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Faces of the enemy

As relevant today as when it was first released, Faces of the enemy follows social psychologist Sam Keen as he unmasks how individuals and nations dehumanize their enemies to justify the inhumanity of war. Using archival news footage, public service announcements, and editorial cartoons, Keen unveils the same frightening pattern in conflict after conflict - World War II, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, Islamic and Christian Fundamentalism - and prefigures the current War on Terrorism. First we identify ourselves as victims. Then we blame, demonize and finally dehumanize our adversaries, rationalizing our murder of other human beings. Faces of the enemy contends that before a drop of blood is spilled we must 'think each other to death.' It is a story replayed on the nightly news, in Islamic Fundamentalists' characterization of the West as the 'Great Satan' and our own stereotyping of Muslims as terrorists. In a revealing examination of the images and iconography of war Keen interviews the nation's leading editorial cartoonists. They discuss how they use an almost universal language of stereotypes and prejudices to tap into readers' most visceral emotions. In a chilling example of the psychological roots of enmity, we meet David Rice, an unemployed welder now an inmate on Death Row. Influenced by far-right propaganda, Rice decided communism was responsible for his personal problems. He bludgeoned to death a family of four whom he (mistakenly) thought were communists. He remains without remorse regarding them as 'collateral damage' in a war against the Evil Empire. The Christian Fundamentalist leaders who inspired Rice are only too happy to explain that they are in a holy war against communists and any non-believers. By contrast, William Broyles, a Viet Nam veteran and author, returned after the war to personalize the individuals who had been his enemies' to humanize the abstractions. He explains how racist terms and images can be used to turn human beings into monsters. These epithets and images extend the circumstances of war into terrible brutality. But he also explains how we can move beyond these dehumanizing thoughts and seek out the humanity of others. Psychologists Robert Lifton and Steven Kull explain how war and artificial enemies provide people with the moral and mental certainties they crave, giving them a sense of purpose in a sometimes-ambiguous world. Mythologist Joseph Campbell, providing a note of hope, suggests that underneath the mask of the enemy we ultimately recognize ourselves. This, Campbell further contends, may be the origin of compassion, brotherhood and altruism, in other words the inverse of war. California Newsreel is proud to re-release this important film for the first time on DVD with special commentary by Bill Jersey and Sam Keen. Particularly relevant is a complimentary supplement (available only on DVD to those purchasing an institutional version), illuminating complexities in the media and military worlds of today's conflicts in the Middle East. Also available on videocassette, this is a film who's urgent message needs to be heard now more than ever.

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  • "Reflections of the hostile imagination"@en

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  • "As relevant today as when it was first released, Faces of the enemy follows social psychologist Sam Keen as he unmasks how individuals and nations dehumanize their enemies to justify the inhumanity of war. Using archival news footage, public service announcements, and editorial cartoons, Keen unveils the same frightening pattern in conflict after conflict - World War II, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, Islamic and Christian Fundamentalism - and prefigures the current War on Terrorism. First we identify ourselves as victims. Then we blame, demonize and finally dehumanize our adversaries, rationalizing our murder of other human beings. Faces of the enemy contends that before a drop of blood is spilled we must 'think each other to death.' It is a story replayed on the nightly news, in Islamic Fundamentalists' characterization of the West as the 'Great Satan' and our own stereotyping of Muslims as terrorists. In a revealing examination of the images and iconography of war Keen interviews the nation's leading editorial cartoonists. They discuss how they use an almost universal language of stereotypes and prejudices to tap into readers' most visceral emotions. In a chilling example of the psychological roots of enmity, we meet David Rice, an unemployed welder now an inmate on Death Row. Influenced by far-right propaganda, Rice decided communism was responsible for his personal problems. He bludgeoned to death a family of four whom he (mistakenly) thought were communists. He remains without remorse regarding them as 'collateral damage' in a war against the Evil Empire. The Christian Fundamentalist leaders who inspired Rice are only too happy to explain that they are in a holy war against communists and any non-believers. By contrast, William Broyles, a Viet Nam veteran and author, returned after the war to personalize the individuals who had been his enemies' to humanize the abstractions. He explains how racist terms and images can be used to turn human beings into monsters. These epithets and images extend the circumstances of war into terrible brutality. But he also explains how we can move beyond these dehumanizing thoughts and seek out the humanity of others. Psychologists Robert Lifton and Steven Kull explain how war and artificial enemies provide people with the moral and mental certainties they crave, giving them a sense of purpose in a sometimes-ambiguous world. Mythologist Joseph Campbell, providing a note of hope, suggests that underneath the mask of the enemy we ultimately recognize ourselves. This, Campbell further contends, may be the origin of compassion, brotherhood and altruism, in other words the inverse of war. California Newsreel is proud to re-release this important film for the first time on DVD with special commentary by Bill Jersey and Sam Keen. Particularly relevant is a complimentary supplement (available only on DVD to those purchasing an institutional version), illuminating complexities in the media and military worlds of today's conflicts in the Middle East. Also available on videocassette, this is a film who's urgent message needs to be heard now more than ever."@en
  • "This title features a special commentary by Bill Jersey and Sam Keen. As relevant today as when it was first released, Faces of the Enemy follows social psychologist Sam Keen as he unmasks how individuals and nations dehumanize their enemies to justify the inhumanity of war. Using archival news footage, public service announcements, and editorial cartoons, Keen unveils the same frightening pattern in conflict after conflict - World War II, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, Islamic and Christian Fundamentalism - and prefigures the current War on Terrorism. First we identify ourselves as victims. Then we blame, demonize and finally dehumanize our adversaries, rationalizing our murder of other human beings. Faces of the Enemy contends that before a drop of blood is spilled we must 'think each other to death.' It is a story replayed on the nightly news, in Islamic Fundamentalists' characterization of the West as the 'Great Satan' and our own stereotyping of Muslims as terrorists. In a revealing examination of the images and iconography of war Keen interviews the nation's leading editorial cartoonists. They discuss how they use an almost universal language of stereotypes and prejudices to tap into readers' most visceral emotions. In a chilling example of the psychological roots of enmity, we meet David Rice, an unemployed welder now an inmate on Death Row. Influenced by far-right propaganda, Rice decided communism was responsible for his personal problems. He bludgeoned to death a family of four whom he (mistakenly) thought were communists. He remains without remorse regarding them as 'collateral damage' in a war against the Evil Empire. The Christian Fundamentalist leaders who inspired Rice are only too happy to explain that they are in a holy war against communists and any non-believers. By contrast, William Broyles, a Viet Nam veteran and author, returned after the war to personalize the individuals who had been his enemies' to humanize the abstractions. He explains how racist terms and images can be used to turn human beings into monsters. These epithets and images extend the circumstances of war into terrible brutality. But he also explains how we can move beyond these dehumanizing thoughts and seek out the humanity of others. Psychologists Robert Lifton and Steven Kull explain how war and artificial enemies provide people with the moral and mental certainties they crave, giving them a sense of purpose in a sometimes-ambiguous world. Mythologist Joseph Campbell, providing a note of hope, suggests that underneath the mask of the enemy we ultimately recognize ourselves. This, Campbell further contends, may be the origin of compassion, brotherhood and altruism, in other words the inverse of war."
  • "Faces of the enemy: Looks at the universal concepts of enmity which spark and fuel conflicts around the world. Follows author and commentator Sam Keen in an investigation of the ways in which societies and governments create and use enemy images. Slide lectures: These three illustrated lectures by Sam Keen expand on themes treated in both the book and the film."
  • "In a revealing examination of the images and iconography of war, Social Psychologist Sam Keen interviews journalists, editorial cartoonists, psychologists, and war veterans. They discuss how an almost universal language of stereotypes and prejudices tap into viewer's most visceral emotions. Psychologists Robert Lifton and Steven Kull explain how war and artificial enemies provide people with the moral and mental certainties they crave, giving them a sense of purpose in a sometimes ambiguous world.--Container."
  • "The classic study of the process of dehumanization, released during the Cold War in 1987, follows social psychologist Sam Keen as he unmasks how individuals and nations dehumanize their enemies to justify the inhumanity of war. Using archival news footage, public service announcements, and editorial cartoons, Keen unveils the same frightening pattern in conflict after conflict - World War II, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, Islamic and Christian Fundamentalism - and prefigures the current War on Terrorism. First we identify ourselves as victims. Then we blame, demonize and finally dehumanize our adversaries, rationalizing our murder of other human beings. Psychologists Robert Lifton and Steven Kull explain how war and artificial enemies provide people with the moral and mental certainties they crave, giving them a sense of purpose in a sometimes-ambiguous world. Mythologist Joseph Campbell, providing a note of hope, suggests that underneath the mask of the enemy we ultimately recognize ourselves. This, Campbell further contends, may be the origin of compassion, brotherhood and altruism, in other words the inverse of war."
  • "Publisher description: In a revealing examination of the images and iconography of war, Social Psychologist Sam Keen interviews journalists, editorial cartoonists, psychologists, and war veterans. They discuss how an almost universal language of stereotypes and prejudices tap into viewer's most visceral emotions. Psychologists Robert Lifton and Steven Kull explain how war and artificial enemies provide people with the moral and mental certainties they crave, giving them a sense of purpose in a sometimes ambiguous world."@en
  • "Award winning documentary, Faces of the enemy, looks at the universal concepts of enmity which spark and fuel conflicts around the world. Follows author and commentator Sam Keen in an investigation of the ways in which societies and governments create and use enemy images. Three illustrated slide lectures by Sam Keen expand on themes treated in both the book and the film, and include political cartoons depicting recent worldwide political issues and figures."@en
  • ""Looks at the universal concepts of enmity which spark and fuel conflicts around the world. Follows author and commentator Sam Keen in an investigation of the ways in which societies and governments create and use enemy images." -- LCF."
  • "Examines the psychology of hatred and war. Demonstrates how those considered enemies must be dehumanized in order to justify destroying them."@en
  • "Documentary, Faces of the enemy, looks at the universal concepts of enmity which spark and fuel conflicts around the world. Follows author and commentator Sam Keen in an investigation of the ways in which societies and governments create and use enemy images. Illustrated slide lectures by Sam Keen expand on themes treated in both the book and the film, and include political cartoons depicting recent worldwide political issues and figures."@en
  • "Looks at the universal concepts of enmity which spark and fuel conflicts around the world. Follows author and commentator Sam Keen in an investigation of the ways in which societies and governments create and use enemy images."@en
  • "Looks at the universal concepts of enmity which spark and fuel conflicts around the world. Follows author and commentator Sam Keen in an investigation of the ways in which societies and governments create and use enemy images."
  • "Who are our enemies? How and why do we transform them into monsters? How do these images create and perpetuate an atmosphere in which conflict is increased instead of prevented? Faces of the enemy is the first film to confront these vital questions. It examines the sociological, psychological and political aspects of war to discover what drives nations and individuals to kill. Through a chilling series of propaganda images, interviews with a Vietnam veteran, psychologists, cartoonists, a mythologist, experts on warfare and racism, and people who feel threatened by enemies, this film creates a vivid picture of the ways in which people become obsessed with concepts of enemies. It shows how these obsessions allow people to kill others without feeling guilt, and escalate conflicts to the point where they cannot be resolved without violence."@en
  • "Discusses the psychology of hatred and war. Examines propaganda images to illustrate how we dehumanize those considered enemies in order to justify destroying them without guilt. Includes interviews with a Vietnam veteran, psychologists, cartoonists, a mythologist, experts on warfare and racism, and people who feel threatened by enemies."@en
  • "Examines the psychology of hatred and war. Shows how those considered to be enemies must first be dehumanized in order to justify destroying them."@en

genre

http://schema.org/genre

  • "Video recordings for the hearing impaired"@en
  • "Educational films"
  • "Documentary films"
  • "Documentary films"@en
  • "Feature films"@en
  • "Adaptation"
  • "Caricatures and cartoons"@en
  • "History"@en
  • "Films for the hearing impaired"
  • "Documentary"

name

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  • "Faces of the Enemy : [with Bonus DVD commentary]"
  • "Faces of the enemy"@en
  • "Faces of the enemy"
  • "Faces of the Enemy"

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