Anthony's Film Review - The Brainwashing of My Dad (2016)

A nicely produced documentary about the rise of conservative media in America and its profound effect on public opinion...

How would I describe the news media in America? Well, the answer depends on the specific time period. For me, I have witnessed two eras of journalism. There's what I like to call traditional journalism. What comes to mind when I think of traditional journalism: long-established media outlets (like CBS, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, just to name a few examples), journalistic standards aimed at confirming facts and getting to the truth, and striving for the ideal of objectivity without bias. Then there's the new era of journalism where media outlets tend to be seen as having specific political leanings. These days, many traditional outlets are described as left-leaning or centrist on the political spectrum because their news stories and manner of reporting seem aligned with liberal perspectives of politics and society. What has happened is that a new wave of conservative media has arrived to provide people with alternate media sources. These sources, such as Rush Limbaugh's radio program, Fox News Channel, and the website Breitbart, provide news and commentary with a right-leaning slant.

Although the idea of providing a balance of different perspectives on events doesn't sound too bad, there is a notable amount of criticism aimed at conservative media sources. Critics have accused such sources of not adhering to journalistic standards, doing things like sensationalizing stories, falsifying information, and heavily promoting certain viewpoints. If you think that sounds bad, it could get worse. Some people have even blamed conservative media sources for distorting viewers' perceptions and opinions to the point where they stubbornly refuse to listen to other perspectives, and even insult traditional media sources because they consider liberalism a dirty word. This may sound like something out of science-fiction. But as documentary filmmaker Jen Senko shows us, the phenomenon is all too real.

Senko was inspired to produce her film, The Brainwashing of My Dad, because she witnessed her own father undergo a startling transformation. When she was younger, her father was a Democrat who loved animals and championed liberal causes. But later, he had long commutes to and from work, during which he tuned in to Rush Limbaugh on the radio. This would lead to consumption of other conservative media sources, such as Fox News, and regular emails from conservative mailing lists. His behavior towards the rest of his family also became hostile, a complete 180-degree turn from who he used to be. And Jen Senko is hardly alone. This film was funded by a Kickstarter campaign, with donations from many people who had similar experiences with losing family members to right-wing brainwashing and wanted a film to showcase this phenomenon.

Although the film includes footage of Senko and her family, along with online interviews from ordinary individuals sharing their stories of conservative media influencing loved ones, all of that is merely icing on the cake. The main focus is a narrative that takes the audience through the history of American media and illustrates the major changes that shaped the media landscape into what it is today. Parts of it are accompanied by interviews with media experts, such as Noam Chomsky, other university professors, and authors of books about American media. The timeline of events is rather fascinating. During the 1960s, the political landscape was overwhelmingly liberal. Then several things gradually nudged conservatism into media. The presidency of Richard Nixon reinvigorated the Republican party. President Ronald Reagan eliminated the Federal Communications Commission's Fairness Doctrine that required the presentation of opposing viewpoints in news. Rush Limbaugh emerged in the 1980s. And the Fox News Channel launched in 1996.

Once that is laid out, the film delivers its other key presentation, about how conservative media works to distort viewer perception and opinion, ultimately brainwashing the audience. First off, parallels are drawn between American conservative media outlets and methods of propaganda used by authoritarian leaders, such as Adolf Hitler. One of the most cited quotes is about how telling a big lie repeatedly over time can result in people eventually believing and accepting that lie as truth. Also, Fox News does a combination of vivid colors and imagery as a distraction technique, bullying individuals with liberal perspectives, and other brainwashing tactics. Then there is the lack of adherence to journalistic standards, such that anything can be presented as a news item without a careful check of its validity.

Yes, much of the film feels a bit gloomy because of widespread brainwashing by conservative media, controlling the minds of many people, including Jen Senko's dad. Yet, it's not all doom and gloom. There is a bit of hope and optimism towards the end of the film, enough to bring a smile to your face. I won't say what exactly is shown at the end, but I'll say this. It's a nice way to end the film. It also suggests to us that, as hopeless things seem to be because the conservative media machine is so powerful, the negative consequences may not last forever. The film doesn't directly or indirectly issue a call to action, though die-hard liberal activists could be easily inspired. It simply lays out the info, ends it on a high note, and leaves us thinking about what we have just seen.

So how do I rate The Brainwashing of My Dad? It's a good documentary film. It works on a basic down-to-earth level, without trying to shoot for the moon. I wasn't bored by it at all. I enjoyed exploring the history of conservative media and then relating it all back to my own observations of the media over the years. It's also remarkable that I'm not really aware of other documentary films that explore a similar topic. When it comes to the topic of media bias, this is the first documentary about it that I came across. As a result, the film is rather unique, while capturing a type of experience that isn't so rare. Overall, The Brainwashing of My Dad is a fascinating movie for people who love documentaries, want to know more about American media, or both.

Anthony's Rating:

For more information about The Brainwashing of My Dad, visit the Internet Movie Database.