The Future of Obedience
December 2, 2013 6:01 PM Subscribe
OBEY is a glitchy, psychedelic look at the rise of the corporate state and the future of obedience in a world of unfettered capitalism, inequality, and climate change, based on Chris Hedges' Death of the Liberal Class.
anemone of the state... thanks!
posted by Mister Bijou at 1:34 AM on December 3, 2013
posted by Mister Bijou at 1:34 AM on December 3, 2013
What is this "psychedelic" element you speak of?
Also, so much use of negative colour filter.
posted by ACair at 4:10 AM on December 3, 2013
Also, so much use of negative colour filter.
posted by ACair at 4:10 AM on December 3, 2013
A look at "a world of unfettered capitalism, inequality, and climate change"?
Is it a link to a window?
posted by Legomancer at 6:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
Is it a link to a window?
posted by Legomancer at 6:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [4 favorites]
Metafilter: I tried, I really did. But after 15 minutes of stock footage, tinkly music and a non-stop monologue about the rise of the corporate state I had to give up.
posted by officer_fred at 7:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by officer_fred at 7:04 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
I like this very much. I would like to read some of his books. I suspect the reason I like this video so much is because I believe what's shown is the present, not the future.
posted by PuppyCat at 7:16 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by PuppyCat at 7:16 AM on December 3, 2013 [1 favorite]
So it turns out that it isn't that easy to rip off Adam Curtis.
That first shot of a dog being led through an obedience test is a visual equivalent of someone screaming "WAKE UP SHEEPLE !" at you (over the internet, of course).
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 7:30 AM on December 3, 2013
That first shot of a dog being led through an obedience test is a visual equivalent of someone screaming "WAKE UP SHEEPLE !" at you (over the internet, of course).
posted by devious truculent and unreliable at 7:30 AM on December 3, 2013
By "glitchy," do you mean "glitzy" by any chance? If so, I wonder if that's a personal thing or an ongoing linguistic change I will need to take account of. (Anybody else here use it that way?)
Also, I decry the rise of the corporate state and the future of obedience in a world of unfettered capitalism, but yeah, the video doesn't do much for me.
posted by languagehat at 7:44 AM on December 3, 2013
Also, I decry the rise of the corporate state and the future of obedience in a world of unfettered capitalism, but yeah, the video doesn't do much for me.
posted by languagehat at 7:44 AM on December 3, 2013
> So it turns out that it isn't that easy to rip off Adam Curtis.
Some tips:
(1) Choose stock footage that is less directly symbolic, with an eye towards juxtaposition. Beyond basic editing (including sparing use of manipulations and reversals of film speed), don't modify the visual look of the footage.
(2) Use much shorter cuts, yielding a "stock collage" around some theme. Don't be afraid to insert footage whose relevance is exceedingly unclear, so long as it is also brief.
(3) Spend *much* more time thinking about sound design. This includes drawing from a wider variety of samples, and also making tactical use of both humor and silence to drive home key points.
(4) Actually travel to places and interview people, particularly those whose ideas you take issue with. Let them express those views in their own words. Otherwise, no matter how valid your ideas, you come across as a crank sitting alone in a basement with a tape recorder.
(5) Under no circumstance should you monkey with the interview footage, beyond how it is cut. Doing so undermines the verisimilitude of the clip and thus its apparent objectivity.
(6) Tailor your narration to these interviews, such that any overly broad narrated declarations are immediately followed by an apparent expert asserting a point supportive of the premise established moments before by the narrator.
posted by belarius at 10:28 AM on December 3, 2013
Some tips:
(1) Choose stock footage that is less directly symbolic, with an eye towards juxtaposition. Beyond basic editing (including sparing use of manipulations and reversals of film speed), don't modify the visual look of the footage.
(2) Use much shorter cuts, yielding a "stock collage" around some theme. Don't be afraid to insert footage whose relevance is exceedingly unclear, so long as it is also brief.
(3) Spend *much* more time thinking about sound design. This includes drawing from a wider variety of samples, and also making tactical use of both humor and silence to drive home key points.
(4) Actually travel to places and interview people, particularly those whose ideas you take issue with. Let them express those views in their own words. Otherwise, no matter how valid your ideas, you come across as a crank sitting alone in a basement with a tape recorder.
(5) Under no circumstance should you monkey with the interview footage, beyond how it is cut. Doing so undermines the verisimilitude of the clip and thus its apparent objectivity.
(6) Tailor your narration to these interviews, such that any overly broad narrated declarations are immediately followed by an apparent expert asserting a point supportive of the premise established moments before by the narrator.
posted by belarius at 10:28 AM on December 3, 2013
I think "glitchy" refers to Glitch (music). But the music doesn't fit that definition, but the visuals might.
posted by Monkey0nCrack at 10:42 AM on December 5, 2013
posted by Monkey0nCrack at 10:42 AM on December 5, 2013
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posted by awfurby at 9:02 PM on December 2, 2013