Regina Patio

February 28, 2017

IB Literature HL

1A

Manipulation through Mass Media

1984 demonstrates the power mass media has in manipulating the populations perception on

political and social issues. The negative utopia proposed by George Orwell is controlled by a

totalitarian government that manipulates individual thinking through propaganda, torture and

fear. Orwell argues that if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. He

argues this point through Hate Week, designed to increase the hatred for the current enemy of the

Party, as much as possible. This can be compared to the Elections of 2017, in which a common

enemy was grounded in order to gain support from either party. Hate Week as well as Hate

minutes, were compared to two articles, both on the refugee crisis. Refugees will cost

taxpayers by Breitbart, a conservative newsletter, emphasizes a hatred towards refugees as

billions of dollars will be payed to support these rather than being used for Americas welfare.

The bias lays within the blame and selfish proposal that Breitbart demonstrates. The second,

Heres why its so difficult to be a Syrian refugee in South Florida by Miami Herald, a liberal

source, gives insight into a refugees struggle in new lands and illustrates how despite this, how

grateful they are for the United States of Americas support.The bias lays as it neglects the

problems presented because of the extent of support. Through analyzing the two articles, it was
discovered how bias based on hatred and fear are pronounced and how these affect the readers as

demonstrated in the comment section.

The first article, Refugees will cost taxpayers by Breitbart, accentuates the cost of refugees.

According to analysis calculated by the source, refugee support has cost over $4.1 billion.

Michael Kelly, the author of the article, compares the cost to 10,677 new homes for $384,000

each or 170,124 new autos for $24,100 each, which is the manufacturers suggested retail

price for a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. By providing this comparison, Helly lures those attracted by

materialism rather than helping the cause of the displaced and their struggles. Their analysis also

shows that over a five year period, American taxpayers pay $59,251 per refugee, or $5,119 less

than the average Middle Eastern refugee over the same period of time. They say this despite

having any background source supporting their argument. Bias is demonstrated through the

preoccupation with wealth and Hellys lack of recognition refugees could provide with an

economic boom in the long term as well as a culturally-rich nation. The second article Heres

why its so difficult to be a Syrian refugee in South Florida by Miami Herald participates in a

bias opposite of the conservative ideology. Even though Patricia Mazzei, the author of the

article, does not neglect the cost; she provides insight on the life of a refugee, narrowing her

focus to the humanity of refugees and those supporting the cause. By quoting supporters I

would want someone to do this for me if I were in their shoes, not only do we get a sense of

refugees situation but we are encouraged to empathize. They also provide with insight as Their

daughter, 9-year-old Seham, shows off her English and Spanish... Over and over again, her

parents express their gratitude, in spite of the hardships theyve faced in their new home. As
supported with provided evidence from both articles, its easy to conclude how the first remains

more biased as it does not balance the costs and benefits while the latter does.

The emotional language in the comment threats exemplifies the power of mass media outlets to

persuade and manipulate ones perception over the refugee crisis. Comments in both Breitbart

and the Miami Herald, were extremely discouraging and invective; with the balance weighing

more towards the conservative source. The following comments are extremely similar to those

mentioned in Hate Week and the Hate Minutes. A certain reader mentioned how refugees are

parasites -- sucking the very lifeblood out of America. And we were never asked -- and never

agreed -- to any of this. This demonstrates dehumanization by comparing refugees to an animal

that provides no benefit to humans and animals, rather than living off of them and harming them.

It also generalizes by the use of we as many Americans do in fact support refugees arriving to

the so-called Land of Liberty. Another comment compares the refugee to the Crusades

explaining how It's an invasion Do we want to end up like Sweden? They have almost

destroyed their whole nation. All out of political correctness. By comparing the United States to

Sweden, despite different being part of different continents, the threat incites fear; something

common with Hate Speeches of 1984. Finally, another comment insults refugees as filthy

scumbags [ that] need to be exterminated. This comment highlights the hatred instigated by

stereotypes and propaganda.

On the other side, the liberal newsletter elicits less hatred and fear than the previous because it

analyzes both costs and benefits such as monetary loss but moral goodness. The comments give

both supportive and hateful feedback; but nevertheless, the positive is more present than in
Breitbarts. A reasonable Facebook user commented how refugee life is not a Sunday in the

park, regardless of nationality. Every refugee will undoubtedly say that the firsts days, weeks,

months are the hardest. The comment also supports the idea that language can manipulate and

influence beliefs, as after reading this, the commenter demonstrated empathy. Despite positive

outlook, many called refugees and Muslims derogatory terms. One woman even went to the

extent of questioning their customs and religion. If they are refugees because they can't live in

their country and the women are so oppressed in Muslim countries, where women worth less

than a cockroach, why do they keep wearing those symbols of their oppression with rags on their

heads ?... Why do Muslims keep their "shackles" on their heads ? This comment demonstrates

ignorance and lack of toleration for other cultures traditions, which feed into discriminative

behavior.

In conclusion, both articles show the extent fear and anger can be used in order to manipulate

behaviour as well as ideology. This comes back to the proposal of the importance of language.

Because mass media has become so attainable, it has been used for both good and mad. In the

novel 1984, the media was limited and heavily controlled. Despite the difference in extent, fear

and anger are being used today in a similar fashion by provoking one to choose sides and

become alienated to the other. At least, we have the opportunity to realize the impact of these

news outlets before being fully controlled.

Works Cited

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/02/19/refugees-will-cost-taxpayers-an-estimated
-4-billion-in-fy-2017/

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article134872254.html