PropagandaPropaganda

Passing off opinions as fact…Passing off opinions as fact…

So what is it?So what is it?

Propaganda:Propaganda:

information, ideas, or rumors information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc. institution, nation, etc.

Where do we encounter Where do we encounter propaganda?propaganda?

With your partner, come up with a With your partner, come up with a list.list.

2 minutes2 minutes

IT CAN BE SINISTER IT CAN BE SINISTER AND BAD….AND BAD….

The caption: "The Jew: The inciter of war, the The caption: "The Jew: The inciter of war, the prolonger of war." German poster from WWII.prolonger of war." German poster from WWII.

American poster from WWII.American poster from WWII.

WWII German poster. “Long live WWII German poster. “Long live Germany.”Germany.”

American poster from WWII.American poster from WWII.

But propaganda can also seem But propaganda can also seem quite harmless…quite harmless…

This is propaganda…This is propaganda…

This is propaganda as well…This is propaganda as well…

This is propaganda as well…This is propaganda as well…

So is propaganda always evil?So is propaganda always evil?

NO!! It is often used for very devious NO!! It is often used for very devious purposes (during wartime, to spread purposes (during wartime, to spread dangerous ideas), but it is often dangerous ideas), but it is often present in everyday ads and present in everyday ads and messages.messages.

Propaganda is simply trying to Propaganda is simply trying to pass off an emotional message as pass off an emotional message as

a logical thought.a logical thought.

Though the message “looks” logical, Though the message “looks” logical, the message actually plays to the the message actually plays to the audience’s emotions, prejudices, and audience’s emotions, prejudices, and fears…fears…

Propaganda techniquesPropaganda techniques Name calling: Name calling: using charged using charged

names to label a person, names to label a person, whether the info is true or not.whether the info is true or not.

The president could be called a The president could be called a “hero” or a “war monger” “hero” or a “war monger” depending on differing political depending on differing political opinions. Both are names that opinions. Both are names that suggest very different attitudes suggest very different attitudes toward the president, but toward the president, but neither are necessarily backed neither are necessarily backed up with facts. They evoke up with facts. They evoke EMOTION!EMOTION!

Propaganda techniques cont.Propaganda techniques cont. TransferTransfer: Using a symbol or idea : Using a symbol or idea

that is unrelated to your message to that is unrelated to your message to make people think better of you. make people think better of you. EXAMPLE: All American Plumbing.EXAMPLE: All American Plumbing.

Does it really make you a better Does it really make you a better plumber if you are an American? plumber if you are an American?

The positive feelings of being The positive feelings of being American are supposed to transfer to American are supposed to transfer to your choice of a plumber…your choice of a plumber…

Transfer…Transfer…

With your partner, give 2 examples With your partner, give 2 examples of transfer.of transfer.

1 minute1 minute

Propaganda techniques cont…Propaganda techniques cont…

Glittering Generality: Glittering Generality: using vague, using vague, positive words to create positive feeling positive words to create positive feeling without specific support for the words. The without specific support for the words. The key is that the words are VAGUE and key is that the words are VAGUE and GENERAL.GENERAL.

Example: New Crest toothpaste is Example: New Crest toothpaste is new and new and improvedimproved. It whitens . It whitens betterbetter than ever. This than ever. This gives a vague picture why the toothpaste gives a vague picture why the toothpaste is supposed to work.is supposed to work.

Propaganda techniques cont…Propaganda techniques cont…

Bandwagon:Bandwagon: The feeling that The feeling that everyone else is doing something, so everyone else is doing something, so you should too.you should too.

““Don’t be late.” “Supplies are Don’t be late.” “Supplies are limited.” “Join the millions who limited.” “Join the millions who already have ___________.”already have ___________.”

Propaganda techniques…Propaganda techniques…

Plain Folks appeal:Plain Folks appeal: Where Where someone who is more powerful someone who is more powerful or privileged that the rest of us or privileged that the rest of us tries to act like they are just tries to act like they are just like us.like us.

Politicians use these all the Politicians use these all the time!!!!time!!!!

““Look at me, I’m John Kerry Look at me, I’m John Kerry and I like to hunt just like and I like to hunt just like you do!”you do!”

Propaganda techniques cont…Propaganda techniques cont…

TestimonialTestimonial: the use of athletes, : the use of athletes, movie stars, or anyone else famous movie stars, or anyone else famous or powerful to endorse a product, or powerful to endorse a product, even though that product is not even though that product is not responsible for their success.responsible for their success.

With your partner…With your partner…

Give two examples of testimonial Give two examples of testimonial appeals…appeals…

1 minute1 minute

Propaganda techniques cont…Propaganda techniques cont…

Card stacking:Card stacking: Highlighting positives Highlighting positives while downplaying or ignoring negatives in while downplaying or ignoring negatives in a persuasive message.a persuasive message.

DRUG COMMERCIALS and cigarette ads DRUG COMMERCIALS and cigarette ads are the best examples. (They show happy are the best examples. (They show happy people, and include tiny print that warns of people, and include tiny print that warns of dangers and disgusting side effects)dangers and disgusting side effects)

Card StackingCard Stacking

Hot woman, gambling, Hot woman, gambling, sex appeal… What’s not sex appeal… What’s not to love?to love?

Oh yeah, the small print Oh yeah, the small print that tells us that smoking that tells us that smoking kills us. (It is stacked at kills us. (It is stacked at the bottom of the deck, the bottom of the deck, so to speak.)so to speak.)

Ticket out the door…Ticket out the door…

Fully define propaganda (including Fully define propaganda (including both the formal definition and the both the formal definition and the more general version).more general version).

List and give examples of your two List and give examples of your two favorite specific propaganda favorite specific propaganda techniques.techniques.

ANSWER THIS: Is propaganda only ANSWER THIS: Is propaganda only used for evil political purposes?used for evil political purposes?