The Curtain Quotes

“Entertainment was no longer about story telling; it was story selling -- social engineering.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain

“Entz Media went after children as well. The sexualized and gender confused teen ranked highly on the demographics ladder. So did the impressionable tween. Television shows used exaggerated character types to encourage children and teenagers to label one another. Shows featured skaters, goths, gays, jocks, nerds, etc. Children and teenagers were encouraged to identify with one of the labels. Once an identity was embraced, corporations would then define the group's attributes and charge for compliance. Kid's programming was calculated to make them consume. Entertainment was no longer about story telling; it was story selling -- social engineering.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain

“Henry revealed the strategies Entz Media used to break marriages apart. Entz programming pushed the idea of marriage being stale and uneventful and then glamorized a freer and more exciting life outside of marriage. Institutions that upheld chastity before marriage and fidelity within marriage were ridiculed. Storylines relating to religion centered on religious conspiracies and how people gained enlightenment apart from God, not from Him. The idea of commitment -- to a wife, a child, a religion -- was ridiculed. Selfishness was championed.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain

“Highlighted near the bottom of the demographics hierarchy was the traditional family with the comment, "no discretionary income" as a notation. That didn't mean that the traditional family went unnoticed, however. Henry showed how families without discretionary income were granted credit to consume beyond their needs. He noted that indebted families had a higher rate of divorce, which contributed to other needs and thus influenced other market opportunities.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain

“Within married households, the demographics ladder showed that dual incomes were preferred over single income households. Homes with no children were preferred above those with children. Unmarried partners with children were prioritized above committed, married couples with children.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain

“The ladder showed a listing of different lifestyles, which were prioritized based on market potential and profitability. ...The more desirable demographics were the least commitment oriented. The most highly valued demographic was the single adult with no children.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain

“Ultimately, media conglomerates will protect their corporate sponsors.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain

“...If a vibrant, productive capitalism is to survive, virtue must temper self-interest.”
― Patrick Ord, The Curtain