Watch Programming the Nation?

Programming the Nation? is a thought-provoking and highly engaging documentary that delves into the concept of subliminal messaging and how it has been used in American media and advertising for decades. The film, which was released in 2011, is written and directed by Jeff Warrick and features interviews with experts in the fields of psychology, advertising, and politics.

The film begins with a brief history of subliminal messaging, including the infamous experiments conducted by James Vicary in the 1950s which claimed that flashing the words "eat popcorn" and "drink Coca-Cola" during a movie caused an increase in sales of those products. While subsequent studies have failed to replicate Vicary's results, the idea of subliminal messaging has persisted and is used to this day in various forms of media.

Programming the Nation? explores the use of subliminal messaging in advertising, where it is used to manipulate consumers into making certain choices or buying certain products. The film argues that subliminal messages can be hidden in everything from TV commercials to billboards, and that these messages can have a profound effect on our subconscious minds. The film features interviews with psychologists who explain how our brains process information and how subliminal messaging can bypass our conscious minds and influence our behavior.

The film also touches on the use of subliminal messaging in politics, where it is used to sway public opinion and even influence election outcomes. The film suggests that political messaging is often designed to appeal to our emotions rather than our logic, and that subliminal messaging plays a big role in this process. The film features interviews with political strategists who explain how subliminal messages can be used to create specific emotional responses in voters, and how these responses can be used to manipulate the outcome of an election.

Programming the Nation? features interviews with a number of experts in the field of subliminal messaging, including John B. Alexander, a retired US Army Colonel who worked on classified projects involving psychic phenomena, and Nick Begich, a researcher who has written extensively on the topic of mind control. The film also features Richard Beggs, a sound designer who has worked on numerous films including Apocalypse Now and Lost in Translation. Beggs explains how sound can be used to create subliminal messages and how he has used this technique in his own work.

Throughout the film, Warrick uses a variety of visual techniques to illustrate the concept of subliminal messaging, including split screens, flashing images, and distorted sound. The film has a fast-paced and energetic feel, and the use of these techniques helps to keep the viewer engaged and interested.

Overall, Programming the Nation? is a fascinating and thought-provoking documentary that offers a unique perspective on the use of subliminal messaging in American media and politics. The film raises important questions about how our behavior can be influenced without our knowledge, and it serves as a reminder that we need to be aware of the messages we are receiving and how they are affecting us. Whether you are interested in psychology, advertising, or politics, this film is definitely worth watching.

Programming the Nation? is a 2011 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 33.