DAUK Film Night: The Brainwashing of My Dad

Why is the power and influence of the right-wing media so strong in the US? Why have so many fellow Americans been seduced by the false information and the rage and hatred the right-wing media promotes?

Come to our screening on May 11, of The Brainwashing of My Dad to explore these issues. After the screening, join the discussion led by the eminent journalist and academic Professor Charlie Beckett, Director of Polis at the LSE, and Karin Robinson, a social media strategist.

The film’s starting point is the filmmaker, Jan Senko’s, own story as she watches grief-stricken when her largely apolitical “Kennedy Democrat” father, Frank, turns into a virulent right-wing conservative, spouting negative opinions about African Americans, gays, feminists, etc. She goes on a voyage to find out what was happening to her once kindly dad. And she finds the culprit. Her father’s altered thinking started when his job changed and he had a long, daily car journey to get to work. His companion on this commute was his radio and Rush Limbaugh! From Rush Limbaugh he began to access other right-wing outlets, like Fox News and email lists. Their opinions became his opinions. And she discovers his story is not unique.

She journeys to try to understand how her father, and the nation, has seemingly lost objective news sources and the effect that has had our politics. Along the way, she interviews many experts, including a neuroscientist, linguists and media analysts.

Looking historically, she finds that from the Nixon years onwards there were projects to build strong and influential right-wing organizations, networks, media messaging and media outlets. Nixon’s administration began nudging the middle to the right on moral grounds. Groups and issues have been “re-framed”: the poor became “takers,” the established media became the “liberal media,” government regulation became “government takeovers,” etc. One of Nixon’s advisers was Roger Ailes, who went on to found Fox News in 1996.

Ms. Senko’s journey also takes her to an Oxford neuroscientist, who argues that the brain can become addicted to the appeals of media outlets and incite angry responses. This ties in with the tactics and techniques of seduction these media deploy. Some would even argue that it is a form of “stealth brainwashing.”

David Alm wrote in Forbes, March 25, 2016, “…The Brainwashing of My Dad isn’t really about Frank Senko or even the media that hijacked his mind for 30 years. It’s about all of us and how easily manipulated we can be under the pretense of information.

Although The Brainwashing of My Dad concentrates on the well-established talk radio and television outlets, we shall be able to expand the discussion to other news outlets and talk about the importance of social media and the growth of the Alt-Right after the screening. Today’s media has become a polarising device. We have Trump in the White House. We need to find solutions.

Join us on May 11 to discuss these issues, which are central to our very way of life. For more information about the Brainwashing of My Dad, and for trailers, reviews and interviews and sources go to: http://www.daukpan.org.uk/FilmBrainwashingMyDad

Date: Thursday May 11, 2017

Venue: Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building, London School of Economics, Lincoln Inn’s Fields WC2A 3LJ

How to find the LSE: http://www.lse.ac.uk/mapsAndDirections/LSElocationMap.pdf

How to find the New Academic Building: Map of LSE campus: (Building NAB)

http://www.lse.ac.uk/mapsAndDirections/findingYourWayAroundLSE.aspx

Time: 7:00 – 9:30 pm

Schedule:

6:30 pm: Doors open for check-in

7:00 pm: Welcome and introduction. Please note this early start.

7:05 – 8:25 pm: Screening of The Brainwashing of My Dad

8:30 – 9:30 pm: Discussion and Q and A with DAUK leaders

Speakers:

Professor Charlie Beckett is director of Polis, the international journalism think-tank as the LSE. He is a specialist in the future of news and political journalism. He worked as a film-maker and programme editor at the BBC and ITN’s Channel 4 News before joining the Department of Media and Communications at the LSE in 2006. His books, SuperMedia and WikiLeaks: News in The Networked Era show how journalism is changing and its impact on society and democracy. As a journalist, he covered several US elections and at the LSE has researched and written extensively about US politics and media and the challenges of ‘fake news’ and President Trump.

Karin Robinson is a social media strategist for a large advertising and communications agency. In 2008 she was the Regional Field Director for the Obama campaign. She has worked with DAUK through four presidential elections, served as Vice-Chair of DAUK and is currently on its Executive Committee. Throughout this last election cycle she was an informed and unflinching voice for DAUK on a wide range of TV and radio programs here in the UK. She continues to provide powerful critiques of the right-wing agenda of Trump and the Republican Party of our behalf.

Susan Schoenfeld Harrington will chair the discussion. Susan is a member of DAUK's Executive Committee, a former Vice Chair of DAUK and served on the DPCA. She has actively worked on political campaigns at the city, state and national level as both a volunteer and staff. In 2016 she was very active in the Hillary campaign. Susan worked in the television industry and keeps a close eye on developments in international and US media. The Trump administration and Republican dominance at federal and state levels have inspired her to sharpen her focus on ensuring that Democrats campaign effectively to set out their agendas for opposition, resistance and to define what Democrats want to achieve in preparation for the 2018 midterms.

Please note: Unless sold out, tickets will be available on the door.

Special notices:

In compliance with US campaign and party funding laws, we can only accept payments from US citizens and green card holders. Non-US citizens are very welcome to attend, but only as guests of US citizens who must book and pay for—as a gift—their guests' admission. By booking and paying for tickets for this event, you are confirming that you are a US citizen or green card holder. You must tick a box affirming this before completing your purchase.

If you are unable for any reason to book online using this website, please email us with your request. Advance bookings will only be taken until 17:00 on the day of the screening. Tickets are also available on the door, unless sold out.

This event is CLOSED to the press.