Darkstone Code

The role of the film industry in the entire Federation’s cultural system is becoming increasingly significant, and the reason for this phenomenon is that the public’s level of education is decreasing, and their willingness to voluntarily acquire formal knowledge through proper channels is also diminishing.

Yes, this reason seems... somewhat off.

Because the Federation Government has just started trying to promote educational reform in York State, Lynch’s university has also provided more possibilities for ordinary families to attend college, and the entire Federation Society considers this a successful pilot for educational reform.

Countless people are hoping that where they live, they can also establish universities that ordinary people can afford.

Why then is this a manifestation of declining education levels and willingness?

Are those who are eager to attend college... all fake?

In fact, these two points do not contradict each other; the desire to attend university and the desire for knowledge are two different matters.

In the past, people’s only means of acquiring knowledge was through school, but after the Education Group divided the people into two classes, namely, the ordinary education class and the elite education class, ordinary people became detached from the essence of education.

From the current stage of the Federation’s education, it can be seen that rather than saying the Federation’s public education is cultivating intellectuals, it’s more accurate to say they are training workers who can endure high-intensity oppression and exploitation for the Federation’s capitalists!

In school, the ability to learn and knowledge should be the most important things, but now they are no longer the most important things — here it refers to the public education system, not private schools.

In the public education system, the emphasis is on people enjoying life, finding ways to relieve stress, and facing society with tolerance, rather than being violent or resentful!

There have been investigations conducted by institutions, showing that in the past decade, more than eighty percent of graduates with high school education levels in the Federation no longer seriously read knowledge-based books and acquire knowledge after leaving the school environment.

Simply put, they no longer acquire new knowledge and abilities through reading books, but only read newspapers and magazines, and these are all non-knowledge-based.

Even though everyone knows the importance of education and knowledge, the social underclass still regards "education" as a "pathway," valuing the potential for future social status impact rather than education and knowledge themselves.

This leads to the largest group of social underclass lacking proper guidance.

Most of them actually do not have much practically useful knowledge, other than being able to read and write, many might be no different from illiterates.

If you randomly ask a person on the street, asking them who the third President of the Federation was, they might give you the name of an actor.

Or if you give them a two-digit multiplication or division problem, they might come up with any answer you couldn’t imagine, but none of them is correct.

People have not grasped much knowledge, and knowledge is the foundation of thought and thinking.

If a person does not have a certain level of knowledge mastery, does not acquire thinking and logical abilities through the accumulation of knowledge, things might turn quite bad.

With the rapid development of Federation technology and the widespread electrification, every household has a television, watching movies is no longer a luxury, and film and music works began to play a more important cultural source role in people’s living environment.

These social underclass who basically do not read, who even resent reading, and do not think, began to get used to being "indoctrinated with ideas" by others.

This is terrifying and distorted.

Now, to cater to the market and pursue economic benefits, works started to flatter and numb the people without bottom lines in these crucial cultural strongholds, leading people to adopt some values from film works!

This is actually wrong and incorrect, but it is also irreversible.

Not only now, even if society continues to develop, science continues to progress, whether educational reform succeeds or not in the future, these will still be so.

The bottom tier of society will still reject the self-driven acquisition of new knowledge, being indoctrinated with the thoughts society needs them to have through modes fostered by social mechanisms, gradually blocking their ability to think for themselves under the fluorescent lights of the television or big screen.

The growing size of the film and music industry is also a manifestation of this phenomenon.

Previously, Lynch wasn’t interested in this aspect because it was, in fact, very sensitive.

Its sensitivity lies in the fact that the social underclass will gradually lose their ability to think for themselves, and whatever you give them in a cultural dissemination manner they can accept, they will perceive as the truth.

This indeed can pull in a large amount of the social underclass, but it might also risk causing harm.

Anything useful is bound to have similarly troublesome downsides!

But now, it’s different.

Because Lynch is about to become an important player, an important part of the operation of the entire Federation society, so he must more firmly control the channels for indoctrinating the people.

Only this way can he bind himself with the most powerful and stupid force in society!

Leaving his mark on the most important film culture becomes particularly crucial!

The old man, upon hearing Lynch wanting to set up a Foundation, immediately realized this was a good opportunity to earn money, and he clearly understood what Lynch meant.

As an experienced filmmaker, he’s seen many scripts, orthodox, novel, sci-fi, conspiratorial, war-themed, perverse...

He could understand the meaning behind Lynch’s words — he wants to integrate channels and is willing to spend a little money to look for some people to help him.

That’s enough for the old man, his power would grow larger with the intervention of big capital, and he could also earn more money, what else could one be unsatisfied with at his age?

The wrinkles on his face immediately piled up together, layer by layer, the smile made him look even older.

"Mr. Lynch, thank you for your love of the film industry, I’ve been in this all my life, but I’ve rarely found anyone who loves this industry so much."

He raised a finger to emphasize his tone and context, "So much, a non-utilitarian love, so if there’s anything I can help with, be sure to contact me."

"Even without any remuneration, I am willing to do something for the film, for the thing we love the most!"

This shameless and bottomless statement is exactly what Lynch likes the most, some people, especially those in their thirties and forties, are full of sharpness, they have to consider some face.

Even if they want to force some people to serve them, they will find a way to maintain the most basic decency, trying to make it all seem not so... direct?

But the old man is different, he’s gone through ninety percent of his life, when he needs someone he won’t say whatever reason or nonsense, he’d just sit in his bathrobe on the large sofa, staring at that person —

"Líkè yītè! (Immediate help!)①"

Lynch’s smile was radiantly sunny, "Of course, of course, this absolutely requires your help, perhaps we can sit down and talk about these things when we have more time, what do you think?"

The old man smiled so much he could barely close his mouth, the yellowed teeth made his smile appear simply nauseating, not so bright as Lynch’s.

"I will introduce some of my friends to you, Mr. Lynch, rest assured, they, like me, all love this film industry!"

Lynch nodded slightly in acknowledgement of his idea, then shook his hand, "I have to entertain other guests, I’ll have someone give you a time and place."

The old man soon left, and Penny asked softly, "Is this for me?"

Her eyes were misty, her complexion flushed slightly, she understood the conversation just now, Lynch might spend a large sum of money to set up that Foundation.

And these made it difficult not to associate it with her next art film, she thought these were all done by Lynch for her, she was very touched!

Lynch naturally nodded, making use of waste... no, it’s a tested business model of multiple returns for a cost, "Of course, I hope you can win a real award in the best time of your life!"

The girl was overwhelmed with emotion, her watery eyes looking at Lynch, gently biting her lip, "I’m so moved, thank you!"

Federation people are like this, their emotions are flamboyant, whether it’s dislike or love, whether it’s breaking down or getting moved, they express it openly.

"No need to thank!"

After all the celebrity guests from the entertainment circle arrived, some political figures began to make an appearance.

Actually, rather than political figures, it would be more accurate to say they are some big family’s wastrels.

After Lynch reached some agreements with Mr. Truman, those politicians were not very suitable to appear, to avoid implicating themselves.

After all, Lynch will become a key behind-the-scenes role, and if someday in the future, if he is to be abandoned, attending his birthday party at that time could easily lead to associations.

But letting their children attend doesn’t have so many considerations because the attendees are those "wastrels" who won’t inherit the core rights in the future.

They enjoy the benefits brought by family foundations, having a lifetime to squander resources, and at times, they must give something back.

For instance, now that following decisions have been made, contacting Lynch as the family’s spokesperson, should anything happen to Lynch, these wastrels would be abandoned too.

This can also be considered a form of waste utilization, after all, they enjoy everything the family had given them, it’s impossible to give nothing in return.

Every playboy or socialite well-known in social circles warmly greeted Lynch, most of whom had never met Lynch before, but they acted as if they had a long-standing acquaintance.

So natural, so affectionate!

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①: Líkè yītè, a kind of affectionate greeting slang, similar to "Nice to see you"!