Getting to Know the Unknown Chomsky
Gogswell, D. (1996). Chomsky for beginners. New York , NY
This valuable series of paperback documentary comic books for beginners is ideal for hectic people who would like to readily apprehend the historical and social significance of eminent and distinguished writers and philosophers without having to skim their masterpieces. Black and white illustrations made by Paul Gordon accompany the text enhancing its meaning.
Aptly summarized under catchy headings and subheadings such as Noam WHO? or Can you Believe What you See and Hear?, the book gives a fleeting glance back at Chomsky’s career which began as a dropout, continued as a linguist and radically changed to his current occupation as an activist political gadfly.
In the introduction, Gogswell (1996) overtly takes an ideological stand by revealing the reason why a large number of people are not acquainted with this remarkable intellectual:
The reason you haven’t heard much about Noam Chomsky (Which by the way, is a demonstration in action of his thesis that the Media manipulates / distorts / withholds information to suit their owners) is because the gentlemen who own the Major Media don’t want you to know about Noam Chomsky (p.3).
After briefly describing Chomsky’s unconventional upbringing, Gogswell (1996) depicts the philosophers he believes might have influenced the linguist’s analytical thinking. “As with any important thinker, Chomsky’s system of ideas rests on the work of many fine thinkers who preceded him” (p.21). Plato, Descartes, Rousseau and Marx are only some of them.
The next chapter briefly describes what the field of linguistics covers, how it has evolved and what Chomsky’s contributions have been. The author contends that the linguist has profited from the characteristics of the science of physics, for example, “[i]t is important to seek explanations and not just descriptions and classifications” (p.53).
Can you Believe What you See and Hear is a comprehensive and thought-provoking account of the Media’s hidden intentions and abuse of power. The author brings to light the dangers of democracy together with the wrongful use of Propaganda and advices people to use Chomsky’s filters in his so-called Propaganda Model to unveil any distorted news.
Closely connected to the second-to-last chapter, Chomsky on Politics delves deeply into his role as an activist exposing how subsidies, the National Defense, foreign policy and client states, among others really function. It ends by the critic’s blunt words “[y]ou are responsible for the predictable consequences of you actions” (p.139) encouraging people to counterattack.
Gogswell (1996) indulges himself with an interview with Chomsky on current political and world affair issues which is transcribed in the final section of the book. It seems evident that the author shares Chomsky’s ideas and ideals. Had he aimed at producing an objective biography, he should have been more cautious so as not to fall into bias by subtly expressing his opinion.
The layout (index, headings, subheading, font sizes and types, captions, text boxes) has been efficiently organized to better grasp the content; however, it is the illustrations, which are claimed to make understanding easier, that have an interfering effect on some pages. It would have been wiser to include fewer drawings so as not to deviate the readers’ attention.
Cultivated scholars might not appreciate the educational value of this documentary comic book; however, it is successful in its attempt to deploy Chomsky’s unheard arguments awakening intense curiosity. It behooves readers to further research and reflect upon such controversial and often veiled topics.
References
Gogswell, D. (1996). Chomsky for beginners. New York , NY
