Here is a fascinating documentary on the power of arts to manipulate people within communist North Korea. Jason Carter a musician friend who has played in the country forwarded this to me.
“North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il’s love of film is well-documented, but few outsiders know that he is revered as a genius of cinema by his own people. Now, this groundbreaking film opens a window inside the world’s most secretive country and an elite academy, where young actors are hand-picked to serve a massive propaganda machine.”
The arts have throughout history been a powerful tool and as this film shows can be used as a tool for manipulation. Pol Pott during his dictatorship in Cambodia during the 1970’s believed that if he could rid the country of artistic people he would be able to re-write the story of his land. Between 1933 – 1945 in Germany, Hitler used music among the Hitler youth to forge political unity. With this in mind, lets encourage musicians and artists that they have a wider role than purely entertainment by bringing hope and holding the stories of the land and it’s people.
Here is Jason’s personal journey into North Korea
