Propaganda A Biased, one-sided communication meant to influence the thoughts and actions of an audience

Reasons to Use Propaganda: Conceal Contradictory Information Discourage debate Lie Distort Facts Rely on Simple and Repetitive Messages Work to Gain Trust Manipulate

Propaganda Uses Slogans –4 legs good, 2 legs bad Repetition –The sheep bleat the maxim over and over Loaded Words –Miserable, slaughtered with hideous cruelty, misery, slavery, abolished, bare rations, evils of this life, rebellion, preserve our health, brainworkers, “your” sake Powerful Images –Golden future time, riches, cruel whips not more shall crack, purer, sweeter, freedom, fruitful fields

Appeals to Our Fears –Do you know what will happen in Mr. Jones comes back? Appeals to Our Basic Desires and Needs –Just so much food, none of us owns more than our skins, pleasure and support for old age, all animals are comrades, health, depends on us To Make us think and act a certain way

Types of Propaganda

Euphemism Replacing harsh, offensive language with more pleasing words and phrases –Attack becomes a preemptive strike –A garbage collector becomes a sanitation specialist –Food reduction becomes food readjustment –Failing a class becomes not receiving adequate grades

Oversimplification Make an issue so simple that the true meaning is hidden –Made from recycled paper (but only 10%) –Made with real fruit juice (only 10 %)

Bandwagon or Testimonial Get people to do something because everyone else (or someone famous) is doing it. –Celebrity endorsements An important or famous person endorses a product –Environmentalism became popular so companies suddenly became “green” –Everybody has one, so you should, too

Internal Contradiction One part of a statement contradicts another part of the same statement –You do not have to take the final exam, but you will not pass the course

Faulty Cause-and-Effect Reasoning No logical cause is given or known for the effect –I failed my math test because I forgot to wear my lucky shirt –Brand X whitens clothes the best –I am stupid because I cannot spell

Begging the Question To avoid answering the question by skirting the issue or diverting the attention to someone or something else. –When a politician avoids a difficult questions by focusing attention onto his opponent.

Repetition The product name or keyword is repeated several times

Name-Calling Negative words are used to create unfavorable opinions of the competition in the viewer’s mind

Compare and Contrast The viewer is led to believe one product is better than another, although no real proof is offered.

Loaded or Emotional Words Words such as luxury, beautiful, paradise, and economical are used to evoke positive feelings in the viewer.

Additional Elements In addition to effective propaganda, other elements need to be present for a dictator to take control.

Supporters The masses must be behind the leader and feel that his or her new ideas will make a real difference in their lives

Ignorance of Followers It’s important that the followers and supporters of the leader not be too educated. They must follow blindly and without question.

Scapegoat There must be someone or something to blame for all of the bad conditions the leader wants to eradicate. Usually it is the leadership in power. Later, any problems which arise can be blamed on the scapegoat.

What are some examples of propaganda that you can think of? Bring in one example of propaganda tomorrow. Be ready to tell what kind it is.