Society of the Spectacle

My 2004 take on Guy DeBord's Society of the Spectacle. I combined a George W. Bush Speech on the Iraq War, images from news channels, and text from DeBord's "Society of the Spectacle."

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Society
• of
• the
• Spectacle
• Guy
• DeBord
• George
• W.
• Bush

[NicosMind]

I cant watch any more of this. I got to 1.30 and had to stop

What utter lies and bullshit! And if people think Obama is different theyre very much mistaken.Hes more of the same. Nothing has changed. I heard him the other day saying how he wants to bring the troops back from Iraq. Thats what Bush said. They just need a plan! Hes increased troops to Afghan. Says theyre needed there to secure America. He promised transparancy in the markets, However numbers r only shown months after theyre needed

[dalanmcnabola]

I made this video in 2005 and it was based on Guy Debord's Society of the Spectacle in 1967. The fact that you're relating it to today is great. But why did you turn it off? Because it doesn't paint Bush in a positive light? He was the president at the time so I made it with a speech of his. Thanks for your comment.

[ShaneR1988]

what the hell is goin on in 4.42??

[dalanmcnabola]

If you're talking about what's going on in the piece at 4:42, then it's a still of the female private who took the blame for the whole Abu Ghraib Prison torture debacle, with a leash around the next of one of the detainees. I pushed in on the still to her hand holding the leash or maybe it was a belt.

[motopu]

This is a good detournment. The combination of the audio, the images, and the text bring the text to light in a new way.The text moves very slowly which allows for a good close reading and reflection. Well, I liked it anyway.

[dalanmcnabola]

thanks for the comment. I had problems animating the text during the edit. It was either too fast or too slow. I think it might be a little too slow still, but it does allow you to read it.

[bluehairspaz]

the spectacle is big enough to envelop youtube as well. its not just about obvious propaganda but about how images mediate reality, its not their side vs. our side but the presentation of sides through image. this video isnt outside of the society of the spectacle but also a part of it.

[GlobalDissident]

Would you say that Youtube is a spectacle or a situation? It does have fleeting moments of authenticity, but seems governed by images, same as the rest of our society. Plus it is even more impersonal and alienating.

[epiksonik]

the end of the age of exploration gave rise to technical expertise, governmental control of population movement, scientific exploitation of resources for the sole purpose of capitalist consumerism, and the solidification of boundaries - which has contributed to the flourishing of conflicts and wars in the last one hundred years.

I'm not saying it was something that could have been avoided, but cause is sometimes so general that it can easily be overlooked.

our ignorance is peculiar, though.

[YarnDarner]

@NicosMind I would suggest reading 'Welcome to the Desert of the Real' by Slavoj Zizek, it might help you understand Debord's concept of spectacle in a modern context. @ delanmcnabola, great video, hope you make more like this.

[annaomeara]

Was it intentional that the Debord text looks like a ticker?

I especially liked the beginning about images of American decapitation, the boundaries of warfare, civilized behavior, and fanaticism. The irony of Bush's criticism given his own fanaticism as well as how relevant Bush's words seems to Debord and the Spectacle is eerily perfect.