A compelling and compassionate work that never fails to stimulate. After the Ball is required reading for straights interested in understanding a minority that comprises 10% of the population and for gays who ar learning that the revolution is far from over.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
To overcome Americans' deep-rooted aversion to gay men and women, psychologist Kirk and ad man Madsen propose a massive media campaign designed to correct stereotypes and neutralize anti-gay prejudice. PW termed this "a punchy call to arms, Madison Avenue style." Illustrated.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
47 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By quantumspock
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Before I write, here is a quote from Wikipedia: "In 1987 Kirk partnered with Hunter Madsen (who used the pen name "Erastes Pill") to write an essay, The Overhauling of Straight America, which was published in Guide Magazine. They argued that gays must portray themselves in a positive way to straight America, and that the main aim of making homosexuality acceptable could be achieved by getting Americans "to think that it is just another thing, with a shrug of their shoulders". Then "your battle for legal and social rights is virtually won"
This book was a real eye-opener for me. I found it reminiscent of Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals'.
From the book flap: "Dismissing the movement's outworn techniques in favor of carefully calculated public relations propaganda, AFTER THE BALL unveils the key psychological principles and national strategies that gays must follow..." "At the same time, Kirk and Madsen propose a clear-eyed agenda to reform gay culture..."
To sum up the book: Two Harvard-educated intellectuals, one of which worked in Advertising on Madison Avenue, devised an agenda, to use propaganda and turn the tide of America's disregard and ambivalence for homosexuality by 180 degrees.
If you look around, you'll see that it's not just actors in Hollywood, but also many of your friends and neighbors who have embraced this propaganda, likely without their knowledge.
The book is well-written-though slanted, and apparently, effective. Due to subject matter, I recommend this as a book for adults.
This book was a real eye-opener for me. I found it reminiscent of Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals'.
From the book flap: "Dismissing the movement's outworn techniques in favor of carefully calculated public relations propaganda, AFTER THE BALL unveils the key psychological principles and national strategies that gays must follow..." "At the same time, Kirk and Madsen propose a clear-eyed agenda to reform gay culture..."
To sum up the book: Two Harvard-educated intellectuals, one of which worked in Advertising on Madison Avenue, devised an agenda, to use propaganda and turn the tide of America's disregard and ambivalence for homosexuality by 180 degrees.
If you look around, you'll see that it's not just actors in Hollywood, but also many of your friends and neighbors who have embraced this propaganda, likely without their knowledge.
The book is well-written-though slanted, and apparently, effective. Due to subject matter, I recommend this as a book for adults.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By The Dekester
Format:Paperback
After the Ball appears to have been the seminal blueprint for the gay rights movement in the US. Kirk and Madsen lay out their strategy - which has worked quite well - for converting the culture to one that was primary antagonistic toward gays, at the time of their writing, to one that is now much more accepting. I say it worked well, since we are now talking about same-sex marriage with nearly 1/2 the population being on board.
The thing that disturbed me a bit, was that their strategies were based more on marketing concepts rather than arguments from logic. This seems to leave some potential for regression unless the logic portions can be strengthened over time.
The thing that disturbed me a bit, was that their strategies were based more on marketing concepts rather than arguments from logic. This seems to leave some potential for regression unless the logic portions can be strengthened over time.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Nearly 25 years have passed since this book was published. Everything the authors advocated has been done, and more. Christians should read this book; it's enlightening, in retrospect, to recognize all the ways in which mass media has been utilized to normalize homosexuality. When Christians don't know why they believe, and why, this book can at the very least, provide a lens through which to observe how to dismantle the morals of a nation.
20 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book unwittingly exposes the gay agenda's propaganda strategy
August 10, 2012
By bookmaven
Format:Paperback
I have kept tabs on the militant homosexual movement since the mid 1970s, shortly after they used strongarm tactics to force the American Psychiatric Assn to change their views on homosexuality as a mental condition, through threats and intimidation. I did notice in the 1990s they changed their tactics from shock to smooth propaganda. They actually borrowed techniques from Communist Chinese brainwashing, and as we can see, it worked on most naive Americans.
I have noticed that often, homosexuals react very emotionally and violently whenever someone so much as questions their views on this issue. This is part of a planned strategy to cow others into acquiesence.
This book plainly exposes their psychological agenda for the rest of us, though I'm sure that was not the intent of the author. I highly recommend this book for those who want to understand why militant homosexual act as they do.
I have noticed that often, homosexuals react very emotionally and violently whenever someone so much as questions their views on this issue. This is part of a planned strategy to cow others into acquiesence.
This book plainly exposes their psychological agenda for the rest of us, though I'm sure that was not the intent of the author. I highly recommend this book for those who want to understand why militant homosexual act as they do.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
"The first order of business is desensitization of the American public concerning gays and gay rights. To desensitize the public is to help it view homosexuality with indifference instead of with keen emotion. Ideally, we would have straights register differences in sexual preference the way they register different tastes for ice cream or sports games: she likes strawberry and I like vanilla; he follows baseball and I follow football. No big deal." - Marshall Kirk
A truly enlightening look at the strategy of the immoral minority to unashamedly transform the collective morality America.
A truly enlightening look at the strategy of the immoral minority to unashamedly transform the collective morality America.
161 of 239 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
As a summary of methods to manipulate and control opinion, this book is an example of how to achieve a goal (public opinion modification), without recourse to fact, reason, or fair play. A propagandists dream, it is best summed up in two of its own quotes "Thus propagandistic advertising can depict all opponents of the gay movement as homophobic bigots who are 'not Christian' and the propoganda can further show them as being criticized, hated and shunned}".... "Our effect is achieved without reference to facts, logic or proof.... the person's beliefs can be altered whether he is conscious of the attack or not" (p. 152-153) Answers questions as to how a group of less then 2% of the population, can attain political and media clout completely out of proportion to their size or condition
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By riguy63
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book goes into great detail on the homosexual agenda to brain wash people into accepting the unnatural and abnormal homosexual lifestyle. The book details the Madison Avenue advertising / psychological tactics people have been subjected to for the past 20 years. Wake up America, you are bing duped by a bombardment of LIES from the homosexual community. God have mercy on this country.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
How come you cannot get this title even used?
Does the gay community not want the rest of the world to see how they successfully masterminded manipulation of public opinion of them? I think they've something to hide. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars
Balanced and thoughtful and intelligent
A very good book on gays and what they can do to combat the bigotry they have to contend with. Some gays find this book offensive because it dares to suggest that marching for gay... Read more
Published on October 27, 2009 by cynicalgirl
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marshall Kirk
I would like to say thank you to everyone who purchased and got something out of "After the Ball." Marshall Kirk was my uncle. I say "was" because he passed away a year ago. Read more
Published on August 10, 2006 by Kevin M. Kirk
4.0 out of 5 stars
Prophetic book with a message for today
This book is a look at how gay activism can become more pragmatic and realistic. While "shock" tactics may be fun and a wonderful outlet for our pent up emotions (and may... Read more
Published on May 8, 2001 by Justin Starkenburg
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book pioneered the movement's shift toward pragmatism
Although its tone is sometimes too harsh and its generalizations too sweeping, AFTER THE BALL remains a prescient landmark in the American gay rights movement. Read more
Published on November 18, 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it or loathe it, you won't be indifferent
Since time out of mind, gays have been the hapless victims of the hateful propaganda of a society almost uniformly arrayed against them. Read more
Published on August 24, 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Superb, Groundbreaking Work.
"After The Ball" is destined to become a modern classic of gay political literature. In this seminal work, Kirk and Madsen present arguments that are clear, cogent, and... Read more
Published on December 23, 1998 by Mark J. Koenig
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