Conceptual Antonyms
In observing the recent US election and the whole Brexit saga from 2016, what has struck me is the polarising nature of media outlets and the messaging they put out to their respective audiences.
However, what I found disheartening was the number of guests or commentators that perpetuated divisions between elements of society. Based on the concepts elucidated by figures such as Chomsky, I am increasingly aware of devices that further neoliberalist ideology. What is clear, is that these commentators, including people such as Hopkins and Farage, are all incredibly smart individuals but are just self-defence nodes within a system.
The Pyramid of the Capitalist system (1911) illustrated those ‘who rule you, fool you and shoot at you’.
The clergy were those depicted as those who fool you.
Flash forward to 2020, we now have a plethora of commentators, analysts, populists and ‘celebrities’ who knowingly or unknowingly, hinder the public's capacity for unification through fostering irrational fear and hatred of the other, thus deceiving the communities into antagonistic and divisive positions.
Our banking system ripped us off in 2008, whom did we blame? In the UK at least, it was ‘immigrants and poor people’.. and this was only exacerbated by government austerity measures from 2010.
Disastrous and destabilising foreign policies, injustice, inequity, corruption by multiple actors and Islamaphobic media actors are not causal elements of terrorism, no no no…. It’s solely Islam!
Like a lot of people, I consume media and there is something very simple that these outlets can do to counteract divisive elements, encourage critical thinking and cultivate peace.
Considering the technical prowess of Google, Twitter and Facebook et al, it is not outside the realm of reality that when an individual watches a web video, reads a tweet, post or article, instead of being exposed to recommendations of similar content, thus entrenching a singular perspective exposing individuals to an ‘echo chamber’, the functionality should be developed whereby opposing concepts are highlighted; to encourage broader awareness of issues that matter.
For example, if an individual was to view a video on the ‘benefits of capitalism’, it is quite possible and in the realm of the technical capabilities of major media organisations to feature and recommend an opposing view, such as for example the ‘benefits of socialism’ or a comparison of the two.
Figuratively speaking, media outlets standpoints and recommendations are based upon what I personally moniker ‘conceptual synonyms’. Whereas to create a balance of reasoning within the public conscience, my view is we need a proliferation of exposure to ‘conceptual antonyms’.
The Immigration Policy Lab published a working paper in 2019 which in part, assessed the societal effect of Mohammad Salah’s transfer to Liverpool football club. The claim is that the British public’s exposure to Salah and his visibly Islamic conduct caused a 16% drop in reported hate crimes in Merseyside (home to Liverpool FC).
This is an example of the power of exposure and representation. The power of thinking outside of the conceptual norms we have developed for ourselves, in particular through our media consumption. What Salah’s subversive presence and impact have revealed, is that there is a need to explore how natural and intuitive exposure to ‘conceptual antonyms’ can lead to a more peaceful society.
What do you think Mo'?
