Fact or Fiction in the Mail

How we tell stories matters

For over a year now, I have chronicled the political flyers that arrive in my mailbox on TikTok. A YEAR!

It started as a flyer every few weeks and ramped up to a couple per week right before the primaries in June. Within the past month, there has always been one and often more than one piece of election-related mail in my mailbox EVERY SINGLE DAY. And I am not even going to say a word about the texts, the phone calls, the ads on YouTube, and every social media option. There is the average number of yard signs and billboards, although I could rant for hours about the new LED billboard near my house, with its stupidly bright rotation of political and business advertising. I have big feelings about light pollution. I digress, back to the mailers.

The Republican party has been decidedly more aggressive in its campaigning, but it’s not just the sheer volume that is so obnoxious. Their narrative choices are fascinating and sickening. I am not a graphic designer, an artist, a marketer, or a psychologist, but I am aware that people who study these things make very deliberate choices.

For instance, did you know that movie villains often have some purple and/or green color scheme? Did you know that blues have associations with heroism? Movie poster design captures your attention and gives you a semi-comprehensive overview of the story. So, color schemes, font types, and placement of characters are all telling a story even before you watch it. You know the bad guy and the good guy by colors, body language, and hundreds of other subtle cues that psychologists have studied and marketers have capitalized on.

Alright, now that I have filled you in on some of the more subtle tells of movie marketing and storytelling, let’s get back to the mailers. Over time, I have noticed an increase in the vibe of dramatic storytelling. The Republican candidates will frequently send out flyers with two sides. One side will be in browns, oranges, and yellows with bold print and accusatory language. It is harsh and used to point fingers at something they view as a negative practice, quality, or statement of the opposing party. In a recent poster, they gave it a very Western-wanted poster style for an extra dose of harshness. The candidate is often isolated if they are pictured, generally not smiling, and perhaps even raising an accusatory fist or pointed finger.

The other side of the poster is often in cool greens and blues or maybe a patriotic red, white, and blue color scheme. The language is focused on the candidate's heroics, or toughness, or commitment to “Montana values.” Sometimes, there are quotes from supporters. Often, the candidate is surrounded by people. Sometimes, it’s his family; he is shaking hands with someone, and other times, it is just positioned in such a way as to make it seem like he is standing with other members of the Republican party, notably former president Trump.

Now, I don’t want you to think that the Democrats are not out there spinning their tales of heroism and woe. I have not received nearly as much mail from them to form a cohesive picture. What I see from them feels like damage control, attempts to distance themselves from Biden and Harris and bill themselves as “one of the people.” They are here for the hardworking men and women of Montana.

Playgrounds have been filled with the name-calling of political lingo. “You’re a shady Sheehy.” “Let’s go Brandon". Oh yes, your kids are listening and talking that smack talk to the schoolyards and cafeterias of school.

Photo by thisGUYshoots on Unsplash

The PR machine has been telling its story over the past year, and now it is time for us to decide the ending of the story—or at least of this particular chapter. Here’s the catch: We don’t know the whole story. How much fiction is spun for us like cotton candy at a carnival? When every candidate promises to end the big bad guy of corruption, how do we know who to trust? Do the new candidates genuinely understand the layers of red tape and committees they will have to go through to get anything done?

Finding facts is both easier and harder than in past generations. The internet makes it possible to learn more than we could ever want to know about the respective candidates for just about anything. But to find those facts, you have to sort through outright lies, misinformation, and incomplete data. Very few people have the time or energy to do that work, so we are left to sort out a decision based on the story presented to us. And other factors are swaying us, such as our moral compass, socioeconomic status, and overall outlook on the future. These factors all influence the way that the PR story sways us.

As I stare down the final days of this campaign, listening to the violent language that Donald Trump and so many other Republican candidates use, watching the media spin ever more divisive stories for public consumption, I wonder: when all is done who will be the villains?

For the Ears

When my eldest did his research about how sounds help his ADHD brain focus, it made me wonder about all the different ways that sounds help in various situations. So, during my recent bout with pneumonia, I found this playlist soothing to my brain.

For the Eyes

Reading critically (and I don’t mean to be critical) is a skill that can be developed at any age. If you want to learn more about reading, I highly recommend the book “On Reading Well.” Reading well is partly about reading good books and learning critical reading skills.

Also, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is one of the best political movies you could watch for inspiration.

For the Taste Buds

Pumpkin spice is in its heyday, but I like a simple brown sugar and cinnamon flavor when I get a latte. It hits that fall spice note without being overwhelming. A good chai blend also has all the wonderful spice notes if one desires. I prefer to save the pumpkin spice for my baked goods rather than my beverages. At least that is how I feel this year. Who knows what I may prefer next October.

May this week bring kindness to your senses and your soul.