Propaganda

1. In your own words, what is PROPAGANDA? Have you ever been influenced by propaganda? When? If not, how did you resist?

2. Propaganda • Definition: The particular ideas or principles promoted by an organization or movement. • Origin: Early 1700s; Catholic Church; from Latin for “congregation of propagating the faith” (propagate = spread) • Presents a biased view. • Bias is a preference, especially one that inhibits impartial judgment. • Propaganda is most commonly associated with advertising and politics (elections, wars, ideologies). • Will often make an emotional appeal.

5. Propaganda Technique: Bandwagon • Most common technique. • Often used in advertising. • Basic idea: “If everyone else is doing/thinking it then so should you.” • Think of it like peer pressure: “Other people are doing/believing it, so if you don’t, then you’re wrong . . . You don’t want to be wrong, do you? • When you see this, you need to weigh the pros and cons of joining the “crowd”.

7. Propaganda Technique: Euphemism • A word or phrase used to make an unpleasant idea sound more pleasing. • According to the Nazis, the Jews in Poland were relocated; whereas, the reality was the Jews were sent to death camps. • When you see this, try to see if inferences can be made about any hidden meanings.

8. Propaganda Technique: Fear • Often used in politics and during wartime. • Can often provide people with fears that they may not have “realized” they had.

10. Fear

11. Propaganda Technique: Glittering Generalities • Often used in politics. • Words that have different positive meaning for individual people but are linked to highly valued concepts. • Claims “demand” approval from the listener (“We fight in defense of democracy!”). • Common words/ideas associated with technique: honor, glory, love of country, freedom.

12. Propaganda Technique: Logical Fallacies • A false or incorrect logical principle; “talks in circles”. • One must think about the LOGIC of the statement and take every part of it into account. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g

13. Focus Question Choose ONE specific type of propaganda discussed last class. What is it? Please provide an example.

14. Propaganda Technique: Name Calling • Often used in politics and during wartime. • Uses negative words or those with a negative connotation. • Object is to instill prejudice against a group or idea. • Often employs sarcasm or ridicule—political cartoons. • Need to separate your feelings from the ideas presented.

15. Name Calling

16. Propaganda Technique: Plain Folks • Often used during speeches. • Works to convince that views presented represent those of the common person and/or are for the good common person. • Will often target the “common man” with regional figures of speech or jokes. • Will sometimes intentionally mispronounce words and/or adopt an accent to make listeners feel like they can relate and to give an impression of “I’m just like everyone else.” • Most common term associated with this: “Middle Class”. • Consider speaker’s background and try to ignore the “dialect”; focus on the ideas. • http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=137298&title=Plain_Folks `

17. Propaganda Technique: Rewards • Points out the benefits of an idea or product. • Think of infomercials • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY4zr0JekWE&feature=pyv&ad=5397788633&kw=as%20seen%20on%20TV

18. Propaganda Technique: Testimonials Quotations or endorsements that connect a famous/ reputable person with an idea or product. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jJun_1dII0

19. Propaganda Technique: Transfer • An attempt to make someone view one item the same way they view another and link the two subjects in one’s mind. • Often done in politics—linking of one politician to another; can be positive or negative association. • Campaign ads • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phBBnxXJdoM