(13:15)

     When visual anthropologist Sol Worth declared that “pictures can’t say ain’t”, the year was 1981.  Thirty odd years later we’ve taught our pictures to not only say “ain’t”, but we’ve taught them how to speak more perfectly than we, their makers, even understand.  But now that our pictures can speak, what are they telling us?  If you listen closely, each tells of utter exploitation, regardless of subject or “production value”. 

     Zoom, Pan, Cut, with soothing voice-over...

     When media-makers make their media with identical techniques and with identical intention, every media story becomes an indistinguishable lie.   Sol Worth’s mentor, Margaret Mead, seemingly knew this much.   But now, even our news coverage of horrific events, tragic events happening in our own backyard, is conveyed with the kind of solipsistic pity that leads us to nothing -- except nothingness.