April 10

"Propaganda art is angry. My murals are not angry. They are warm."

--Artist Judy Taylor of Maine, whose mural Gov. Paul LePage ordered removed from the labor department headquarters; image from article, with caption: Artist concept paintings for the controversial labor mural hang on a wall at Judy Taylor’s studio in Tremont on Mount Desert Island. She rejects the idea that her murals serve as left-wing propaganda.

PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

What we see today is not the Gbagbo I knew - Dan Whitman: washingtonexaminer.com: "By the time you read this, Cote d’Ivoire’s Laurent Gbagbo will be out or in, alive, dead, or in flight. He’s not about to return as the friend I knew in 1980 when he traveled to the U.S. At that time, Laurent wasn’t even of the rank of enfant terrible, though he strived to be. With others, I served as his interpreter, chauffeur, drinking partner, and foxhole comrade. ... Gbagbo, a[...] historian, traveled to seven states in five weeks that year with Operation Crossroads Africa. Crossroaders were familial, adventurous, willing to live and travel in basic accommodations, intent on mutual discovery. Laurent was selected from a competitive pool, and financed, by the U.S. Embassy in Abidjan, as a 'Young African Leader.' The irony here is striking, but does not impugn the fine work of U.S. government educational and cultural exchange over six decades. ... The Laurent I knew wouldn’t

spill his countrymen’s blood even if the UN, U.S., EU, and AU had all been mistaken in declaring Alassane Ouattara the winner of the 2010 elections. My Laurent was inclined to compassion over others’ misfortunes. A sadist he was not. Lessons learned? People change. A lot. So far, the variables and causes have eluded social scientists, psychologists, political strategists. A little humility here: We need to figure this out, and fast. I don’t follow: how would a fun-loving person could willingly harm his country for an unattainable degree of self aggrandizement? The train has no brakes, we’d better retrofit them wherever we can. Another Shakespeare character would have picked up the skull of the demised, and said, 'Alas, poor Laurent! I knew him, Horatio.' But that was at a kinder time, when a single person could disappear safely to obscurity." Whitman image from

Pyrrhic victory? BBC World Service Trust withdraws its bid for State Dept circumvention funds - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting

Recent obituaries include two former chairmen of the Voice of America Advisory Committee - Kim Andrew Elliott reporting on International Broadcasting. Among the obituaries mentioned: "Washington Post, 5 Apr 2011, Emma Brown: 'Michael Weyl, who served as an official with the U.S. Information Agency for 35 years, died March 19 ... . He was 93.

... He ... worked as chief policy officer for Voice of America and as head of the U.S. Information Agency’s book-translation program.'" Image from

Israel wouldn't need propaganda if it changed its policies - Gideon Levy, Ha'aretz: "What do Israel and Syria have in common? Not much, but both have ministries of hasbara. No such thing exists in the West. No such thing exists in democracies. But in Israel, we have falafel and a minister of hasbara, who is known as the minister of public diplomacy and diaspora affairs. The Israeli president, prime minister, cabinet members and MKs fly all over the world on useless hasbara missions. Israeli diplomats deal with hasbara from dawn to dusk. ... A country's image is determined by the media, which conveys reports, pictures and information, not propaganda, which has no buyers in the modern world. It's crazy and primitive to believe that if only we have hasbara, if the people who explain Israel are good at their jobs, canny propagandists and seasoned PR people, look how our position would change, how the world would stand and cheer us. It's a waste of time and money. The day Israel changes its policy it won't need hasbara anymore; until then, it's useless anyway. ... Hasbara will not overcome the unequivocal fact that Israel has been an occupying power for more than four decades. No propaganda can persuade people of good conscience that we're right as long as millions of Palestinians are living without rights. ... Enough hasbara, let's have policies that are just."

CULTURAL DIPLOMACY

US Boosts Higher Education Exchanges With Indonesia‎ - Sara Schonhardt, Voice of America: "Nearly a year after the Obama administration set a priority of boosting higher education exchanges with Indonesia, the U.S. is repeating its commitment to cultural diplomacy. As part of that outreach, it aims to double the number of Indonesian students studying in the U.S., a solution officials say will help the U.S. economy and improve relations with the rapidly developing Muslim-majority nation. ... The number of Indonesians studying in the U.S. has fallen steadily since 1998,

when the Asian financial crisis sapped some families’ abilities to send children abroad. Visa issues depressed the numbers, which still have not rebounded. Fewer than 7,000 Indonesians studied in the United States last year, down about eight percent from 2009. With improvements in universities elsewhere, as well as cheaper options closer to home, more Indonesians are choosing to study in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia." Image from article, with caption: Students visit recruiters from US universities seeking answers to questions about studying abroad, at a US education fair sponsored by the US Embassy in Jakarta, April 4, 2011

China’s Soft Power - The Diplomat: "The Diplomat speaks with Joshua Kurlantzick, author of ‘Charm Offensive: How China's Soft Power Is Transforming the World’, about Chinese soft power diplomacy. What kind of national image has China sought to project to the world through its cultural diplomacy that distinguishes it against other Asian nations? I’m not sure China is trying to portray itself against other Asian nations, but I think it has used its soft power to boost its image compared to its own image of the past—its image in the 1970s and 80s and early 90s—as either disinterested in regional affairs or difficult and aggressive to deal with. Also, I think China has utilized its soft power and cultural diplomacy to try to create the idea, at least regionally, that it’s truly a good neighbour—that it shares values and heritage with its neighbours—and that the United States, in contrast, doesn’t. What are the limits of China's soft power projections? I think the limits of China’s soft power are where either they run up against China’s hard power ambitions—it can use its cultural diplomacy to try to win over Vietnam or the Philippines, but if Beijing then claims nearly the entire South China Sea, all the soft power in the world isn’t going to help—or when the soft power initiative runs up against its own limitations. For example, China’s ability to project its culture or its media is limited by the constraints on free expression within China itself. ... What type of rapprochement can China and Japan build through soft power mechanisms?

Obviously, the Sino-Japanese relationship is highly complex and fraught with all sorts of tensions, including economic tensions, political tensions, and tensions over history. Cultural diplomacy, person-to-person diplomacy, soft power—all of these things can help smooth over the Sino-Japanese relationship at times of trouble. That said, cultural diplomacy also at times has actually heightened tensions in the Sino-Japanese relationship, since both sides are very sensitive about certain issues related to cultural diplomacy, including issues related to history." Image from article

[Global Asia] Cool Japan, Soft Power - Asger Røjle Christensen, english.hani.co.kr: "The projection of soft power is a conscious, focused and highly prioritized effort by the Japanese government to exploit the country’s popularity among young people worldwide — multitudes of whom share a passion for Japanese fashions and fads — and to create a broader sympathetic image in the host country. The effort is focused directly at young foreign nationals who have fallen in love with one or another of the cultural phenomena that originated in Japan. It could include classical interests such as Noh theater, the Japanese tea ceremony or haiku; or more modern forms of expression such as the films of Kurosawa or Kitano, fashion from Issei Miyaki or Kenzo, sushi and Japanese cuisine, and of course the world of electronics and computer games. But in recent years the media have focused attention on the dominance of manga, anime and cosplay. Diplomats in business suits, including Seiichi Kondo, Japan’s past ambassador to Denmark, are pushing these quintessentially youthful pursuits. ... While Japan has always used public funds to promote its highbrow culture, now the government wants to do the same with its noisy pop culture. ... This effort by the Japanese is not only the expression of a struggle for a better global image. It is also an effort to provide concrete short-term benefits through the sale of cultural products and increased tourism. 'If you look at some governmental

documents that discuss ‘cultural diplomacy,’ it is clear that this is conceived in terms of economic gain via export as well as the improvement of the image of Japan by ‘branding’ the nation,' Sakamoto [Rumi Sakamoto, a lecturer in Japanese at the University of Auckland] says. ... 'Tokyo’s new emphasis on cultural diplomacy is agreeable to most Japanese across the ideological spectrum, Peng Er Lam [a senior research fellow at National University of Singapore] says.  'To the left, a non-militaristic approach to international relations is desirable. To the right, it is great for the world to appreciate various aspects of Japanese culture. Simply put, there is a national consensus on the pursuit of soft power for different reasons.'"  Image from

Home is where the art is: Raka Singh on how cultural diplomacy can sometimes work better than more conventional styles - Jennifer Rankin, European Voice: "When a government is planning its six-month presidency of the Council of Ministers, drawing up the agenda for Coreper meetings is not enough. Nowadays, officials also put in a call to

Raka Singh and her colleagues at the Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels to discuss how they can showcase their country's arts and culture. Raka Singh is international affairs co-ordinator at the centre, now branded as Bozar. Her team maintains contacts with Belgian ministries, foreign embassies and EU institutions, and forges links with museums and galleries around the world." Singh image from article

Symphony conductor first American to lead Syrian orchestra‎ - Bradley Zint, Daily Pilot: "Pacific Symphony conductor Carl St. Clair

recently became the first American to lead the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra during his cultural diplomacy trip in Damascus in late March. St. Clair, in his 21st season as the Costa Mesa-based orchestra's music director, conducted Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 with the Syrian ensemble March 30. ... Pacific Symphony officials said the visit completed 'a cultural exchange' after the Syrian ensemble performed in Costa Mesa in 2009. The Syrian National Symphony's website says that its U.S. visit, which also included UCLA's Royce Hall, was one of its historic highlights since forming in 1993." St. Clair image from article

American Arab, Iranian, Indian Comedians - press release, PR-USA.net: "The dramatic changes in the Middle East region are leading to a new paradigm for understanding conflict and the pursuit of freedom by people, no matter what their religion or origin. Efforts to build bridges between communities are being propelled by social media, education and entertainment. Can comedy, traditionally viewed as 'light' entertainment, be utilized as a tool for cultural diplomacy?  PlanetPix Media [and] Entertainment Group is raising the stakes again after a string of multicultural [and] multifaith comedy shows that launched in the Los Angeles area in December 2010."

RELATED ITEMS

Grounds for U.S. military intervention - Henry A. Kissinger and and James A. Baker III, Washington Post: As events unfold in North Africa and the Middle East, it is imperative that we look at each country individually. In this spirit, we offer a few guidelines: First, when using force, we must establish a clear and specific goal. Second, we should examine the circumstances in each country in terms of its specific conditions and seek to relate its culture and history to our strategic and economic interests. Third, we must know exactly what and whom we are supporting. Fourth, there must be domestic support in the United States, which is usually obtained by congressional backing. Fifth, we should consider unintended consequences. Sixth, and most important, the United States must develop a firm and differentiated understanding of its vital national interests. Image from

Obama administration's anti-terror architecture: Too much like Bus: Obama has embraced national security policies of the previous administration that he once criticized - Editorial, latimes.com: Guantanamo, of course, is the signal emblem of Obama's unfulfilled promises.

The 9/11 trials at Guantanamo will create a distressing legacy: Once the military commission apparatus becomes established, every future administration will have a ready instrument to arrest, judge and sentence wholly within the executive branch, evading the separation of powers carefully calibrated in the Constitution - David K. Shipler, latimes.com

Libya: Media Propaganda and "Humanitarian Imperialism" - Julie Lévesque, Global Research: Since the beginning of the crisis in Libya, the media has taken sides in favor of the rebels. The media relies almost solely on the rebellion’s claims, while totally dismissing information emanating from the Gaddafi government.

Ascertaining the truth of statements is not to be condemned; quite the contrary, this verification should be systematic, and applied to the claims of Western governments and rebels of all sorts. Yet, the Western media shows virtually no scepticism with regard to the Libyan rebels’ assertions and those of the “benevolent” governments who come to their rescue. Image from article

Syrian regime Propaganda - As'ad AbuKhalil, angryarab.blogspot.com: Who is the lousy Syrian regime kidding with its story of an armed gang that is roaming the streets killing people? If there is such a gang, it must be working for the regime. Will they now claim that this gang was behind the destruction of Hamah in 1982 and also behind the support of the Phalanges-led militias in Lebanon during the civil war?

Daffy’s Inferno: An American World War II Propaganda Revue in Seven Chapters - Joe DeMartino, blog.wfmu.org: Beyond a few broad, core truths (the Nazis are Evil, the Axis are a Threat), propaganda is by its very nature filled with falsehoods, exaggerations, and lies. It reveals far more about the country that created it than its actual target. In the following cartoons [video of cartoons in entry], which cast the most popular animated characters of the time into situations both comic and nightmarish, the concerns of World War II America are laid bare: it's scared, defiant, and strangely obsessed.

Sputnik Propaganda Poster - Joseph Krzemienski, thefictory.com: Featuring none other than Russian Space Program Icons, Sputnik, Yuri Gagarin (the first human in space) and Laika (the first animal in space).

You’ll see these guys hangin’ around the short, and eventually for sale in our store when it’s up and running. But until then, enjoy this art! Image from article

ONE MORE QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

"The enlightened world doesn't need propaganda."

--Gideon Levy, Ha'aretz