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1-Page Summary of The Influencing Machine

Overall Summary

The Influencing Machine is a graphic novel that was written by Brooke Gladstone. Her objective in writing this book is to challenge the idea that the media are controlling people’s minds. Instead, she believes that the media reflect what society wants and needs. She argues that consumers fear their own distorted reflection of themselves, not manipulation from the media.

The central metaphor of the book is the “influencing machine.” Psychoanalyst Victor Tausk coins this term in his 1919 article, “On the Origin of the ‘Influencing Machine’ in Schizophrenia.” He discovers this phenomenon on a patient named Natalija A., who believes that she’s being controlled by an electrical apparatus operated by a rejected suitor. Consumers have done something similar to their media: they’ve shattered themselves into fragments and projected those pieces onto their media.

Gladstone traces the origins of journalism to ancient times, when scribes were publicists who created publicity. In ancient Rome and Britain, people admired and hated characteristics that have existed since media’s creation: its corrupt practitioners, its easy manipulation by the powerful, and its ability to spread lies.

Gladstone explores the history of speech suppression in America, how people have lost trust in the media and why they don’t believe what they hear. He also discusses various biases that affect reporting, such as patriotism and sacrifice of context for action. War reporting is especially affected by these biases because it limits access to information sources, which leads to a lack of context or understanding about why we are fighting.

The book discusses the ebb and flow of media objectivity, how technology has changed human brains, and what consumers can do to be more ethical in their interactions with the media. The author praises studies that show how Internet use strengthens brain areas associated with “decision making and complex reasoning”. Consumers have a lot of control over how the media report on news stories; they should trust reporters who demonstrate fairness and reliability, play an active role in their consumption of modern media, and use peer-based networks to bring attention to pressing issues.

The illustrations in the book are black and blue, like newsprint. They’re not overwhelming; instead, they lighten up the content. The author uses humor to make the reader feel more comfortable with his characters. For example, he portrays Gladstone as a human sacrifice for ancient Mayans because of journalism. He also makes him look silly by making him into a barking dog or flocking bird that’s always looking for stories.

Introduction

The author of the graphic novel, Brooke Gladstone, is introduced early in her life. She realized that she and other reporters were natural observers who couldn’t process things until they reported on them.

Today’s consumers are interested in objectivity, but they get their “news” from biased sources. The media has consolidated over the last 25 years and there have been accusations of bias on both sides. Cell phones give everyone access to make or break the news, shaking up culture and journalism.

Gladstone insists that we’ve been here before and in worse shape. She also assures readers that the convulsions roiling the media don’t presage an apocalypse, but rather reflect companies’ fear of their audiences and advertisers.

In the book, Gladstone talks about a machine that Matthews created to control people’s minds. This machine was based on scientific breakthroughs of its time and used those technologies in order to freeze tongues, control minds, and cause bodily harm.