Mediaboss Marketing

My good friend in Kiev (former Soviet Union), Slava Pilman, was a promising and struggling visual artist. In the early 1970s, he admired Western art of the mid-19thand early 20thcenturies, but he had no passion and tolerance for the Socialist Realism style.

From about the early 1930s to the mid-late 1980s, Socialist Realism was the official cultural doctrine of the Soviet Union. This style mandated an idealized representation of Soviet life and cultural traditions under socialism in literature and the visual arts. The doctrine was first proclaimed by the First Congress of Soviet Writers in 1934, which approved the standardized methods for the Soviet cultural production in all media.

Soon after the October Socialist Revolution of 1917 in Russia, Vladimir Lenin laid down his principles on what purpose visual art must serve for the working masses. He believed that it was important that visual art was no longer a domain of the upper classes and the bourgeoisie.

Then, socialist realism was seen as the means of educating people; so, any deviance was often punishable by the Soviet Secret Police with varying harsh outcomes.

Art belongs to the people, he stated. It must leave its deepest roots in the very thick of the working masses. (Clara Zetkin, Reminiscences of Lenin, January 1924).

Writers and artists were required to follow the party line on style and substance, especially under Joseph Stalinspolitical rule (19221953). Moscow University and Moscow Metro are clear symbols of Stalinists architecture style. Then, socialist realism was seen as the means of educating people; so, any deviance was often punishable by the Soviet Secret Police with varying harsh outcomes.

During the Nikita Khrushchev political era (19571964), literature and visual art were still stagnant. Khrushchev declared:As long as I am President of the Council of Ministers, we are going to support genuine art. We arent going to give a kopeck [cent] for pictures painted by jackasses. History can be our judge. For the time being history has put us at the head of this state, and we have to answer for everything that goes on in it. Therefore, we are going to maintain a strict policy in art. (Source:Encounter (London), April 1963).

Leonid Brezhnevs stagnant political era (19641982) in the Soviet Union continued to be sanctioned by only one artistic style Socialist Realism. Paintings and sculptures emphasized idealized figures heroically enduring hardships on a relentless crusade for progress and prosperity toward delusional communism.

So, Slava Pilman, as well as many other intellectuals in the Soviet Union, was trapped in the illusive socialist reality. I kept advising Slava to compromise and adjust his artistic style to the existing socialist environment, Slava, paint cows, peasants and workers, otherwise you will starve to death. Slavas usual response was, I am a free artist, and I will paint what I see and think, not what they want me to see and think. Slava, you are free from a job, I reminded him, and you are going to die in the Gulag as a free man.

editors of the major newspapers in the former Soviet Union, for the most part, were political appointees, with the connection to the State Secret Police. Their job was to suppress freedom of speech and advocate socialist doctrines.

I left the Soviet Union on March 16th, 1977, under the status of a political refugee; and I lost track of my friend Slava Pilman. One day, however, Slavas predicament re-appeared in my memories when in 1987 the Soviet delegation visited Juneau. Then, I was teaching archaeology, history and Russian Studies at the University of Alaska Southeast; I was frequently called to translate/assist for various delegations from the Soviet Union, visiting Alaska.

That delegation consisted of six high-ranking Soviet officials; it was sponsored by Rotary International. My close friend, the late Bill Ruddy and his wife Kathy Kolhorst hosted this group. Vladimir Nadein, a long-time letters editor of theIzvestiya(News) newspaper, was one of the delegates in this group. Then,Izvestiyawas the second largest newspaper afterPravda(Truth) in the Soviet Union, with a circulation of several million copies and all content tightly controlled by the Communist Party watch dogs.

One day, Nadein asked me, Sasha (Alexander), is there any way we can visit the State Archives? I am curious if we can locate any existing first-hand documents related to the Alaska-Siberia Lend-Lease Program during WWII. Per his request, I took him to the State Library and in about ten-fifteen minutes the librarian brought us several original documents of the ALSIB program. Remarkable, Nadein proclaimed. It would take months just to get permission to request the information in our State archives. He examined the documents attentively and took some notes.

In fact, the editors of the major newspapers in the former Soviet Union, for the most part, were political appointees, with the connection to the State Secret Police. Their job was to suppress freedom of speech and advocate socialist doctrines.

I have never expected that todays progressive American media, including those in Alaska, would resemble far-left Soviet style practices poorly edited publications, unchecked primary sources and, periodically, publication of poorly written and misleading articles. No surprise that newspapers in Alaska and around the nation are losing their readership.

As my good friends noted in our private correspondence: Every day, I wonder and despair about the condition of the media. Ive always said, why isnt lying against the law? It is so common, not only in the media, but in our government, which has failed us miserably.

Indeed, our American media is dominated by far-left ideology. Once known for their pursuit of the factual truth with an open mind, they are now indoctrinated by progressive dogma in our illiberal journalism schools and universities.

The views expressed here are those of the author.

Click here to support the Alaska Watchman.

Go here to read the rest:
OPINION: Soviet-style control of art and media is not so foreign as you might think - Alaska Watchman

After intense backlash to his guitar smashing at Coachella, AP Dhillon has withdrawn from the festival's second weekend, citing scheduling conflicts.

On April 14, Dhillon smashed his metallic gold ESP LTD Kirk Hammett V on stage, an act that received considerable backlash online. Since the controversial performance, however, Dhillon has clarified why he smashed his guitar.

In photos shared by Dhillon on social media, a backdrop is clearly visible, stating Justice for Sidhu Moosewala. He wrote: The media is controlled and I'm out of control. Dhillon also shared a video of Kurt Cobain smashing his guitar.

Sidhu Moosewala was an Indian rapper and singer known for his contributions to Punjabi music and cinema. Some of the themes he covered in his music are considered controversial in India.

However, he was widely considered a key figure in mainstreaming Punjabi music at a global level. In May 2022, Moosewala was shot and killed in broad daylight by unidentified attackers at the age of 28. The murder, later attributed to a well-known gang, was committed shortly after the government temporarily withdrew his security cover.

Despite the controversial act, AP Dhillon continues the long lineage of artists smashing their guitars in protest, anger, or as a public statement.

One of the first guitar-smashing acts was actually a performance art piece by DIAS, intended "to focus attention on the element of destruction in Happenings and other art forms, and to relate this destruction in society".

All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!

In 1962, experimental artist Robin Page threw his guitar and kicked it out of the London Institute of Contemporary Arts' front door. This allegedly inspired Pete Townshend to incorporate guitar smashing into his performances.

See original here:
The media is controlled and I'm out of control: Artist who smashed guitar at Coachella pulls out after backlash - Guitar World

Social media is full of bad advice when it comes to your health. With so much of this content created by influencers who dont actually have medical qualifications, its no wonder that misinformation about health spreads so easily online.

In recent years, theres been a rise in misinformation about hormonal contraceptives on social media. Some women are reportedly even stopping their birth control as a result of misleading posts theyve seen on TikTok and Instagram.

These three common misconceptions about birth control are cropping up online and need to be put in context:

Countless videos on social media discuss the effect hormonal contraceptives have on mental health with some creators claiming birth control causes mood changes and even depression.

But these videos are anything but definitive. Although theres some correlation between mental health and some forms of contraception, there are many factors at play.

Evidence shows that modern, combined hormonal contraceptives (which contain artificial versions of the reproductive hormones progestin and oestrogen) do not have any affect on mood or mental function. Some research has even highlighted cases where patients who took combined oral contraceptives had lower levels of depression than patients who received a placebo dose.

This article is part of Quarter Life, a series about issues affecting those of us in our 20s and 30s. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.

You may be interested in:

Five important things you should have learned in sex ed but probably didnt

Why your period symptoms might be worse in the winter

Emergency contraception: heres what you probably dont know but should

But research has shown a correlation between progesterone-only types of contraception (such as the mini-pill and the medroxyprogesterone acetate or Depo-Provera injection) and mood change. This is why some contraceptives list mood change as a common side effect (occurring in between one to ten or one in 100 women, depending on the brand). The evidence suggests depression is more common in adolescent girls and diminishes after the first two years of taking these forms of birth control.

Despite these links being drawn, a 2018 large-scale review disputes this, claiming that more high quality research needs to be undertaken. The Faculty of Reproductive and Sexual Health (FSRH), one of the leading voices in sexual and reproductive healthcare, also state in its prescribing guidelines that the evidence does not directly prove a relationship between the mini pill and depression rather, it only shows a link.

At present, theres little conclusive evidence that contraception (both hormonal and non-hormonal types) cause mental health problems. But if you have experienced mood changes or feel depressed after starting birth control (especially progesterone-only contraception) its worth speaking to your doctor as they may be able to prescribe you another type that works better for you.

Another common social media claim is that birth control causes weight gain. This again is not the full picture.

A 2019 report published by the FSRH concluded there was no evidence that any form of oral hormonal contraceptive (including the pill, implant and intrauterine device or IUD) caused weight gain. They did, however, find evidence showing the majority of reproductive-age women tend to gradually gain weight as they get older regardless of whether they used contraceptives or not. This can be due to the hormonal and metabolic changes that occur with age.

Other reviews have also reached similar conclusions. This study found that its unlikely that hormonal contraceptives cause major weight gain. But the authors of this review did acknowledge that these findings dont rule out the possibility that some individual women might in fact gain weight. They are calling for more research to be done that directly compares weight changes between birth control users and people who dont use a contraceptive.

There is one form of contraception that is linked to weight gain. The Depo-Provera injection, which is administered every 12 weeks, has been proved to cause weight gain. This weight gain is more prevalent in people who were already obese before starting the injection. According to one study, women who took the Depo-Provera shot gained almost 5kg in one year.

This weight gain may be due to the progesterone in the shot, which can cause people to feel hungrier potentially leading to overeating and weight gain.

If youre concerned about potential weight gain, the injection is not the only form of contraception available. Other forms of hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives have not been shown to affect your weight.

Another common claim on social media is that birth control causes fertility issues. This is not true. Research shows hormonal contraceptives have no affect on fertility.

Theres also concern online that the IUD will could cause pelvic inflammation, leading to infertility. Again, evidence shows that IUDs pose no risk to fertility. A systematic review reports no specific differences in fertility between hormonal and non-hormonal IUDs.

Social media users have also claimed the Depo-Provera injection causes infertility. But again, theres no evidence to support this. Research shows pregnancy rates are similar for women who had previously used the Depo-Provera injection compared with those who had used other types of contraceptives.

It may take a few months for your menstrual cycle to return to normal after ceasing the injection. This is because of the larger build up of active ingredient in the body, which stops your periods and takes some time to dissipate. Your menstrual cycle may also be different for between two and four cycles after stopping oral contraception.

Many of the misconceptions around contraception have been sensationalised on social media. Contraception is rarely the primary cause of any issue. As with any medication, it may interact with conditions you already have, so its important to seek advice about contraception from your doctor or nurse not TikTok.

Originally posted here:
Social media will tell you birth control causes mental health issues, weight gain and infertility here are the facts - The Conversation

First and final thoughts

Maybe Im the wrong guy to write about this topic. I dont bet on sports. Never really have. Ive led a fantasy-football-free life, and I havent played fantasy baseball since high school, back when it was called rotisserie baseball, which for me was a more appropriate term. I was too sentimental in building my rosters, loading up on my favorite players without regard for any analytics, my friends and competitors roasting me as if I were rotating above a hot grill. I stopped filling out March Madness brackets in college, back when I couldnt appreciate the wonderful randomness of the NCAA Tournament. As someone who fancied himself a college hoops quasi-expert, I was just tired of losing pools to people who based their picks on each teams mascot. The Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. the Montana State Bobcats? Im going with MSU, of course. Dont bobcats eat gophers?

READ MORE: Kyle Neptune has to make some changes to resurrect Villanova. The boosters will have to get used to them.

Now that we have that hefty disclaimer out of the way, can we acknowledge that the warm embrace in which professional and college sports now hold gambling is getting more than a little yucky? There have been plenty of concerning anecdotes and stories lately, and those anecdotes and stories are developing into a trend, and that trend doesnt look good because its revealing the potential for and possibility of corruption.

There is Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani, who may or may not have wired millions of dollars to a bookmaker to pay off debts that may or may not belong to Ohtanis interpreter. There is the Temple mens basketball team, which was flagged by a gambling watchdog group based on some strange movement on the betting lines of some of the Owls games. There is Cleveland Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who said last week that he has been threatened by gamblers and that he routinely hears fans shouting at him to make in-game decisions that will influence point spreads. There is ESPNs Rece Davis, who capped a gambling segment on College GameDay by saying that one bet was a risk-free investment a line that Davis said later was a joke.

Its not new, of course, to note that gambling has always been a part of sports. Whats new and disconcerting, though, is the speed with which the public stances of these institutions the leagues and the NCAA have gone from Gambling is terrible and immoral to Gambling is awesome and makes us money, but hey youd better watch it. (The same goes for plenty of media that broadcast and cover sports, too.)

Sports betting is legal in more than half the country though not in California, which is part of the alleged problem for Ohtani and Id like to think I have a healthy libertarian streak. But its worth remembering that theres a difference between something being legal and something being good or even reputable. Create an environment where sports betting is not just accepted but encouraged and promoted, and youre going to get what weve seen recently. And its not going to stop. And it will get worse. Sometimes guardrails exist not to stop a particular activity from happening but to temper it, to keep it under some control and maintain moderation, to make sure a useful and appropriate stigma is attached to its abuse. Seems like sports ought to think about rebuilding a few of those guardrails.

The Florida Panthers entered Monday tied for first place in the NHLs Atlantic Division, and they had allowed just 173 goals this season, which is tied for the fewest in the league. Their goaltenders ought to be familiar to hockey fans around here: Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz.

The Flyers signed Bobrovsky as an undrafted free agent in 2010 and picked Stolarz in the second round of the 2012 draft. Now the two of them have combined for a .919 save percentage for a team that reached the Stanley Cup Final last season and might win the Cup this season. When someone cites a general lack of patience as a reason that the Flyers have gone nearly 49 years without a championship, Bobrovsky and Stolarz are just one example of it.

John Tortorella benched his captain and initially sent one of his assistant coaches to explain why. Kim Mulkey, LSUs womens basketball coach, threatened to sue a Washington Post reporter over a story that hasnt been published yet. After the 76ers beat the Clippers on Sunday, James Harden ducked out of Crypto.com Arena before anyone could ask him a question.

Who knew us irrelevant media members could have such tough-talking coaches and athletes quaking in their boots?

Here is the original post:
Sports gambling has gotten out of control - The Philadelphia Inquirer

Andrew Huberman in one of his own YouTube videos. Photo: Devin Oktar Yalkin

New Yorks latest cover story is a deep dive on Andrew Huberman, one of the biggest podcasters on the planet and a tenured Stanford professor who has attracted millions of acolytes by preaching self-discipline and healthy lifestyle habits. Features writer Kerry Howley finds in his Huberman Lab podcast a world in which the soft art of self-care is made concrete, in which Goop-adjacent platitudes find solidity in peer review, dubious product endorsements alongside genuinely helpful lifestyle advice that she and her family benefited from. Howley also finds a wide gap between Hubermans public persona, presented on his own podcast and as a guest on others, and how he conducts his private life. In private, he could sometimes seem less concerned about patriarchy [than he did on his podcast], Howley writes. Multiple women recall him saying he preferred the kind of relationship in which the woman was monogamous but the man was not. From the story he tells about his childhood to the state of his lab at Stanford, theres a distance between his podcast persona and what Howleys reporting shows.

We talk a lot about parasocial relationships from the perspective of an adoring audience and less about the relationship in the other direction, says Howley. A giant platform is an opportunity to craft and control a narrow persona; how does that affect relationships outside of the performance?

Howley has written for New York since 2015 and been on staff since 2021; her features on Marjorie Dannenfelser, January 6 insurrectionists, and Larry Nassar were finalists for National Magazine Awards. She is the screenwriter of Winner, a film starring Emilia Jones, Connie Britton, and Zach Galifianakis that debuted at Sundance in 2024.

Elsewhere in the issue, David Freedlander profiles Frank Carone, former chief of staff to Mayor Eric Adams and master practitioner of a brazenly transactional era of government in New York City; Michael Wolff looks at former CNN and NBCUniversal leader Jeff Zuckers Fleet Street misadventure; and the Cut premieres the Fashion Pages, a new occasional feature with the inaugural edition highlighting the women who run Harlems major cultural institutions.

Read the original here:
On the Cover: Andrew Huberman's Mechanisms of Control - New York Magazine