The Mysterious Benedict Society Manipulation Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #10

"Mr. Curtain thinks fear is the most important element in human personality, remember? […] So what if he created a fear, a fear everyone would hold in common, a fear the entire public would share? […] Then his next step would be to soothe that fear with just the right message." (28.27-29)

Ever seen or heard of the film Bowling for Columbine? In it, filmmaker Michael Moore suggests that the media in the U.S. is doing pretty much the same thing that Mr. Curtain's doing with his messages about the Emergency. Moore argues that the stories and images in our news and entertainment programs encourage us to live with a sense of fear that makes us easier to manipulate. Whether you've seen the film or not—and regardless of how you feel about Michael Moore—what do you think about this idea? Is it happening? Could it happen? Explain.