Example of Conflict Theory in “Testify”, by Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine’s single "Testify", the first song from their 1999 album 'The Battle of Los Angeles", is a commentary on the American public’s blindness or numbness to global issues such as war, politics, capitalism, wealth, and power through the filtering of information by the mass news media. As it relates to Sociology, “Testify” deals mainly with Marxist Conflict Theory, and also incorporates many of the topics we have learned about in class throughout the semester. A major issue dealt with in "Testify" is the filtering of the news media for mass consumption and the misrepresentation of world events by the media to keep the audience happy and content
He also implies that the current government party in power, who controls the present, has control of the past because they choose what to show the public through the media. The song then asks “Who controls the present now?” (line 52) as if to ask the listener "Who's controlling what you consume and watch?" Pleading for change in the way the general public perceives the world, or at least a realization that change for the better can occur, 'Testify' is a commentary of the general public's blindness to true international issues and the filtering of information by the news media. Showcasing a definite example of Conflict theory, it is a plea for the masses to question what they are given every day to fill their need for information, and begin to fight against the institutions that are helping maintain the privileges of the wealthy and powerful that keeps the general public subservient to their wealth seeking agendas.

“Testify” lyrics, by Rage Against The Machine
The movie ran through me
The glamour subdued me
The tabloid untied me
I'm empty please fill me
Mister anchor assure me
That Baghdad is burning
Your voice it is so soothing
That cunning mantra of killing
I need you my witness
To dress this up so bloodless
To numb me and purge me now