What is Propaganda?

What is Propaganda? propaganda prɒpəˈɡandə/ noun 1. information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view. "he was charged with distributing enemy propaganda" synonyms: information, promotion, advertising, advertisement, publicity, Propaganda is official government communications to the public that are designed to influence opinion. The information may be true or false, but it is always carefully selected for its political effect.

Keywords: Lesson objectives To gain an understanding of what propaganda is and to know what its objectives are. To be able to use visual literacy to analyse a selection of propaganda posters. Learning outcomes By the end of the lesson you will have recorded what propaganda is and to know what its objectives are. You will have analysed a selection of propaganda posters using your visual literacy skills and descriptive language. Keywords: Source primary secondary accuracy reliability relevance colour intention bias propaganda context composition

“Every day we are bombarded with one persuasive communication after another. These appeals persuade not through the give and take of argument and debate, but through the manipulation of symbols and of our most basic human emotions. For better or worse, ours is an age of propaganda.” (Pratkanis and Aronson, 1991)

Propaganda: agitate emotions exploit insecurities use ambiguous language bend the rules of logic

Most people associate propaganda with the campaigns of WWII. This included posters by all countries involved which used various techniques to persuade people to support the war cause. World War II saw continued use of propaganda as a weapon of war, both by Hitler's propagandist Joseph Goebbels and the British Political Warfare Executive.

1 Consider: Which country does this come from? What symbols are used? What emotive words are used?

2 Consider: Which country does this come from? What message is being conveyed? How is the woman represented?

3 The Nazi Party was also waging a propaganda campaign against the Jewish people in Germany. This is a poster for an anti-Jewish film. How are Jewish people represented here? What are the Nazis playing on here?

4 Consider: Which country does this come from? How is the enemy represented? What is suggested by the message? What emotional appeal is used?

Other countries also used propaganda techniques. Which country does this come from? How is Hitler represented here?

5 Consider: What techniques are used to portray the enemy in a negative way?

6 Consider: Which country does this come from? What message is being conveyed? How is Japan being represented?

What do you thinks this poster is promoting? Look at the representations and symbols used?

“One Battle One Victory”

Consider: What is the purpose of the poster? What symbols are used? What is suggested about the enemy? How does this poster appeal to emotions?

What are people being asked to change? What are people being persuaded to do? What information are they given? What is the source of this information? What appeals are used? Write your own definition of propaganda.

What are people being asked to change What are people being asked to change? Thinking, opinions, lifestyle, attitudes, values, beliefs, views ….. What are people being persuaded to do? Take action e.g. join army, buy bonds, keep quiet … What information are they given? Biased, exaggerated, misleading, simplistic … What is the source of this information? Government, one source, one opinion … What appeals are used? Emotional e.g. fear, patriotism, need to belong, … Write your own definition of propaganda.