2. The Techniques of Propaganda zFrom “How to Detect and Analyze Propaganda” by Clyde R. Miller

3. Propaganda zAn expression of opinion or action by individuals or groups, deliberately designed to influence opinions or actions of other individuals or groups with reference to predetermined ends. zThat means if you and I have an opinion and express it with intent to influence some individual or group, we are, to that extent, propagandists.

4. zWe are fooled by propaganda chiefly because we don’t recognize it when we see it. zPropaganda devices appeal to our emotions rather than our reason. They make us believe and do something we might not believe or do if we thought about it calmly, dispassionately. zPropaganda works most effectively at those times when we are too lazy to think for ourselves.

5. There are seven common propaganda devices: zThe Name-Calling Device zThe Glittering Generalities Device zThe Transfer Device zThe Testimonial Device zThe Plain Folks Device zThe Card Stacking Device zThe Band Wagon Device

6. The Name-Calling Device zMakes us form a judgment without examining the evidence on which it should be based. Here the propagandist appeals to our hate and fear. zHe does this by giving “bad names” to those individuals, groups, nations, races, policies, practices, beliefs, and ideals which he would have us condemn and reject. zBad words are used to make us mad. zEx: Communist, alien, rabble-rouser

7. The Name-Calling Device zDuring WWII, the American government printed a massive run of propaganda posters, some of the most racist imagery ever produced in the U.S.

8. The Glittering Generalities Device zMakes us accept and approve, without examining the evidence. The propagandist identifies his program with virtue by use of “virtue words.” zHere he appeals to our emotions of love, generosity, and brotherhood. He uses words like truth, freedom, honor, liberty, social justice, public service, loyalty, progress, democracy, the American way.

9. zThese words suggest shining ideals. All persons of good will believe in these ideals. zHence the propagandist, by identifying his individual group, nation, race, policy, practice, or belief with such ideals, seeks to win us to his cause. zGood words are used to make us glad. The Glittering Generalities Device

10. zWar won us our liberty, now let’s go give liberty to others! The Glittering Generalities Device

11. The Transfer Device zThe propagandist carries over the authority, sanction, and prestige of something we respect and revere to something he would have us accept. zIf the propagandist succeeds in getting church or nation to approve a campaign on behalf of some program, he thereby transfers its authority, sanction, and prestige to that program. Thus we may accept something which otherwise we might reject.

12. The Transfer Device zThis device is used both for and against causes and ideas. zIf a cartoonist draws a picture of Uncle Sam disapproving of our participation in a war, we would feel that the whole United States disapproves of it. If the cartoonist drew Uncle Sam approving of our involvement in a war, we would feel that American people support it.

13. The Transfer Device zExamples: Symbols are constantly used. The cross represents the Christian Church, the flag represents the nation, cartoons like Uncle Sam represent a consensus of public opinion.

14. The Testimonial Device zThe propagandist secures statements or letters from prominent people with the expectation that the crowd will follow the leader. zThe point for the reader to remember, however, is that no person’s recommendation is particularly valuable except in that person’s chosen field of work.

15. The Testimonial Device zExamples: Weight loss products (Jared from Subway, Richard Simmons’ friends), any late night infomercial, the home shopping network

16. The Plain Folks Device zUsed by politicians, labor leaders, businessmen, and even by ministers and educators to win our confidence by appearing to be common people like ourselves--”just plain folks among neighbors.” zIn election years candidates show their devotion to our little children, flourish the cards which show they are members in good standing in some important labor union, or have their pictures taken while they are pitching hay.

17. The Plain Folks Device zIf Joan of Arc saved France, the women of America can certainly save the U.S.!

18. The Card Stacking Device zEmployed by the propagandist when he tells us only part of the truth. zHe uses under-emphasis and over- emphasis to dodge issues and evade facts. zHe draws a red herring across the trail to confuse and diver those in quest of the truth.

19. The Card Stacking Device zExample: The principal of a small private school met the criticism that his faculty has no teaching experience by issuing the statement that the average experience of each member of the faculty was 5 years. This statement was technically true: there were five teachers in the school including the principal, but the principal neglected to mention that he had twenty-five years of experience while the remaining four members had none.

20. The Card Stacking Device z“This person suffering from hereditary defects costs the community 60,000 Reichsmark during his lifetime. Fellow German, that is your money, too.” -New People (monthly magazine of the political-racial office of the Nazi party)

21. The Band Wagon Device zUsed to make us follow the crowd, to accept the propagandist’s program en masse. zThe theme of this type of propaganda may be summed up by the statement: “Everybody’s doing it; come along and follow the great majority, for it can’t be wrong.”

22. The Band Wagon Device zIt’s time for everyone to do their part!

23. Propaganda Quiz: Can you identify the device used in the following posters?

24. “The Seed of Peace, Not Dragon’s Teeth” The Glittering Generalities Device

25. “One People, One Nation, One Leader!” The Band Wagon Device

26. “The Reich will never be destroyed if you are united and loyal.” (President Hindenburg & Hitler) The Glittering Generalities Device

27. “Hitler is building. Help him. Buy German goods.” The Transfer Device

28. Through the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was allowed 100,000 troops. In this poster, they are surrounded by heavily armed opponents. The Card Stacking Device

29. “Adolf Hitler’s youth attends community schools.” The Plain Folks Device

30. “Fuhrer we will follow you!” The Band Wagon Device

31. “The Jew: the inciter of war, the prolonger of war.” The Card Stacking Device

32. “The Eternal Jew” The Name-Calling Device

33. “This is how we fight. You too must work for victory.” The Testimonial Device

34. “Long Live Germany!” The Band Wagon Device The Transfer Device

35. Suggesting that spies are everywhere The Name-Calling Device

36. “The Enemy sees your light. Black out!” The Name-Calling Device

37. zObserve that in all these devices our emotion is the stuff with which propagandists work. zWithout it they are helpless; with it, harnessing it to their purposes, they can make us glow with pride or burn with hatred; they can make us zealots in behalf of the program they espouse.

38. Dealing with Propaganda zThere are three ways to deal with propaganda: ySuppress it: This is contrary to democratic principles. You should not have to “accept something” that makes you uncomfortable. yCounter-propaganda: This is legitimate but often intensifies the problem yAnalyze it: This will make us aware of the tactics and keep us from falling into the “trap” of propaganda

39. The End