Jump to content
Poetry Magnum Opus

the Propaganda Assets Inventory


rumisong

Recommended Posts

...The decision to include culture and art in the US Cold War arsenal was taken as soon as the CIA was founded in 1947. Dismayed at the appeal communism still had for many intellectuals and artists in the West, the new agency set up a division, the Propaganda Assets Inventory, which at its peak could influence more than 800 newspapers, magazines and public information organisations. They joked that it was like a Wurlitzer jukebox: when the CIA pushed a button it could hear whatever tune it wanted playing across the world.

 

The next key step came in 1950, when the International Organisations Division (IOD) was set up under Tom Braden. It was this office which subsidised the animated version of George Orwell's Animal Farm, which sponsored American jazz artists, opera recitals, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's international touring programme. Its agents were placed in the film industry, in publishing houses, even as travel writers for the celebrated Fodor guides. And, we now know, it promoted America's anarchic avant-garde movement, Abstract Expressionism...

 

 

see the article here

Link to comment
Share on other sites

...The decision to include culture and art in the US Cold War arsenal was taken as soon as the CIA was founded in 1947. Dismayed at the appeal communism still had for many intellectuals and artists in the West, the new agency set up a division, the Propaganda Assets Inventory, which at its peak could influence more than 800 newspapers, magazines and public information organisations. They joked that it was like a Wurlitzer jukebox: when the CIA pushed a button it could hear whatever tune it wanted playing across the world. [emphasis mine]

I'm sure the CIA was not dismayed. Who funds the arts? The super-rich do, of course. (Ordinary people are too busy trying to put food on their tables.) Yet some of the wealthiest people in the world also promoted socialist and communist causes. At first glance, with socialism's take-from-the-rich and give-to-the-poor protocol, this would seem absurd. But it was author Gary Allen who wrote that "If one understands that socialism is not a share-the-wealth scheme, but is in reality a method to consolidate and control the wealth, then the seeming paradox of super-rich men promoting socialism becomes no paradox at all. Instead, it becomes logical, even the perfect tool of power-seeking megalomaniacs. Communism, or more accurately socialism, is not a movement of the downtrodden masses, but the economic elite." No, the CIA does not play the jukebox to combat socialism. It plays the jukebox to the tune of the super-rich to draw the masses further into an illuminati controlled hell.

 

The next key step came in 1950, when the International Organisations Division (IOD) was set up under Tom Braden. It was this office which subsidised the animated version of George Orwell's Animal Farm, which sponsored American jazz artists, opera recitals, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's international touring programme. Its agents were placed in the film industry, in publishing houses, even as travel writers for the celebrated Fodor guides. And, we now know, it promoted America's anarchic avant-garde movement, Abstract Expressionism...

 

 

see the article here

Interesting that some good like the animated version of Animal Farm even ended up on the playlist of the "free" world's peculiar brand of socialist realism. Must have slipped through the cracks.

 

Thanks for the meaningful topic, Rumisong.

 

Tony

Here is a link to an index of my works on this site: tonyv's Member Archive topic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm sure the CIA was not dismayed. Who funds the arts? The super-rich do, of course. (Ordinary people are too busy trying to put food on their tables.)

 

of course...

 

Yet some of the wealthiest people in the world also promoted socialist and communist causes. At first glance, with socialism's take-from-the-rich and give-to-the-poor protocol, this would seem absurd. But it was author Gary Allen who wrote that "If one understands that socialism is not a share-the-wealth scheme, but is in reality a method to consolidate and control the wealth, then the seeming paradox of super-rich men promoting socialism becomes no paradox at all... not a movement of the downtrodden masses, but the economic elite."

 

Hmm, I dont know this- you are teaching me something I didnt know here--

 

are you specifically considering a sort of historical socialism? and are you speaking specifically of the US and perhaps UK? or are you including todays socialist movement in the US as well, and for instance the socialism they may have in Scandinavia?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Guidelines.