1. Propaganda A Closer Look at the Depths of Persuasion

2. What is propaganda? Webster’s definition: “… the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person”

3. The Goal of Propaganda The goal of propaganda is to get you to accept a point of view or take some action.

4. Characteristics of Propaganda Facts are distorted or misrepresented Opinions are disguised Appeals to people’s emotions by using emotional language, stereotypes, and/or exaggerations

5. Types of Propaganda Glittering Generalities Words or phrases most people associate with virtue and goodness that are used to trick people into feeling positively about a subject Examples of common words: democracy, values, family, moral, motherhood, education “This law will make the country more safe for democracy.”

6. Glittering Generalities

8. Types of Propaganda Bandwagon Appeal The idea that “everyone else is doing it, and so should you!” Makes people feel inferior if they do not conform “Get on board!” “Don’t be left out!” “Everybody loves…”

9. Bandwagon

10. Types of Propaganda Plain Folks Appeal Speaker attempts to convince their audience that they, and their ideas, are “of the people” Used by advertisers and politicians Purpose is to attract the majority Example: Clinton and McDonald’s

11. Plain Folks

12. Types of Propaganda Repetition Bombards an audience with a message Based on the stimulus-response learning theory

13. Repetition

14. Types of Propaganda Fear Appeal Propagandist warns members of audience that disaster will result if they do not follow a particular course of action Propagandist plays on fears in order to redirect attention away from the particular proposal and toward steps that can help to reduce the fear

15. Fear

16. Types of Propaganda Testimonial A statement, usually given by a famous person or someone with firsthand experience, that supports a product, candidate, or policy Suggests that a famous person’s opinions must be right or that a product must be excellent if a famous person endorses it

17. Testimonial

19. Types of Propaganda Snob Appeal Stresses the “uniqueness” of an idea or product in order to make the product more attractive to a particular group of people “Sophisticated Shampoo for Sophisticated Women”

20. Snob Appeal

21. Types of Propaganda Name calling Links a person to a negative image or symbol Propagandist hopes audience will reject the idea/product based on their association of it with a negative image instead of looking at the available evidence This is the opposite of Glittering Generalities

22. Name Calling

23. Types of Propaganda Cardstacking Only the good points (or the bad points of a competitor) are given By showing you all the positives (or all the negatives), you are expected to agree with the propagandist

24. Types of Propaganda Transfer The propagandist attempts to carry over the authority or prestige of something we respect or revere to something they would have us accept. Symbols are often used Advertising uses this frequently

25. Transfer

26. Types of Propaganda Scientific Slanting Also called “Facts and Figures” Uses phrases such as “Doctors recommend…” or “Most doctors prefer…”

27. Scientific slanting

28. Types of Propaganda Word magic Naming a product or idea in such a way as to make it sound exciting! At the same time the competing products/ideas are presented as not as good “Oil of Olay” vs. “plain lotion”

30. Types of Propaganda Direct Order Oldest and simplest way of advertising The product or idea is shown and people are told to use it or agree to it “Buy U.S. Savings Bonds”

31. Questions?

32. Practicing Propaganda Analysis In your group, read/review the examples of propaganda I have given you. Then, discuss and decide as a group what types of propaganda you see in your example. On a sheet of notebook paper, provide examples from the text supporting your answer.