Decoder

The behaviour of the people in the Western World is being altered by an aural weapon devised to subconsciously affect those exposed to it. This artificial product, created by scientists, musicians and marketing experts is called “Musak” or “functional music”. The authors of this film carried out intensive research before making “Decoder” as the function of “musak” is to stimulate or soothe, enhancing wellbeing by constructing a particular tonal sequence. “Musak” by its very nature has an undoubted political significance. This production blends reality and fiction: surreal, metaphorical imagery interwoven with music.

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Collection

In ACMI's collection

Credits

production company

Jettifilm

Duration

01:24:00:00

Production places

Germany

Production dates

1992

Collection metadata

ACMI Identifier

303629

Language

German

Subject categories

Economics, Philosophy, Politics, Religion & Sociology → Technology - Social aspects

Experimental

Feature films

Feature films → Feature films - Germany

Foreign language films

Literature → Burroughs, William S., 1914-

Mathematics, Science & Technology → Technology - Social aspects

Music & Performing Arts → Electronic music

Music & Performing Arts → Music

Music & Performing Arts → Music - History and criticism

Music & Performing Arts → Popular music

People → Burroughs, William S., 1914-

Sound/audio

Sound

Colour

Holdings

VHS; Access Print (Section 1)

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If you would like to cite this item, please use the following template: {{cite web |url=https://acmi.net.au/works/82477--decoder/ |title=Decoder |author=Australian Centre for the Moving Image |access-date=27 September 2022 |publisher=Australian Centre for the Moving Image}}

Germany, 1992