zeitgeist

[cl_sus4]

I recently watched the 2nd installment (Zeitgiest: Addendum) which inspired me to try and find some valid criticisms of the movies because there were some ideas in the follow-up that paralleled and expanded upon themes that i have been working on

Comments

[madmanofprague]

It had too much of a conspiracy theory flavour.

If it sounds like a chicken, and tastes like a chicken...

[cl_sus4]

it's persuasive media, nothing is ever what it sounds or tastes like
doesn't mean you can't make a mean gumbo with it

[cl_sus4]

I don't suppose you'd happen to have a genuine position/opinion on the subject? (Aside from snide potshots) Or are you above such topics?

Have you seen either of the movies?

[madmanofprague]

I tend to agree with Eco's position on conspiracy theories (cf. Foucault's Pendulum).

[cheshireclam]

having not seen either documentary, i can't really comment on them directly. i looked on metafilter to see if there were any decent threads (as discussion there is usually intelligent, if, at times [read: often], snarky), and though i found a thread for each part, the discussions weren't all that productive. aside from a few useful/informative comments, it's mostly just people mocking the conspiritorial nature of the flicks

[cl_sus4]

I think it [the derogation of conspiracy theories] is due to the serious nature of the delivery. People find it easier to make fun of someone who is taking things/themselves too seriously. Formats like the Daily Show and Colbert Report deliver these kinds of against-the-current ideas better because they are doing the same thing. They are pointing out the absurd and getting a laugh out of it

[cl_sus4]

I guess the point to that little drama was that no one cares that 2+2 *does* = 4
and 4 *is* the root of 16

Everything else is inconsequential and a waste of time

[cheshireclam]

it is, indeed, disappointing when valid points get dismissed because of faulty conclusions or errors elsewhere in a given argument.

and that makes sense (re: delivery and paranoia). i suppose if style didn't have an impact, marketers wouldn't go through all the effort that they do (or would palce said effort elsewhere). still, it'd be nice if a people thought critically about content regardless of style, as the potential for missing out on a something substansive due to its delivery is too present, otherwise.