Outreach and Communication

[ComingUpForAir]

Comrades,

This is something that has bewildered me for a while.

Let me begin by explaining how I came to be a Marxist. I studied Economics and Philosophy and always thought that Communism didn't work for a number of the basic myth reasons everyone else thinks who hasn't yet studied the question of Socialism critically (people are selfish, good on paper, etc.). Years after college, I began to earnestly read THE NATION, after surviving an Ayn Rand phase and a Democrat phase in college. I had to know more, so I looked into Anarchism and went through a big Noam Chomsky phase. It took endless searches on Youtube for videos and a trip to East Berlin to finally prompt me to study Marxism. I never even considered that there might be truth to it, such was the ingrained bias.

I often wonder why there aren't more accessible, interesting documentaries which simply talk about the myths behind the failure of Communism. The best I see is biased documentaries by the BBC. It's common consensus that Communism = Dictatorship. All I get on youtube are David Harvey. It actually took my great love of Christopher Hitchens - say what you want about him being pro-war, he was a trot and his CSPAN appearances and defense of slavery reparations, take down of reactionaires like mother teresa, and position on Capital Punishment, et al are INSPRIRING - to finally get me to take another look at Leon Trotsky.

I like the wearemany.org site -- at least there you have some audio lectures... but honestly why aren't there more documentaries or videos or ANYTHING accessible to anyone? We're in a poor state of affairs if all the Marxists gather in REVLEFT and don't outreach more.. most people don't have the patience to listen to lectures on Marxism.

It should also be noted that when I was trying to learn more about Leftist positions, I often ran into smugness, intellectual superior type attitudes, etc from my supposed liberated comrades ... Leftists were often smug in my view. Now I fear I am the smug one. A true Marxist has no pretension.. so why isn't there more Media Outreach? Even the wearemany.org site is just thrown together -- It took me buying a book by Paul D'Amato (even then with intense trepidation) to break the Marxist barrier.

We need to help people BREAK THE BARRIER --

[ckaihatsu]

What would you consider to be a good direction to go in with this? (What avenues are lacking, in your estimation?)

[RedHammer]

We need popular documentaries. Not dry intellectual lectures or isolated internet information hubs, but popular documentaries that explore the various elements of Marxism (especially its history, and especially the Soviet Union).

We need something viral. Something catchy. Something that draws audiences. Just as popular science books present scientific thought in an open and interesting manner to the layman, so should we do the same with Marxism. But documentaries, and not books.

A good YouTube presence would help. I know there are Marxists on Youtube, but we need something more generally accessible to the public (like TheYoungTurks, but with a Marxist perspective). I actually really like MaoistRebelNews2, but he's not very big and we need something much less alienating. This is the age of the internet and mass communications and we need to be taking advantage of that, and we're honestly not. Not nearly to the extent that we should be.

[ckaihatsu]

We need popular documentaries. Not dry intellectual lectures or isolated internet information hubs, but popular documentaries that explore the various elements of Marxism (especially its history, and especially the Soviet Union).

We need something viral. Something catchy. Something that draws audiences. Just as popular science books present scientific thought in an open and interesting manner to the layman, so should we do the same with Marxism. But documentaries, and not books.

A good YouTube presence would help. I know there are Marxists on Youtube, but we need something more generally accessible to the public (like TheYoungTurks, but with a Marxist perspective). I actually really like MaoistRebelNews2, but he's not very big and we need something much less alienating. This is the age of the internet and mass communications and we need to be taking advantage of that, and we're honestly not. Not nearly to the extent that we should be.


Well, the first step would be a script of some sort....


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storyboarding

[RedHammer]

Well, the first step would be a script of some sort....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storyboarding

Sure. I've been involved in drama most of my life, in fact, and I've studied advanced film. I'd be more than happy to contribute to any effort.

[ckaihatsu]

Sure. I've been involved in drama most of my life, in fact, and I've studied advanced film. I'd be more than happy to contribute to any effort.


I would gladly lend 3-D graphics skills, and possibly animation. Samples can be seen at tinyurl.com/ckaihatsu.

Also, f.y.i:


[16] Affinity Group Workflow Tracker

http://postimage.org/image/1cqt82ps4/

[Positivist]

I agree that a social media presence must be built up through youtube, facebook, twitter etc. so I'd be down to help out. I don't have much technical ability but I am an inept writer and perhaps I could frame Marxist arguments in an accessible form.

My own notes:
We'll need multiple outlets for our ideas on each social media site (numerous channels, pages)
We will need to actively promote these sites (post links to liberal forums)
We will need to frame our arguments without explicitly referencing communism, atleast not at first. Our first priority should be to critique capitalism.
The dissemination of Marxist ideas must necessarily be followed by the mobilisng of a popular movement. This could proceed similarly to how the ZM movement developed out of the Zetigeist video critiques.

Maybe we should start a User group on this?

[Comrade Samuel]

We need popular documentaries. Not dry intellectual lectures or isolated internet information hubs, but popular documentaries that explore the various elements of Marxism (especially its history, and especially the Soviet Union).

We need something viral. Something catchy. Something that draws audiences. Just as popular science books present scientific thought in an open and interesting manner to the layman, so should we do the same with Marxism. But documentaries, and not books.

A good YouTube presence would help. I know there are Marxists on Youtube, but we need something more generally accessible to the public (like TheYoungTurks, but with a Marxist perspective). I actually really like MaoistRebelNews2, but he's not very big and we need something much less alienating. This is the age of the internet and mass communications and we need to be taking advantage of that, and we're honestly not. Not nearly to the extent that we should be.

I think this is a very good idea. There was an official revleft channel way back when, I believe it was Redtube2007 or something like that although a new one, with a name that's not linked to a porn site or has been stagnant for so long would probably be much better. If somebody does this it should try to cover Marx and Engles' works before delving into tendencies or really most anything to do with the 20th century but should still do it in an abridged and entertaining fashion.

Also we would need a way to make our content have a very strong, very clear message thats grounded in fact and not speculation. Why? Because videos on YouTube that spark political arguments are 90% opinions and flat out lies that often lead to "communist" 12 year olds who play video games getting into pointless debates with bat shit crazy cold war relics with no clear information or arguments being exchanged, mostly just insults about the other's mother mixed with wikipedia article exerts.

[ComingUpForAir]

Something as simple as '10 myths about Marxism Explained' would in itself be enormous I think. This would be very easy to put together -- obviously a full scale documentary would take a lot more work and would require great editing, but I think it would be well worth the effort. If a user group forms I'd be glad to participate in this project!

[ckaihatsu]

Maybe we should start a User group on this?


I would tend to say no here, just because it's only starting up. I think we should remain open to more participation, and we can certainly accommodate it.


I went ahead and put everything from this thread so far into a workflow table, as referenced in post #6. I left off the last two columns for space reasons, and the 'type' column will be one of four physically-based "realms" -- content, style, internal (administrative), and external.

As this project expands the table may come in handy. I'll stay on top of it and post updates regularly. Custom sorting by any criteria may be requested as well, as a convenience.

[Positivist]

Lots of good ideas going around here, thanks for recording all the ideas on a flow chart ckaihatsu. I have a couple other ideas below. There mostly basics, I just want to make sure they're covered.
More Notes:
-Reliable, accepted sources (Marxist or non-marxist)
-Some sort of Q&A function (try and retain some control over discussion in order to avoid degeneration of arguments into "communism/Marx killed s billion people.") Maybe we could even do a FAQ.
-Videos which refute every liberal argument against communism (equal pay, human nature, etc.)
-Certain channels and pages which focus on specific social issues (racism, heterosexism, alienation) and explains how these phenomenon result from class and capitalism in general. These pages are the ones that should not explicitly refer to Marx or communism (atleast not at their inception.)
-Lets make sure we preplan all of our scripts and pages so as to not start anything prematurely and lose optimal affect.

[The_Red_Spark]

I don't want to speak for my two comrades just yet, but I think I can bring some support for the project. We are working to explore plans for projects of this type and I think that they would be interested in collaborating with everyone here as well. ComradesUnite! has started a group to this ends and I would like to encourage everyone here to take advantage of it while at the same time maintaining the thread. It is a group to plan and test various methods to actively engage others in the mainstream. While I recommend keeping the thread for recruitment purposes you might also like a area to use as a group too. The more people we can amass with a true desire to take constructive plans and make them a reality, the more effective we will be in getting out our message. Organize, agitate, and educate!!!

Either way I want to extend a hand and offer my services to the project. I am not sure what I can help with but I am eager to help in whatever way you feel is appropriate. I would gladly add anything you put together to my blog, and any blog that I am a writer for, and promote the project for you. Let me know if you have any ideas of how I can be helpful and assist on this project. It sounds like a good idea.:)

[Geiseric]

Guys we need to do stuff and organize in real life, with the working class. It isn't easy, but things like reading groups and organized discussions are much more useful.

[The_Red_Spark]

Guys we need to do stuff and organize in real life, with the working class. It isn't easy, but things like reading groups and organized discussions are much more useful.
Where can you find a schedule or listing of reading groups? I know there are great events to attend but I always seem to miss them because I find out once they have come and gone. Do you know how I can be added to a email list or something to stay in the loop?

[theblackmask]

Guys we need to do stuff and organize in real life, with the working class. It isn't easy, but things like reading groups and organized discussions are much more useful.

I think the point is still being missed. You can make all the documentaries and have all the reading group discussions you want, and it will make little difference. What people need now are tangible actions that make their lives better and at the same time show that life can be better outside of Capital's domination. People don't need another wannabe intellectual trying to indoctrinate them into the ways of the Left, they need allies in struggle against the oppression of daily life. People don't need to be taught, they need to learn from experience.

[ZvP]

Guys we need to do stuff and organize in real life, with the working class. It isn't easy, but things like reading groups and organized discussions are much more useful.

I disagree. Social media, particularly Youtube and Reddit, is the way to go.

[The_Red_Spark]

I believe that there is no one single angle that we can take right now that will give birth to instantaneous progress. Rather than concentrate all of our efforts into one all out frontal assault we have to think in terms of an encirclement with a multi-pronged, and well coordinated, metaphorical 'attack'. We do need a higher degree of organizational structure to coordinate our collective efforts but there is no justification for placing all of our hopes on any one strategy based on a single tactic. A multifaceted strategy is needed; one that operates in precise coordination and one that covers many angles and many tactics.

In the final analysis action of any kind, be it a video, blog, or a protest, a reading group ,or a summit of intellectuals, is better than no action at all. We cannot be reduced to complacency and maintain a vital community of Marxists. We have to start small and continuously build it up from more humble beginnings. New people and fresh ideas are the seeds of progress.

[The Idler]

H0EIcXzBPko

[Regicollis]

I would like to help with this project.

The skills I can contribute with includes:
- Website programming in PHP and MySQL
- Graphic design and image editing in Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign
- 3d modelling in 3dsMax
- If the project will have a multi-lingual component I can translate stuff into Danish
- Playing the Devil's advocate ;)

Being designed to win apolitical or liberal people over for socialist views I think this project should take a light and humoristic approach to things. If it becomes too theoretical people will get bored.

As it has long been known to the advertising industry it is much more efficient to appeal to emotions than to appeal to logics. I think we need to support our logical arguments with emotional ones.

[Comrade Samuel]

I disagree. Social media, particularly Youtube and Reddit, is the way to go.

I agree, as pathetic as it may sound the Internet may in fact be the single most powerful tool for building the communist world of the future because now that a very large portion of the world's population has the ability to connect and collaborate isolation from fellow revolutionaries around the world is a thing of the past.

That's not to say that all things broody Guthrie suggested should be disregarded or anything but to say that the working class of the world is in fact capable of multi-tasking.

That begs the question why not just do both?

[Positivist]

I think the point is still being missed. You can make all the documentaries and have all the reading group discussions you want, and it will make little difference. What people need now are tangible actions that make their lives better and at the same time show that life can be better outside of Capital's domination. People don't need another wannabe intellectual trying to indoctrinate them into the ways of the Left, they need allies in struggle against the oppression of daily life. People don't need to be taught, they need to learn from experience.

This is why I emphasized that its important that we build a real popular movement out of these videos. Workers are not going to be drawn into daily struggle except through contact with other workers already immersed into it. We need to provide an outlet where those workers who take political initiative can easily understand our ideology as opposed to the dominant trend of liberalism.

[ckaihatsu]

Glad to see all of the activity after only a day....

- I watched and I like the video that The Idler put up at post #17 -- I'm thinking it could serve as a starting point of reference for discussion here about content, style, and outreach.

- Since things are moving along, we might start to think about an outline for the content, and also an outline for the steps / stages / phases for the group process going forward. There can still be ideas/announcements, and brainstorming and new participants ongoing at the same time, of course.

There's a general, comprehensive guide of linked pages for the whole commercial process of filmmaking, at the storyboarding link at Wikipedia -- I'm thinking it could serve as a "loose skeleton" for organizing an outline here.





Filmmaking


Development

Step outline · Film treatment · Scriptment · Screenplay · Film finance · Film budgeting · Green-light


Pre-production

Breaking down the script · Script breakdown · Storyboard · Production board · Production strip · Day Out of Days · Production schedule · One liner schedule · Shooting schedule


Production

Cinematography · Principal photography · Videography · Shooting script · Film inventory report · Daily call sheet · Production report · Daily production report · Daily progress report · Daily editor log · Sound report · Cost report


Post-production

Film editing · Re-recording · Sync sound · Soundtrack · Music · Special effect (sound · visual) · Negative cost


Distribution

Distribution · Film release (wide · limited · delayed) · Roadshow


Related

Filmography · Guerrilla filmmaking


See also

Film · Film crew · Hook · Pitch · Screenwriting · Spec script





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storyboarding


- I updated the workflow database -- gray backgrounds indicate corrections or changes from the previous version, and the gray backgrounds will be removed in the next round. Feel free to note any fixes or changes that should be made, and/or request a custom layout (certain fields, specific sorting).

[Positivist]

I think that it is important to take into consideration my ideas about dividing our critiques into specialized channels. This could be problematic if not properly centralized though I feel that we can work that out pretty simply through retaining collective planning, and perhaps publicly labeling all of the channels/pages we manage as friends or something to that effect.

This specialization is designed to reach a more diverse audience than simply people curious about Marxism. For instance a video presenting a class based analysis of heterosexism would draw people from the broader LGBTQ community towards our ideas. The same goes for racism, imperialism and pretty much all social ills and the active communities associated with them.

[Positivist]

Hey guys I set up a group here; http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?groupid=1020
Right now I think we should stay open to broader participation as ckaithatsu suggested, and while the group can serve as a place to plan our activities later, for the time being it should just be used to house the workflow chart.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

Hey guys I set up a group here.
Right now I think we should stay open to broader participation as ckaithatsu suggested, and while the group can serve as a place to plan our activities later, for the time being it should just be used to house the workflow chart.

Brilliant! I hope you don't mind if I join.


As to the original proposition, I completely agree. The main obstacle in all of socialism's path is the complete bastardisation it suffers in the media. I know a great many people who'd greatly benefit from a socialist mode of production, and outright align with some of it's cores!


Yet whenever they hear the word 'Communism', their mind subconsciously links to evil russians in shitty activision games and stalin eating children, whilst upon hearing the word 'Anarchy' they snap to images of childish masochist and punk subculture.
It's not that people need coaching in many of socialism's ideas, as most of them already.... dare I say.... understand it's motives and reasoning on an unnamed, basic level (although getting into detail would obviously require large investment in attention on the topic).

The current matter is getting them to realise that these systems are not the hate-filled terror campaigns proposed by the media, but instead something that they really relate to and have unknowingly empathised with for most of their lives.

[Tristana]

H0EIcXzBPko

I agree with the majority of this video, but don't Marxists distinguish between "private" property and "personal" property? When he talks about the hunter-gatherers and their jewelry and adornments, he makes it sound like one in the same, unless I didn't fully understand what he was saying in that specific context.

[The_Red_Spark]

It's not that people need coaching in many of socialism's ideas, as most of them already.... dare I say.... understand it's motives and reasoning on an unnamed, basic level (although getting into detail would obviously require large investment in attention on the topic).

The current matter is getting them to realise that these systems are not the hate-filled terror campaigns proposed by the media, but instead something that they really relate to and have unknowingly empathised with for most of their lives.
Indeed!!! The area I think deserves a great deal of focus is to combat the myths and misconceptions created by the propagandist machine. This is the problem which prevents more people from considering it as a option worthy of true understanding and implementation. If we could break down this barrier using several platforms and tactics we could see a new perspective from many people who loosely understand the main tenets of Socialism and Anarchism. It would equate to a surge in class conscious people.

Not to get off topic but I would like to also mention the project we have proposed and which we are diligently working on; the collective of leftist writers that is being forged into a periodical. It can be found in Practice and Propaganda here... http://www.revleft.com/vb/writers-wanted-t174365/index.html?t=174365 We also have a group but out of respect for the project in this thread I will not post it without first consulting the team here.

[Positivist]

Bump

[The_Red_Spark]

Bump!!!

[Lynx]

I agree with the majority of this video, but don't Marxists distinguish between "private" property and "personal" property? When he talks about the hunter-gatherers and their jewelry and adornments, he makes it sound like one in the same, unless I didn't fully understand what he was saying in that specific context.
There was no private property in terms of "means of production".

[Positivist]

I actually set up a group here; http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?groupid=1020
But we can use whichever I don't really care.

[Comrade Samuel]

I actually set up a group here; http://www.revleft.com/vb/group.php?groupid=1020
But we can use whichever I don't really care.

We should use yours because it covers alot more and because mine already falls into social media. Still the preperation continues, I'll start the discussion.

[ckaihatsu]

Okay, here's another workflow table update. The current post #9 was inserted since my last post of the table so I shifted numbers accordingly. Again, grayed portions are minor revisions since the last round -- apologies for any inconvenience.

I'll only cover this thread for the workflow, at least for now -- if things get moving either here or there then all the better and I'll reconsider.

I'm seeing a lot of internal discussion, which is good, and hopefully things will start moving more towards a *how* and *specifics* for it.

[ckaihatsu]

In the interest of moving things along I'll make a proposal here, and suggest that we get a collective sense of where we all stand on what's been put forth so far.

I'm attaching a version of the table with only 'content' and 'style' items (rows) showing -- I'll suggest that everyone participating look over them and prioritize how good / important you think they are, relative to the others.

Attached is a diagram that shows the method -- if you would, distribute 100 "votes" in any way that you like over the 12 items. The idea is to then see which items receive the most combined votes from everyone -- for now this is just for group feedback, and we could also do the same thing for 'external' items later (or by any other criteria, for that matter).

Note that posts 3 and 8 have entries for *both* 'content' and 'style', so make sure to indicate any distinction you're intending if you use those.


[17] Prioritization Chart

http://postimage.org/image/35hop84dg/

[The_Red_Spark]

I have a suggestion to offer everyone here. I don't want to spread our resources too thin by attempting too major projects at once. I suggest that we work together on one project first and then allow a shift to the other in order to effectively launch both projects. I think both are very good ideas and I don't want to see our resources penny packet-ed away by trying to launch both at one time.

With this being said, I think we should try utilizing the following strategy to effectively launch both in coordinated succession. First let us get the periodical off of the ground. This will be about one week or a week and a half away from happening. Then we can shift the resources that specialize in design and media back to the video project. This will allow your creative processes to continue work here in conceptual design while we borrow the graphic designers and html writers in the interim. I think this will allow proper attention to both projects and make the best use of our time and resources. I am too busy with my project to help here and I can imagine it is the same with others who want to see both projects realized in a powerful medium that can make an impact.

It may be a good idea to consolidate everything into one group but I can also understand any desire to remain independent. I just think it would make success easier to obtain and would give more resources to both projects. We also share many members anyway so it is for all intensive purposes already the reality. Our group will be changing its name and we are working together to make it more amenable to everyone in both appearance and name. Your project would remain autonomous within our group as well.

[The_Red_Spark]

In the interest of moving things along I'll make a proposal here, and suggest that we get a collective sense of where we all stand on what's been put forth so far.

I'm attaching a version of the table with only 'content' and 'style' items (rows) showing -- I'll suggest that everyone participating look over them and prioritize how good / important you think they are, relative to the others.

Attached is a diagram that shows the method -- if you would, distribute 100 "votes" in any way that you like over the 12 items. The idea is to then see which items receive the most combined votes from everyone -- for now this is just for group feedback, and we could also do the same thing for 'external' items later (or by any other criteria, for that matter).

Note that posts 3 and 8 have entries for *both* 'content' and 'style', so make sure to indicate any distinction you're intending if you use those.


[17] Prioritization Chart

http://postimage.org/image/35hop84dg/
I think you make an excellent point in your chart. The more proposals you get the better the application of the votes with a more clearly defined majority outcome. This is how our proposals are being approached in our group. Some ideas are not necessary to vote on because there is no other proposed concept and everyone has come to a consensus. Our name vote is like the chart above and has 16 proposals as of now. Good idea and excellent progress.

[ckaihatsu]

Okay, it looks like there's a different process going on, at the other group. I'll check in periodically and see if there'd be some role or roles to take part in over there.

[The_Red_Spark]

Okay, it looks like there's a different process going on, at the other group. I'll check in periodically and see if there'd be some role or roles to take part in over there.
I started to invite you earlier and I am thrilled to have you as a member of our team. I will PM you about the coming week over the nest 24 hours to fill you in on the loose developmental plan. You can also ask Positivist as he is playing a large role in our developmental work. Both projects have great potential and if we work together in a coordinated fashion we can bring both into action. I look forward to working with you on both projects.

[ckaihatsu]

I started to invite you earlier and I am thrilled to have you as a member of our team. I will PM you about the coming week over the nest 24 hours to fill you in on the loose developmental plan. You can also ask Positivist as he is playing a large role in our developmental work. Both projects have great potential and if we work together in a coordinated fashion we can bring both into action. I look forward to working with you on both projects.


Well, be careful not to make presumptions.

What I'll do is I'll look in on the messages at the group from time to time and then reconsider at those points. As I suggested earlier, it may be good to have some outlines for process and content, so that people like myself can be a part of the actual planning.

Thanks for your warmth and enthusiasm -- all the best with it.

[#FF0000]

Yeah this isn't the way to go about doing "outreach".

Work with people in their communities and help them fight in their everyday struggles instead. In the streets. Not on the internet.

The internet is a powerful tool but you can't do anything worthwhile without legwork, imo.

[Comrade Samuel]

Yeah this isn't the way to go about doing "outreach".

Work with people in their communities and help them fight in their everyday struggles instead. In the streets. Not on the internet.

The internet is a powerful tool but you can't do anything worthwhile without legwork, imo.

But how many of us would there be without the Internet? We are not denying that real world actions are the only thing that make us any closer to our goals but indoctrinating/ further educating a few people probably couldn't do anything to slow down the process could it?

[ckaihatsu]

Yeah this isn't the way to go about doing "outreach".

Work with people in their communities and help them fight in their everyday struggles instead. In the streets. Not on the internet.

The internet is a powerful tool but you can't do anything worthwhile without legwork, imo.


I'll note that I still like the overall idea, and that the video at post #18 is a good example of something that's doable.

Having resources available on the net is not a bad thing, since anyone who's reached-out-to can always be pointed to videos, etc., *if* we have them.

And for anyone who is relatively *new* to revolutionary politics it definitely helps to have access to materials that help to expand and reinforce that understanding.

Also, f.y.i:


universal context

http://postimage.org/image/fn8hqaxrh/