot at age sixteen that I even felt high, and I was inhaling deeply and holding the smoke from the get-go. Considering the fact that today's weed is considerably more potent than it was in 1936, it's pretty clear there is no way the people in the film are actually getting high.
Then there's the laughing. The first effect that comes from puffing these "joints" is laughing. One or two puffs, and suddenly, everyone has the giggles. Once again, I have never had that happen to me from smoking weed. I have had it happen from taking acid, but never weed!
Then there's the murder of Mary Lane; the veritable flower of feminine innocence. She goes to the reefer den in search of her boyfriend, Jimmy Harper. Jimmy is in a back bedroom embroiled in a "tawdry love affair" with Blanche, another resident of the reefer den. Mary shows up while Jimmy and Blanche are in mid coitus. Ralph, the supreme pot addict in the story, attacks Mary. Jimmy exits Blanche's boudoir. Because he is "stoned", Jimmy thinks he is watching Mary "give" herself to Ralph. He begins to fight with Ralph. Jack tries to pistol-whip Jimmy and accidentally shoots Mary through the heart. Jimmy is framed for the murder.
Finally, there's the inevitable insanity of pot use. Due to his guilt of knowing that Jimmy is being framed, as well as his pot use, Ralph winds up going criminally insane. From shouting, "play faster," as Blanche bangs away on the piano to killing Jack with a fireplace poker, it is clear poor Ralph has lost his mind. The message is Ralph has been made insane by his use of pot. Jimmy, now acquitted of Mary's murder is ordered to stay in the courtroom to see Ralph declared innocent by reason of insanity for killing Jack. Ralph shows up looking like he just swallowed a garbage can full of Purple Jesus (acid and wine mixed in a garbage can).
From only needing to puff a joint (without inhaling) to get "high" to the onset of insane laughter to the final onset of actual "insanity", there is little truth in Reefer Madness.
About the only truth they got right in the movie is, "the munchies." Jack has a case of the munchies, which draws a snide comment from Mae. Other than that, they got it all wrong.
Propaganda relies on misinformation. Of that there can be no doubt. One need only look back through all the classical appearances of propaganda to know this is the truth. From painting Jews as the devil in Nazi Germany to painting DUBYA as a hero, without the paintbrush of misinformation, propaganda simply wouldn't exist.
But there is something more sinister behind the idea of propaganda that is clearly illustrated in the film. Simple misinformation, while damaging, doesn't carry the impact of propaganda. Propaganda is used to influence people's opinions or behaviors actively. It is not simply mis-communicating the facts about something or someone. Therefore, propaganda is far more pernicious than a simple lie, even though, lies of some sort are the substance of what makes propaganda, propaganda.
Propaganda works because the same people also control the citizen programming in the so called Public "Education".
It's taken a life time to grow out of my Public Education and discover reality on my own terms. It's somewhat different.
A totally different world awaits those who develope Independent Critical Analysis. Who Transcend their roles as "Believers".
The Media is essentially a Push button mechanism and the Buttons are installed by Instititutions most blindly trust.
Detachment should start just after disillusionment. Awakening begins with the self directed effort to own your knowledge. Not be owned.
You'll find that everything you're "taught" to believe is designed to make you a manipulatable tool stuck in a matrix called the Masses. The Walking dead. Bodies for hire.
It's a trap! GET OUT!!!!!
by
"Hoss" David P. (51 articles, 5 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 339 comments)
on Friday, July 6, 2007 at 4:23:10 PM
Propaganda works because the same people also control the citizen programming in the so called Public "Education".
Propaganda works because most humans have emotions that are easily manipulated. It's not just the educational system that is at fault. It is as much the fault of advertising (a soft-core form of propaganda) and parenting. Some parents allow and encourage their kids to think their own thoughts and become their own person. Other parents do everything in their power to keep their kids from self-actualization.
Some individuals are given to being led about by the nose. Others resist such automaton-like behavior. The former group is much more likely to fall victim to the psychic weaponry employed by propaganda. Unfortunately, there are also more people in the former group.
It's taken a life time to grow out of my Public Education and discover reality on my own terms. It's somewhat different.
It always is. I was fortunate because I was allowed to become my own person from early in my life. Because my parents didn't much care what I read, I read books that challenged the intellect and bring about a healthy case of cynicism (thank you, Alfred E. Neuman and Co.!). Once I found Ayn Rand, I had the already open mind in my skull expanded BIG TIME!
I am also fortunate in the fact that I had a Catholic education for most of my life. While one would assume that an education with a religious backdrop to it might render one hopelessly devoted to said religion. In my case, I wisely decided to give up being Catholic for Lent when I was eighteen, and I have yet to rescind that decision.
I have, at times in my life, ran into people who have either asked or demanded that I be ashamed of my education. I have no other choice but to laugh in the face of such people. I am still amazed that there are still such people in the world!
A totally different world awaits those who developd Independent Critical Analysis. Who Transcend their roles as "Believers".
True!
The Media is essentially a Push button mechanism and the Buttons are installed by Instititutions most blindly trust.
The installation of "buttons" is a complex thing. Even people who are smart and possessed of common sense have "buttons". Many "buttons" are installed by parents. Other "buttons" are installed by society. While it is true "buttons" make us vulnerable to the Machiavellian machinations of certain institutions (such as the advertising world).
Detachment should start just after disillusionment. Awakening begins with the self directed effort to own your knowledge. Not be owned.
Detachment is good. For some people, it is hard, if not impossible to achieve. Of course, as with all things, practice makes perfect.
Awakenings come in many forms. I have had numerous awakenings in my life. There was the awakening of my sexuality which culminated in my official coming out at sixteen. There was the awakening when I first tripped on acid. Then there was the awakening that night twenty-two years ago tomorrow that I hit my alcoholic bottom. Then there the awakening that was my trip from Toledo, Ohio to Dallas, Texas. Recently, it was the fact that I have ischemic heart disease that served as a rather rude awakening.
Awakenings come to everyone. They come for numerous reasons. As long as they result in personal growth, they are all valid.
Owning one's intellect shouldn't be preceded by anything. The human intellect remains the ONLY thing that separates us from "lower" life forms. It remains the ONLY evolutionary advantage we have. Yet so many people are way too willing to give it up just because they make the choice to be intellectually lazy.
I do not apologize for my education, my life, or my intellect. I also am unwilling to give these things away just because someone thinks I should. My life is my own.
You'll find that everything you're "taught" to believe is designed to make you a manipulatable tool stuck in a matrix called the Masses. The Walking dead. Bodies for hire.
True. It takes a certain kind of person to resist the pull of societal "buttons". It can happen to anyone. However, it requires one make an active choice to resist. It also requires work, unless one is of MENSA IQ.
It's a trap! GET OUT!!!!!
Run for you lives!
:)
Blessed be! Pappy
by
Pappy (61 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 863 comments)
on Friday, July 6, 2007 at 6:30:39 PM
You just won't try to escape from a prison or trap you're unaware of being in.
Disillusionment should come from that realization. Awakening is in part a strategy of escape.
Thanks for responding.
I enjoyed your article.
Yet, I have never seen Reefer Madness. But we all get to see Propaganda. It scares me to think of the Propaganda that I miss even though I feel I spot a lot.
Vigilance.
Be the sentry of your mind and emotions.
Know yourself.
Knowing yourself is key to knowing the games of others.
by
"Hoss" David P. (51 articles, 5 quicklinks, 14 diaries, 339 comments)
on Friday, July 6, 2007 at 8:24:48 PM
Yet, I have never seen Reefer Madness. But we all get to see Propaganda. It scares me to think of the Propaganda that I miss even though I feel I spot a lot. You can also buy the original as it's available for less than ten bucks from most video places. It's been in the public domain for a really long time.
There is also the musical version, which I recommend if you are into musicals. The production values for it are out of this world. It carries a message with which I think you might sympathize and identify. Also, if you get the musical, you get the original black and white movie as well under extra features. If you have ever smoked pot, you are sure to find something entertaining in both version of Reefer Madness.
And informative as well. Both versions of the story carry a lot of messages. You can see how they used misinformation and emotional appeal in the original. You can also get the "Big Brother" warnings from the musical. For the person of a political bend of any kind, Reefer Madness is a must-see!
I'm, currently in the process of tweaking part II of this series of articles. I will submit it as soon as I get it done. If you liked this article, you'll love the next one.
Blessed be! Pappy
by
Pappy (61 articles, 0 quicklinks, 11 diaries, 863 comments)
on Saturday, July 7, 2007 at 3:16:20 AM
