Fox News’ blood-lusty low...snuff films

a reply to: ladyinwaiting

Perhaps we've become so anesthetized by movies and violent videos that graphics in real life are turning to over-sensationalization to stimulate audiences to even be able to respond emotionally to something without it.

The atrocity exhibition

In her 1977 collection of essays, On Photography, Sontag stated that: "In these last decades, 'concerned' photography has done at least as much to deaden conscience as to arouse it." Linfield naturally disagrees, but she is careful to place Sontag as merely the most frequently quoted voice in a chorus of similar misgivings. Throughout his life, Roland Barthes remained unconvinced by the idea that photography could be used to effect meaningful social change. John Berger, whose "hopes for revolutionary change" appear to inspire sympathy in this author, has expressed related views. Walter Benjamin believed that the simple reflection of a given visual reality could never adequately explain the reasons for its existence. Meanwhile, in 1931, Bertholt Brecht wrote in the German magazine Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung that "the tremendous development of photojournalism has contributed practically nothing to the revelation of the truth about the conditions of this world. On the contrary, photography, in the hands of the bourgeoisie, has become a terrible weapon against the truth."

As it happens, Linfield's main preoccupation is with the concept of truth, both as it relates to printed images and their evaluation. She fairly presents Benjamin and Brecht's ideas as products of their time, formulated in 1930s Germany - a point in history where the power of the photographic image was harnessed for anything but good. As for Sontag, Barthes and Berger, she concedes that their concerns are valid, but insists that healthy questioning should not stray into kneejerk cynicism; that the value of concerned reportage should not, as has frequently been the case, be trumped by rote accusations of voyeurism and abuse.

Emphasis mine. It's an interesting article - not that anyone will read it :-)

There are pros and cons to all of this. I am definitely not in favor of what Fox has done, but I am interested in talking about it

I've wondered what kind of society on the whole, we've become to even fathom such a thing.

I've read some really interesting replies in this thread - still reading. The thing that interests me the most, of course - is the partisan defense of the posting of this film. People want to turn this into a free speech argument, when clearly nobody has once mentioned that Fox was free to post it - and they did

What this is about is journalistic ethics, pandering, propaganda, war-mongering - bigotry - and so much more

Few people (though I have read posts from some) are willing to break rank and speak about their true feelings. The anger I'm hearing is directed at me and liberals in general. So much anger about a supposed attack on their right to free speech - and a kind of challenge (to my manhood - I guess). Only weak minded individuals can't face the truth - and somehow watching a man lose his life on film is supposed to be about the truth. It makes them stronger I suppose

I don't ever want to be that kind of strong - I see it as a weakness

Not one other outlet chose to show the video. People defending Fox say that's because Fox is the only one with the guts. Not that Fox is the only one that is morally bankrupt

THe New York Post also had a photo of the pilot right before being engulfed in flames on the front page. They have no qualms about showing death and violence on the front page. I was shocked to see it, but at the same time feel that people need to know what is going on. Not that they need to actually watch death and beheading, but need to be aware this is happening. It needs to be stopped. I really don't care about politics at all. People are isolated, comfortable and safe here. Basically the dumbed down masses couldn't care less about what happens in another part of the world, they just say as long as it's not happening here - who cares? I just can't see how the world community is allowing this to happen to innocent men women and children. THey must be stopped, somehow.

a reply to: Spiramirabilis

............formulated in 1930s Germany - a point in history where the power of the photographic image was harnessed for anything but good

And so it is with this heinous event FOX is showing. Of course they have an agenda. To continue to infuriate/manipulate the American people into supporting a war.

Good find!

a reply to: buster2010

If FOX was showing these to help end the war then I would agree with you but if you think they are showing them to help end the war then you are totally wrong

Thank you for that. I agree they are using it to help bolster a war.

a reply to: Spiramirabilis

What do you want?

Are you upset because they had the video or are you upset that they were allowed to have the video?

It's up to the individual as to whether or not the individual wants to watch it.

I, personally, chose not to watch it.

It is not up to me to determine if others want to watch it or not.

a reply to: beezzer

You know - sometimes it's just not worth it

I could not have made my question any simpler - or more sincere

Never mind beezzer - continue on your merry way

originally posted by: beezzer
I, personally, chose not to watch it.

It is not up to me to determine if others want to watch it or not.

I do not watch them either and I got a couple of years over there between Iraq and Afghanistan. With that said most Americans are extremely ignorant, they sit in their houses all comfy and feel all these world events are happening on a distant planet and they will never really understand the true horrors we are dealing with unless it is in their face, well this one is...

The funny part it seems that those who are complaining the most about this had no problem with videos of Americans killing in cases that might be viewed as wrong, such as the Apache shooting the vans years back.

a reply to: Xtrozero

"I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell."
- William Tecumseh Sherman

a reply to: abe froman

Obama's sympathies lie with Muslims Theocrats (remember the now defeated Arab Spring), it is his administration that is pushing for massive destabilization of the ME, by pulling US Forces out to enable groups like ISIS to take control. Obama is doing everything in his power to finance extreme Islamists (like the half a billion dollars he wanted to give directly to ISIS a year ago) and topple Assad to further increase destabilization and increase the stranglehold of groups like ISIS.

and nasty old FOX news didn't make that up.

They didn't? Who did, then?
Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh?

You are delusional if you actually think the POTUS is a) not under the control of 'handlers', and b) a Muslim Commie.
Or, hell, I don't know -

source please. Prove that Obama is a Muslim warmonger. Or zip it.

Anyhoo - Fox News is a very scary organization that is adept at brainwashing and enraging people with certain sensibilities.
Like...
Jerry Springer
and
Nancy Grace

Fox is NOT news. Fox is tabloid. Might as well just watch the Blaze TV.
(Note: I have not and WILL NOT watch any of the ISIS excrement. Yes, ISIS needs to be stopped. No, Fox is not "news" - it is a blatant propaganda outlet. Fox is like a mega-church pastor, and has become laughably shameless and lost ALL of their integrity. People who waste their lives watching it and then getting off on the 'froth' that emits from their mouths are in sorry shape indeed. I have family members who watch nothing else, and THAT makes me angry.)

But hey, I'm about to give up fighting for what's right - I'm exhausted.

a reply to: grandmakdw

Actually the liberals were right during Vietnam, showing the snuff porn on every news cast did shorten the war and made people want to see the war end. They were horrified.

You're right Grams. Those images were used to end the war. It was our war, and many here at home wanted it to stop because they saw it as an unjust war

Is this film the same thing? It was made by the people who took the man hostage and then murdered him, not by journalists covering battle. It shows a man being burned alive. Does this film, shot and then released by madmen and extremists, and then subsequently posted for all the world to see by Fox News teach us anything we didn't already know?

Does this film work to bring anyone home or stop the war?

a reply to: TinfoilTP

You are wasting more energy being mad at Fox for showing this than being mad at the bastards who stood there and lit the fire as they were filmed chanting about their God.

You want this to be true, and certain people need for that kind of thinking to be true. You want to make me out to be some kind of sympathizer, or a traitor maybe? An apologist?

Just saying it doesn't make it so

I don't have any words for how I feel about these people and what they've done, what they're doing - what they plan on doing... I am incensed because of what Fox has done. I don't see those two things as being mutually exclusive. This is why I'm asking people about how they feel about all this

Do people feel that they have to support Fox no matter what it does? If any of us question this - does this mean it's the same thing as not caring about our country?

originally posted by: beezzer
a reply to: Xtrozero

"I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell."
- William Tecumseh Sherman

Well said glad to see you back on the boards.

a reply to: stosh64

Oh please do tell. I would love to hear your opinion of 'good journalism'.

You're not the least bit interested in anything I have to say - you just needed to insult me

:-)

I asked a genuine question - I don't suppose you'd humor me with a real reply?

a reply to: Spiramirabilis

Yo why are you specifically calling out Fox News ?

Lots of of media showed it.

Where's that outrage eh?

I guess YouTube, and ever other internet site is guilty there right ?

Back to FAUX outrage.

a reply to: neo96

Back to FAUX outrage.

No.
Back to real ratings-grabs and money-grubbing/profiteering off of the 'ignorant masses'.

What do you think, neo - should America get embroiled in yet ANOTHER fracass in the Middle East?
I'm asking honestly. What is it YOU WOULD DO, if you were in charge right now?

Personally, I know what I would do - but since no one has asked (and my 'solution' is still in R&D status), I'll keep it to myself.



P.S. What other media showed it?
I look at the 'nooz' and listen to the 'nooz' primarily from CNN and from NPR.

a reply to: onequestion

Well said

Yes, but beez didn't 'say it.' Sherman did.

Now I'm really curious about beezzer's stance on continued war.

Beezzer? What is it you think is best?

a reply to: neo96

Lots of of media showed it.

If you're going to accuse me of your favorite - faux outrage - back it up

Who else showed it?

It was released into the internet, but my OP is about news organizations only - not social media

Only US network to feature graphic video showing Muadh al-Kasasbeh burning to death. Twitter accounts associated with Isis supporters are sharing video via links to Fox News

Fox News has chosen to embed on its website the video of Islamic State burning a hostage to death, a move which makes them the only US media organisation to broadcast the video in full.

Several news organizations used still images from the video in their news stories both in print and online – including the Daily Mail, the New York Daily News and the New York Post, which also used an image of Kasasbeh on fire for the front page of their evening edition.

Did you not understand the OP?

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Seriously ?

Jordan pilot video

FAKE GD OUTRAGE.

a reply to: neo96

Yes, seriously. I'm not clicking on your link. Just type out which networks showed it.
And, I asked you what you would do if you were in charge right ow.
I already said I WILL NOT watch it.

FAKE GD OUTRAGE.

Who is faking outrage? Who are they faking outrage against?
Are you implying/meaning that Spira is 'faking' her outrage at Fox News? I'm fairly certain she would think it was horrible that ANY American network would be so tasteless and incendiary as to show this. In fact, I agree with some remarks above that talk about "reality snuff" - we ARE densensitized to on-screen brutality.

Hollywood did that for us.

Video games then exacerbated the situation.

Movies like 'The Godfather' or 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' or 'Psycho' or 'Silence of the Lambs' (and hundreds of dozens of others) have made us inured.



^ that is how people react now - it has to be more and more and even more spectacularly graphic and gorey for people to have their spine tingle.

Rather than listening to the beautiful music that humans produce or viewing astounding natural landscapes for that same "chilling" feeling, they prefer to watch horror and bloodshed and violence. It gets their tainted adrenaline going.

Sorry, all I can say is that it appears that they (and you) are not very cultured then. Or ---- are you? (hint: It's a trick question)