David Cronenberg's film Videodrome (1983) refreshes my memory of watching his another work The Fly (1986). The similar color tone and picture sense in these 80s science fiction movies brought me a similar fear of human alienation. This kind of alienation both results from some invention created by human self. While the structure of The Fly is based on a confrontation to instrumental rationality represented by science, Videodrome is aimed at mass medium which replaces the real with the semiotics. In Baudrilled's theory of simulacra, media technology is not copying the real, but producing the real. Under the domination of the media world, the receivers become passive ones. So we can see two levels of controling by medium in this film: the first level is the Max's pornographic channel and his group;the second level is the “new flesh” team centered on O'Blivion. For the Max's channel, it is to induce majority to purchase and consume something the profit of which benefit the minority. The public, as the recipient, is controlled by the subconscious of the brain without recognize it. These control elements are basic-level emotional thoughts, sex, abuse, etc. For O'Blivion's group, this controlling is based on a radical view of Mcluhan's point that media is the extension of man. O 'Blivion believe that human brain tumors caused by the interference of the videodrome signals are essentially a new organ that grows in the structure of mind. They believe that North America is gradually showing signs of weakness at a time when the rest of the world is growing stronger,and the soft pornographic video produced by Max is the result of this weak mental poison, a chronic corrosion of the public. Therefore, they intend to use the huge illusion machine of the film studio to achieve control and manipulation of the public. Therefore, " new flesh" group firmly believes that image world is more real than the inherent physical life. They do not fear the death of the flesh. Instead, they promote suicidal behavior in order to promote the growth of the "new flesh" in forms of image . Cronenberg set the end of Videodrome as Max's self-dedication to the “new flesh”. He perhaps fled the power of videodrome, but transferred to the conscious illusion which is controlled by fake spectacles.they intend to use the huge illusion machine of the film studio to achieve control and manipulation of the public. Therefore, "new flesh" group firmly believes that image world is more real than the inherent physical life. They do not fear the death of the flesh. Instead, they promote suicidal behavior in order to promote the growth of the "new flesh" in forms of image. Cronenberg set the end of Videodrome as Max's self-dedication to the “new flesh”. He perhaps fled the power of videodrome , but transferred to the conscious illusion which is controlled by fake spectacles.they intend to use the huge illusion machine of the film studio to achieve control and manipulation of the public. Therefore, "new flesh" group firmly believes that image world is more real than the inherent physical life. They do not fear the death of the flesh. Instead, they promote suicidal behavior in order to promote the growth of the "new flesh" in forms of image. Cronenberg set the end of Videodrome as Max's self-dedication to the “new flesh”. He perhaps fled the power of videodrome , but transferred to the conscious illusion which is controlled by fake spectacles.they promote suicidal behavior in order to promote the growth of the "new flesh" in forms of image. Cronenberg set the end of Videodrome as Max's self-dedication to the "new flesh". He perhaps fled the power of videodrome, but transferred to the conscious illusion which is controlled by fake spectacles.they promote suicidal behavior in order to promote the growth of the "new flesh" in forms of image. Cronenberg set the end of Videodrome as Max's self-dedication to the "new flesh". He perhaps fled the power of videodrome, but transferred to the conscious illusion which is controlled by fake spectacles.
View more about Videodrome reviews
