Dangers of Fake News
Orson Welles, who was born in 1915 and died in October, 1985, was a remarkable and impactful figure in the history of cinema, radio, and theater. As artists (writers) ourselves, we are indeed humbled by his contributions.
To this day, as we live in a world of ‘fake news’ and political propaganda, we remember his famous “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast, arguably one of the most remembered of all times. On that day, Welles shocked the United States citizenry with his dramatization of his novel about a Martian invasion.
The broadcast was so realistic that countless listeners believed it was an actual news report and panicked. The broadcast unknowingly demonstrated in advance the current times of the power of mass media and propaganda – and specifically the influence of Welles’s voice and storytelling skills that proved a predecessor to forms of mass brain-washing, hypnosis and fake, twisted, and false news reports that today influences billions around the globe.
We write Adam in Taoland and our other novels to correct distortions and falsehoods about both history and the present. We base our novels on what we believe to be universal truths about love, family, capitalism and socialism, politics, corruption, and the pain and suffering in losing loved ones. We will never of course be involved with false narratives in our novels or on the screen. We will never conjure up fear and panic about folks who look different, like Welles’s Martians – because we know that while fear is one of the most powerful of motivators, it is also the most destructive.
Beyond Welles’s iconic, most famous (or infamous) episode on radio, he revolutionized the film industry by directing unprecedented movies by depicting men and women as real human beings with complex personalities and motivations. He used innovative techniques including deep focus, nonlinear narrative, and expressionist lighting to create cinematic masterpieces such as Citizen Kane.
He challenged the conventions of the theater by staging innovative and controversial productions of Shakespeare’s plays, such as a modern version of Julius Caesar set in fascist Italy and an all-black version of Macbeth set in Haiti. He also founded the Mercury Theatre – a repertory company that performed both classic and modern plays with revolutionary creative flair and artistic freedom.
He inspired generations of filmmakers, actors, and writers with his artistic vision and passion. Famous directors including Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, and Tim Burton have been influenced by his style and themes. He is universally praised by critics and scholars alike as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
As we reflect on the body of work of Orson Welles, let us be grateful for his many positive contributions in taking the important art of film making and theater to new levels. But let us be ever wary of the dangers of false facts in the media – as he demonstrated so vividly with his radio broadcast.
Today the media and the entertainment industries bear a critical responsibility to tell the unbiased truth. They fail to do so far too frequently – and in the process they influence the hearts and minds of their audiences with falsehoods that cause divisions that endanger peace and stability throughout the world – more so today than ever before with the explosion of instantaneous access via the world wide web.
We hope you find our words provocative and inspirational. That is our purpose in writing them – and we greatly appreciate the kind feedback you give us, encouraging us to continue on our mission.
