290 likes | 693 Views
Propaganda. Williams 2012. What is Propaganda?. PROP-A-GAN-DA NOUN: 1. Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view
E N D
Propaganda Williams 2012
What is Propaganda? • PROP-A-GAN-DA • NOUN: • 1. Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular cause or point of view • 2. Information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. • Sound familiar? • You may be asking yourself, “What ISN’T propaganda??”
Propaganda • Propaganda is.. • Influence • Persuasion • Appeal • Manipulation
Propaganda: Friend or foe? Propaganda can be used to inspire… …And to destroy.
Propaganda: How does it work? • Propaganda employs a variety of techniques in order to persuade its audience to a desired view or position. • NAME CALLING • GLITTERING GENERALITIES • TRANSFER • TESTIMONIAL • PLAIN FOLKS • CARD STACKING • BANDWAGON • LOGICAL FALLACIES
PROPAGANDA:NAME CALLING • Uses derogatory language or words that carry a negative connotation when describing an enemy. • Attempts to arouse prejudice among the public by labeling the target something that the public dislikes.
Propaganda: glittering generalities • Uses words that have different positive meaning for individual subjects, but are linked to highly valued concepts. • Words often used as glittering generalities are honor, glory, love of country, and freedom.
Propaganda: transfer • An attempt to make the subject view a certain item in the same way as they view another item. • Used to transfer negative feelings for one object to another. • In politics, this technique is often used to transfer blame or bad feelings from one politician to another or from one group of people to another.
Propaganda: testimonial • Quotations or endorsements which attempt to connect a well-known or respectable person with a product or ideal with the intent to better “sell” the product or ideal.
Propaganda: plain folks • An attempt to convince the public that his or her views reflect those of the “common person”. • The candidate tries to appear to be working for the benefit of the “common person”.
Propaganda: card stacking • Only presents information that is positive to an idea or proposal and omits information contrary to it. • While the information presented is true, other important information is purposely omitted.
Propaganda: Bandwagon • An appeal to the subject to follow the crowd. • Tries to convince the subject that one side is the winning side and that winning is inevitable. • Appeals to a person’s desire to be on the winning side.
Propaganda: logical fallicies • An argument that sounds as if it makes sense but the premises given for the conclusion do not provide proper support for the argument.
PROPAGANDA: COMMON TRAITS • Uses truths, half-truths, or lies • • Omits information selectively • • Simplifies complex issues or ideas • • Plays on emotions • • Advertises a cause • • Attacks opponents • • Targets desired audiences
What do you notice? U.S. Army; World War One
What do you notice? “One People, One Reich, One Fuhrer!”; Germany; World War Two
What Do you notice? U.S.; World War Two
What do you notice? Britain; World War One
What do you notice? “Jews are lice. They cause typhus.”; Germany; 1941
Propaganda: What can you do? • Seek out reliable sources for information; • Watch for combinations of half-truths and lies; • Check for hidden messages; • Watch for use of propaganda common traits; • Be weary of one sided arguments.
Propaganda: Why worry? • "Goebbels [Reich Minister of Propaganda 1933-1945] openly admitted that propaganda had little to do with the truth. 'Historical truth may be discovered by a professor of history. We, however, are serving historical necessity. It is not the task of art to be objectively true. The sole aim of propaganda is success’.” • -Propaganda: The Art of Persuasion (Rhodes, 1976)