When I was in college, I saw “Birth of a Nation,” which discusses the origins of the Ku Klux Klan. This was right after 9/11, when there were rising anti-Muslim and anti-Middle Eastern coalitions, and it was like the movie could have been made two weeks before, with just a few substitutions. Being able to see older films gives a window into the past, which influences the behavior of today, as we live in a fascist oligarchy. Knowing the origins makes it easier for people to walk away from those with the same mindsets, but because of privatization, it will be more difficult for people to learn.
So much of current culture was based on previous culture, especially considering that the United States has been coasting on the fumes of WWII propaganda for decades. We were “educated” about history, but we were not educated about how the empire uses propaganda to control us, and the only information we have is materials from the past. As the oligarchy progresses, it will be increasingly important for the populace to learn to scrutinize between actual information, and rage bait mixed with propaganda. For those who are resting, one of the best things we can do is watch what we used to do.
Unfortunately, libraries do not have the majority of the media produced in the past, except for a few major pieces. I would probably be able to find “Birth of a Nation,” but it might be a little more difficult to find “Leave it to Beaver,” which was based on suburban life. By hiding the classics on different streaming services, it is hard to understand why the empire reverted, whereas those of us educated on propaganda easily understand. People cannot afford all these new subscriptions, so something is going to have to give so that folks learn how to avoid indoctrination. Disposable income is dwindling, not rising, and people will need to have material from which to glean a true history.
At this point, it is time to make the classics public domain, and set a time limit for privatization, i.e. 25 years since the movie was made. Yes, the empire likes to reboot franchises, but the original premises are never lost. My generation and younger are starting to disapprove of the Marvel comic universe, because we finally see it as being pro-wealth. One of the reasons that Superman is being remade is to inspire people to see “greatness” in a lone white man saving the planet. Everyone knows that such a feat is impossible, but in a nation that worships “long rangers,” it matters. By making the classics accessible, people might actually start avoiding repetition, and start recognizing the nuance in all the messaging we receive.
Chasing A Dying Empire 