I think it is effective. If you used a vivid example of the destruction of socialism or communism, it might be more effective than just showing the long moments of concern on Dad's face. The video worked for me, but I am probably more attuned to the dangers of socialism than your average decent parent. That is why it may need a poignant example to bring the message home.
Brad, it's a promising video. Two minor comments: (1) "Communism Comes to New York" is a bit over the top and might take away from the message. "Socialism Comes to New York" is sufficient (and bad enough). (2) Where's the fourth person at the table?
1) The zoomed-in moments on the father's and mother's faces are too zoomed in. It looks odd. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be zoomed in, just not by that much. (I take it that that's just how the AI made the video, but I'm sure some workshopping can make it less uncanny.)
2) I think the online article title should use "socialism," not "communism." Mamdani is many things, but he's not a communist. Moreover, implying he is is an exaggeration of the truth and can be easily perceived as a conservative view of the *socialist* phenomenon that is Mamdani. The Lyceum is not a conservative inc. outfit. It is much, much better than that, and should do everything it can to erase any inkling that it is a conservative inc. outpost.
3) I think the virtue of the video is the reveal at 0:45. Like Jim, I'm attuned to the dangers of socialism and definitely am not the target audience. But even I could recognize the eloquent: 1) leading question --> text reveal --> suspenseful silence. Well done to your young marketer who thought of that idea.
4) Just in case this is helpful: the target audience, as far as I can tell, are parents and their young adult children who are anti-socialist. If so, that's totally fine. I frankly would like to see more content targeting young, independent thinking adults, particularly when the parents don't care one way or the other about ideas. Put another way, I would really like to see what your young marketer can come up with for this sort of context.
====
TLDR: make the zoom-in moments less zoomed, switch "communism" for "socialism," and I think you have a very worthwhile experiment to start posting on X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook.
I am THRILLED that something is being done! Thank you.
I am very aware of the destructive condition our school system has been experiencing for decades.
Suggestions:
Do the Jesse watters questions at random cities.
Ask the kids - they know what is not being taught. And what is.
Do a timeline of the corruption
1960- etc. walk them through it from then until today. And for cryin out loud don’t start on the Democrat/Republican switch - BOTH PARTIES ARE GUILTY! (The Republican Party,to me, is worse than the democrats -we know where the Dems are goi g-the republicans just lie to our faces and hold dog and pony shows in DC - and the investigation is held in front of an empty room! Grrr!
removal of historic statues -ask WHY?
The “scientific method” has been File 13. Hence the male/female
And we’ve. The co trolling climate change agenda.
Civics has become the science of politics.
The complete history of the black/white situation. (As a Southerner, I’m “sick up and fed” of the South begets g trashed repeatedly!
For those of us who know how destructive Communism truly is and why Capitalism is the antidote, and know the kind of work you are doing at Clemson, it is excellent. But for a general/average audience, or more likely a smart father/student who do not understand the importance of philosophy, I don't think they could make the connection.
The focus on “youth” is correct, but the absence of showing how morality leads to politics is absent. What “we” must confront is the inevitable, “yeah, but socialism hasn’t been properly implemented” absurdity.
We must challenge use of the word “properly” and what is implied by it! Socialism has attempted to be “properly” tried throughout the historical record. Hell, the Mayflower Compact was an attempt of it that had to be abandoned after half of its population died during their first winter, and Bradford’s journal indicates what was then politically chosen in response! If I am correct in my claim of repeated attempts at socialism (moral collectivism!!!) is true, then the question becomes, “why, then, does it remorselessly continue to be “tried???”
Abstractly, what must become understood is that inherent in the MORAL claim that the “ends justify the means,” lay the moral (and resulting political) EVIL! Once properly understood, the political principle of our founding should lead the “astute” to understand that the “ends” our founding were intended to serve ARE the “means” – i.e., protection of individual rights! As opposed to tyranny’s go-to moral mantra of “the ends justify the means.” The individual (moral) responsibility of the individual to live their life as they freely choose, and the (political) rights necessary to exercise this responsibility, is the MORAL conception embodied in our founding politics – however contradicting in its implementation and subsequent "maintenance."
What must become SPECIFICALLY understood is that “we” (none of us) should be politically compelled to be our “brother’s keeper.” In its place should perhaps be the political principle of being our brother’s “guardian,” but only to the extent it is understood as NOT each individual’s MORAL responsibility, but only a political one.
In any case, your excellent ideas to deal with the young and their proper education are desperately needed. What you face, as I have briefly cited, were best identified in remarks Ayn Rand delivered 60 years ago following Barry Goldwater’s trouncing by Lyndon Johnson in 1964 – and I only paraphrase: “unless the moral ideal of altruism is rejected, the liberals (post-modern definition) will defeat the conservatives, progressives will defeat the liberals, socialists will defeat the progressives, and the communists and fascists will fight over what is left.” She made this prescient prediction based on her understanding of the role philosophy plays in politics – specifically, that one’s MORAL ideals lead directly to one’s POLITICAL ideals, made compulsory by the nature of politics!
When you have lived during those 60 years and now see what continues to unfold, how can you not be sobered and “educated” by her foresight??!!
speaks volumes by the look on the father's face regarding "scholarships"; who needs a scholarship with the potential to be turned into a Tyler Robin....
The video is good. Unfortunately, too many people still see a distinction between communism and its economic policy, socialism. That wordplay is what has gotten us in this pickle because communism is illegal but socialism has fewer negative connotations.
I think it is effective. If you used a vivid example of the destruction of socialism or communism, it might be more effective than just showing the long moments of concern on Dad's face. The video worked for me, but I am probably more attuned to the dangers of socialism than your average decent parent. That is why it may need a poignant example to bring the message home.
Brad, it's a promising video. Two minor comments: (1) "Communism Comes to New York" is a bit over the top and might take away from the message. "Socialism Comes to New York" is sufficient (and bad enough). (2) Where's the fourth person at the table?
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Anders
Regarding the video:
1) The zoomed-in moments on the father's and mother's faces are too zoomed in. It looks odd. That doesn't mean they shouldn't be zoomed in, just not by that much. (I take it that that's just how the AI made the video, but I'm sure some workshopping can make it less uncanny.)
2) I think the online article title should use "socialism," not "communism." Mamdani is many things, but he's not a communist. Moreover, implying he is is an exaggeration of the truth and can be easily perceived as a conservative view of the *socialist* phenomenon that is Mamdani. The Lyceum is not a conservative inc. outfit. It is much, much better than that, and should do everything it can to erase any inkling that it is a conservative inc. outpost.
3) I think the virtue of the video is the reveal at 0:45. Like Jim, I'm attuned to the dangers of socialism and definitely am not the target audience. But even I could recognize the eloquent: 1) leading question --> text reveal --> suspenseful silence. Well done to your young marketer who thought of that idea.
4) Just in case this is helpful: the target audience, as far as I can tell, are parents and their young adult children who are anti-socialist. If so, that's totally fine. I frankly would like to see more content targeting young, independent thinking adults, particularly when the parents don't care one way or the other about ideas. Put another way, I would really like to see what your young marketer can come up with for this sort of context.
====
TLDR: make the zoom-in moments less zoomed, switch "communism" for "socialism," and I think you have a very worthwhile experiment to start posting on X, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook.
I am THRILLED that something is being done! Thank you.
I am very aware of the destructive condition our school system has been experiencing for decades.
Suggestions:
Do the Jesse watters questions at random cities.
Ask the kids - they know what is not being taught. And what is.
Do a timeline of the corruption
1960- etc. walk them through it from then until today. And for cryin out loud don’t start on the Democrat/Republican switch - BOTH PARTIES ARE GUILTY! (The Republican Party,to me, is worse than the democrats -we know where the Dems are goi g-the republicans just lie to our faces and hold dog and pony shows in DC - and the investigation is held in front of an empty room! Grrr!
removal of historic statues -ask WHY?
The “scientific method” has been File 13. Hence the male/female
And we’ve. The co trolling climate change agenda.
Civics has become the science of politics.
The complete history of the black/white situation. (As a Southerner, I’m “sick up and fed” of the South begets g trashed repeatedly!
I’m sure I could come up with more but that’s it.
For those of us who know how destructive Communism truly is and why Capitalism is the antidote, and know the kind of work you are doing at Clemson, it is excellent. But for a general/average audience, or more likely a smart father/student who do not understand the importance of philosophy, I don't think they could make the connection.
The focus on “youth” is correct, but the absence of showing how morality leads to politics is absent. What “we” must confront is the inevitable, “yeah, but socialism hasn’t been properly implemented” absurdity.
We must challenge use of the word “properly” and what is implied by it! Socialism has attempted to be “properly” tried throughout the historical record. Hell, the Mayflower Compact was an attempt of it that had to be abandoned after half of its population died during their first winter, and Bradford’s journal indicates what was then politically chosen in response! If I am correct in my claim of repeated attempts at socialism (moral collectivism!!!) is true, then the question becomes, “why, then, does it remorselessly continue to be “tried???”
Abstractly, what must become understood is that inherent in the MORAL claim that the “ends justify the means,” lay the moral (and resulting political) EVIL! Once properly understood, the political principle of our founding should lead the “astute” to understand that the “ends” our founding were intended to serve ARE the “means” – i.e., protection of individual rights! As opposed to tyranny’s go-to moral mantra of “the ends justify the means.” The individual (moral) responsibility of the individual to live their life as they freely choose, and the (political) rights necessary to exercise this responsibility, is the MORAL conception embodied in our founding politics – however contradicting in its implementation and subsequent "maintenance."
What must become SPECIFICALLY understood is that “we” (none of us) should be politically compelled to be our “brother’s keeper.” In its place should perhaps be the political principle of being our brother’s “guardian,” but only to the extent it is understood as NOT each individual’s MORAL responsibility, but only a political one.
In any case, your excellent ideas to deal with the young and their proper education are desperately needed. What you face, as I have briefly cited, were best identified in remarks Ayn Rand delivered 60 years ago following Barry Goldwater’s trouncing by Lyndon Johnson in 1964 – and I only paraphrase: “unless the moral ideal of altruism is rejected, the liberals (post-modern definition) will defeat the conservatives, progressives will defeat the liberals, socialists will defeat the progressives, and the communists and fascists will fight over what is left.” She made this prescient prediction based on her understanding of the role philosophy plays in politics – specifically, that one’s MORAL ideals lead directly to one’s POLITICAL ideals, made compulsory by the nature of politics!
When you have lived during those 60 years and now see what continues to unfold, how can you not be sobered and “educated” by her foresight??!!
Thank you, Brad, for what you do and have done!
Dave
speaks volumes by the look on the father's face regarding "scholarships"; who needs a scholarship with the potential to be turned into a Tyler Robin....
speaks volumes by look on parents face regarding "scholarships"; who needs a scholarship with the potential to be turned into a Tyler Robin.....
The video is good. Unfortunately, too many people still see a distinction between communism and its economic policy, socialism. That wordplay is what has gotten us in this pickle because communism is illegal but socialism has fewer negative connotations.
The promo video hits the mark. Worthwhile education is rare - caring parents/students need to know.