These are obstacles we must be aware of and work zealously to avoid blindly following the programme.

Cultural conditioning is the process by which society’s attitudes and values are passed on to its members.

We’re the products of a particular set of circumstances. We’ve been significantly shaped by the customary beliefs, social forms and material traits of the setting.

The assumptions derived from this are so embedded in our view of things we’re unaware of them. Truth is that which we assimilate from authoritative voices.

We’ve inherited a package of common sense, accepted beliefs, social behavior, sexual roles, politics, religion and economics.

Blindly accepting such assumptions leads to selective perception, seeing only what were told to see. We cooperate to be like others, comfortable conformists.

Many people assume critical thinking requires objectivity, a dispassionate and impartial examination of the evidence that confirms or denies a position.

This too is part of our cultural conditioning. A belief in rationality, balanced opinion and attempts to keep an open mind.

None of us can be objective. Our perception of the way things are is dependent on the frame of reference.

They knew what was good, based on a lower-middle-class education which ensured conformity.

They trusted figures of authority [teachers, preachers, conservative media]. They became intent on reproducing the status quo.

The bohemian bourgeoisie disturbed their petty minds. Forefront artists who questioned established values became hate figures.

Those with deadened minds were determined to promote faith, family and fixed values.

A willingness to take risks was divided by class and age.

The conformists loathed what they saw as dangerous propaganda which promoted disbelief, doubt and sexual liberation.

ISM: I Sell Myself
What are the chances of?
A Cult of One

Here Are the Headlines
Looking back in angst.
Sex, Lust & Fornication

Turn here for the worse.
How many isms make meaning?
I could’ve been a pretender.

Propaganda is purposeful persuasion which attempts to influence the emotions, attitudes, opinions, and actions of specified target audiences for ideological, political or commercial purposes.

It shares techniques with advertising and public relations. They are forms propaganda that promote a product or shapes our perception of an organization, person, or brand.

There are several types of propaganda used in advertising.

Bandwagon: It is persuades consumer by telling them that others are doing the same thing. In soft drink ads there will be many attractive young people having fun on a beach.

Testimonial: A product is sold by using words from celebrities or an authority figure. ‘Nine out of ten dentists recommend this type of toothpaste.’

Transfer: A product is sold by the name or image of a famous person or thing but no words are spoken. Political advertisements often use the American flag to help sell a candidate or party.

Repetition: A product’s name is repeated at least four times in the ad. This elicits an emotional response. Words and phrases are used to make consumers feel strongly about someone or something.

Ralph Lauren sells perfume by showing an erotic image, adding the one word ‘romance’ to reinforce the link between perfume and sex in the consumer’s mind.

You’re a component with all the necessary controls. You function according to. You’re freely within the confines of.

Look at life like a book. Absorbed by its contents, you fail to question the form.

Propaganda techniques are similar to programming techniques. A person is being programmed when the propaganda sticks.

We are emotionally numbed by exposure to mass media, becoming more malleable and less likely to think critically about our choices. Subliminal learning is then enhanced.

The world we see is illusory, filled with smoke and mirrors to sell us products, services, celebrities, politicians and the ruling ideology.

Mind-control mechanisms are used in an automated society that consumes and responds favorably to commercial propaganda without question, without analysis, without knowing it triggers a conditioned response.