By Rishin, Fortkochi | Feb 15, 2025 | 6 min read
In this age of manufactured illusions, mainstream cinema has ceased to be a mere form of entertainment—it has become an instrument of ideological indoctrination, subtly shaping how humanity perceives history, morality, and reality itself. Consider this: after immersing oneself in a barrage of blockbuster films or war epics, one begins to question—who truly emerged victorious in the last World War? Was it the righteous, the wicked, or merely opportunists who maneuvered through chaos for their own gain?
These cinematic narratives are not born out of spontaneity but are meticulously crafted blueprints designed to manipulate collective consciousness under the guise of storytelling. Governments and corporations often fund such productions, embedding within them ideologies that serve their interests while concealing their ulterior motives. For instance, countless war films glorify certain nations as paragons of virtue while vilifying others as embodiments of evil, thereby constructing a distorted historical narrative that audiences unwittingly accept as truth. As filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard astutely remarked, "Cinema is the most beautiful fraud in the world."
Yet, when did we cease questioning these deceptive narratives? Why do we allow ourselves to be swept away by tales that blur the boundaries between fact and fiction, leaving us intoxicated by dazzling visuals and gripping soundtracks? Beneath the surface, these films perpetuate perilous myths—that power belongs solely to the ruthless, that resistance is synonymous with chaos, and that oppression is justified if cloaked in righteousness.
Let us now turn our gaze toward news media—a domain once revered as the bastion of objectivity and truth-telling. Yet today, news broadcasts resemble theatrical performances rather than platforms for impartial journalism. Have you ever paused to wonder why every segment seems accompanied by dramatic background music? When did facts become inseparable from emotional cues designed to manipulate our responses?
This phenomenon did not emerge spontaneously; it evolved over decades as television networks discovered that emotive soundtracks could evoke stronger reactions and captivate audiences. Over time, this practice transformed into an art form. A melancholic piano melody underscores tragedies, while triumphant orchestral scores accompany political victories. Suddenly, the same event can be framed as either heroic or catastrophic depending on the accompanying soundtrack—a testament to the manipulative power of presentation.
The danger inherent in this approach is twofold. First, it reduces complex realities to simplistic binaries—good versus evil, success versus failure—thereby stripping issues of their nuance. Second, it stifles critical thinking by dictating precisely how we should feel about each story. As philosopher Marshall McLuhan wisely observed, "The medium is the message." In other words, the manner in which information is delivered shapes its meaning as much as the content itself.
"When did we surrender our ability to analyze facts independently?"
Both movies and news media share a common thread—they thrive on spectacle over substance, emotion over logic, and urgency over introspection. Yet, it need not remain so. By cultivating mindfulness in our consumption of media, we can reclaim our perspective and demand accountability from those who shape our narratives.
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