"Thank You for Smoking"
Has anybody seen this film? I watched it for the first time just a few weeks ago and Aaron Eckhart's character, Nick Naylor, has become my hero. His character may not have what most believe to be the best ethics or morals, but he is brilliant and his ability to argue his case is awe-inspiring. He is certainly the boogeyman that enters your home and leaves a pack of cigarettes on your nightstand but nonetheless you have to respect the man's intellect. The tobacco industry is a tough sell in the age of anti-smoking laws but Nick's twisted logic and ability to turn an argument around does give even the staunchest anti-smokers (like myself) pause. Perhaps part of what makes the public relations boogeyman so frightening is because he is so clever. That intrinsic (although some would argue learned) skill of being able to think on your feet and have an answer to everything makes the public relations boogeyman a wily foe. The only way to defeat him is to outsmart him...a difficult challenge indeed....
6 comments:
Interesting point, especially in light of the previous post re the dichotomy of journalism and pr. It's interesting that Buckley, a former speech writer for Bush Sr., clearly has ambivalent feelings for journalism (for those of you who haven't read Florence of Arabia, run, don't walk, to the nearest bookstore). Yet Buckley is a journalist in his own right. And what about the Tony Snow's of our world. Partisan leanings aside, who can say where journalism ends and spin begins (especially in the "no spin zone")? As much as journalists may choose to deify their calling, journalism's history is one of sheer political spin (with the Spanish-American War as perhaps the most obvious--though hardly unique--example). On the other hand, this doesn't rehabilitate the image of pr so much as corrupt the good name of journalism. But it's a start.
I once had a chat with Tim Sebastian when he was in Qatar attending a forum. He has interviewed some of the toughest politicians, writers, world leaders, kings, actors and he told me the best way to confront anyone you are talking to is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH and RESEARCH. Know your facts thouroughly and be prepared. There are 100s of characters like Naylor out there, and the best way to get them to pause is when you know all the facts and the confidence to counteract what they say. A lot of PR practioneers can learn a lesson or two when it comes to this. Its easy to spin and waffle but the most successful PR practioneers are the ones who are in the know about whats happening EVERYWHERE and how to weave it into their dialogue. Well thats my humble opinion! ;0)
don't you think the film was trying to say that there is a good spin out there for everything? i am sure aaron eckhart's character could convince you that cancer is awesome. hey, do you remember when our president convinced everyone that invading iraq was a good idea (and somehow relevant to 9/11? because all arabs look alike?) yea, that was cool.
my point is, everything can be spinned. spinned? is that grammatically okay? by the way, who's this natasha girl posting on your wall? she seems cute.
Yulia, you are my hero! Bush is a whole other topic that I can't get on!
I loved this movie, it's been awhile, but I loved when he convinced the little girl that her mother was wrong about smoking - classic. Most anyone can be manipulated into believing just about anything.
I think it has something to do with the hope factor...whether we hope that the war in Iraq will make us safer or smoking will make us cool or that America's sweetheart isn't a sex obsessed, crack-addicted social deviant...well PR helps us keep those hopes alive. We believe, sometimes beyond our bettter judgement, because it makes our lives more interesting, safer, it even pulls us together.
I really liked that movie. But what I felt when I saw it was that it pictured an industry interested in profit which didn't care about people's health (remember the big boss?). Well, he had to promote tobacco anyways, it's his job. But would this film help our profession already criticised as spinners and liers? I guess that people who don't know anything about PR (because there are so many who do not) will not have a great image of it...
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