is a popular saw About how when America entered World War II, not only soldiers were recruited but also Hollywood. In fact, the US War Office had a unit dedicated to reviewing film scripts that could sell war to its citizens. It was the beginning of a beautiful relationship, which has since grown from strength to strength. Hollywood’s portrayal of saving the lives of brave American people around the world is now a major and fairly unique cultural phenomenon – no other country produces as many films glorifying itself as America does.
During WWII, it was easier for Americans to come out as the good guys against the evil Nazis. But when America’s role was not so divine, for example during the infamous Vietnam War, Hollywood did not shirk its duty – John Wayne’s The Green Berets American soldiers were glorified four months after the My Lai massacre where they wiped out an entire village.
It’s not that others didn’t know a thing or two about cinema as propaganda – of Lenny Riefenstahl, Hitler’s favorite filmmaker Will’s Victory It is considered quite a masterclass in the matter of puff grinding. Closer to home, we too are busy manipulating trauma to create extravagant cinema. But America is a different class; Its reach is so great that it stays on your face all the time. It presides over the McDonaldization of propaganda like a Grand Panjandrum.
I’m watching Eggog as it runs in real time. Within days of the war, my social media began to throb with Ukrainian arts and crafts. And the old men are now coloring the utensils and the young women are plucking the tape on my fodder. At one time, the only Indians to hear about Chicken la Kyiv had to dine at Kolkata’s slowly fading Mocambo; Now people are making tribute versions at home. Overnight, Ukrainian sopranos and folk dancers have burst onto my timeline and house bakers are icing cupcakes in blue and yellow.
Of course, none of this is accidental. It’s the Grand Panjandrum at work, squeezing our tear ducts. Don’t get me wrong – I hate war, murder and destruction. I sympathize with Ukrainians. I am simply amazed that in all my years on social media I have never encountered cushion covers embroidered by Palestinians. Nor saw the Kosovan recipe go viral.
Last week, Hollywood hulk Arnold Schwarzenegger made a video telling Russians he loves them and warning them that Putin, the president they so mistakenly supported, was waging an illegal war. The moving speech had Russian subtitles and garnered 1.3 million likes on Twitter. Of course, Arnie has always been a patriot. In 2003, when the US was stunned and in awe of the weapons of mass destruction on Iraq that it didn’t have, ‘good ol’ Ernie ignored the legal technicalities, instead telling US troops: ‘You are the real Terminator. !
A screengrab of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s viral video
Americans who would have been hard pressed to find Ukraine on a map are suddenly eloquent about Zelensky and the puppies he loves and the children he kisses. Of course they are – the brave and beautiful face of the Ukrainian president is tearing him down on every domestic TV channel he turns on. Meanwhile, Fox News retells a year-old story of a Russian model killed by her boyfriend, titled ‘Russian model who trampled Putin found dead’. And economistOne who has staunchly defended every war the US has started with headlines like ‘A heartwarming but necessary war’ suddenly discovered peace, with a bloodied Ukrainian flag on its cover.
Of course, the culture war must also be fought in reverse. Therefore, the heroic Western world that has always insisted on civilizing the rest of us pagans is now banning Russian cultural icons from Yuri Gagarin and Dostoevsky to Tchaikovsky and Tarkovsky, not the diverse dancers, tennis players, musicians and models. to refer to. No doubt they will soon decide it is Tolstoy’s anti-war classic war and Peace Which provoked Putin.
But there is an upside to all this devastation. The end of the Cold War had created a huge villainous gap for Hollywood, and it is doing so with varying degrees of psychopaths. Now, the rogue Russian could make a spectacular comeback.
I started my column in 2014, and it has been eight years of joy and learning. I go to other pastures now, but like Schwarzenegger, might come back. Until then, goodbye and thanks for all the fish!