Why Is Artifice Important

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What makes artifice such an essential skill? In the excerpt from Empire of Illusion by Chris Hedges, it is argued that “the most essential skill… is artifice.” Artifice, the act of deceiving people, can be very useful when you want more power or popularity in the world. Many widely known people use artifice to stay rich, popular, and in power. However, artifice isn’t so essential that everybody needs to be a faker in order to succeed. It is true, as Hedges writes, that “Political leaders, who use the tools of mass propaganda to create a sense of faux intimacy with citizens, no longer need to be competent, sincere, or honest.” We are already live in this reality. Donald Trump, our very own President, has been widely accused of making mistake after mistake. Sharing classified information with Russia, talking smack and threatening North Korea, the list goes on. The other day, I even heard that he tweeted about the United Forces being ‘locked and loaded’, implying that we’re ready for nuclear war with North Korea because of this. Despite all of the suspicious actions of the POTUS, people still take his side, claiming he’s America’s saviour. It goes to show how no matter how crazy someone is, …show more content…

Some of your favorite pop stars wouldn’t have the career they have without autotune in the studio. Take Kanye and Iggy Azalea. Iggy Azalea has had a fair amount of success with her songs, but whether she writes her own rhymes or not, you can’t argue that she can freestyle. When asked to freestyle at one of her live concerts, she miserably failed, ending up spouting random gibberish. With Kanye, although his rap skills are high-par, he’s proved he’s not fit for the role of a singer in his performance of Bohemian Rhapsody from Queen. You can name endless more of these consumer culture giants, and may possibly include one of your favorite

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