PROPAGANDA

WHAT IS PROPAGANDA?

• Definition: any information, ideas, or rumors used to help or harm a particular group, person, movement, initiative, institution, nation, etc.

• Background: • Roman Catholic Church propagate (“spread”)

doctrine/religious messages after Protestant Reformation (16th century)

• Since WWI, taken on negative meaning of deceitful info meant to persuade viewer/reader to do and/or believe something

GOALS OF PROPAGANDA

Spread feelings of superiority over inferior people/groups

Exploit fears to demonize other people/groups

Represent their beliefs as absolute truths

PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES

Word Play/ Name Calling- Using language to avoid stigma against your group, and then referring to others with negative language to dehumanize them

• Examples: Aryan Brotherhood is the name a white supremacist group developed to create unity among their members; they use derogatory and slang language against non-white people

Symbols and Imagery- The swastika quickly became known as a Nazi symbol in the 1920s, and now is known for representing ideas of intolerance and hatred (although that was not the original meaning of the symbol).

Religious Authority- Use of scripture or other religious terminology to convey the idea that the group is sanctioned by God (i.e. “prophet,” “commandments,” “Truth,” etc.)

Scientific Legitimacy (pseudo-scientific language)- Using “scientific evidence” to borrow authority, in the way of citing studies/academic works, using scientific language, etc. Nazis claimed that Jews and other groups of people were biologically inferior to other races of people.

TECHNIQUES CONTINUED

Nationalism- Use of loyalty, heritage, nobility, etc. to get people to join the cause

Fearmongering- Groups may present ideas that a particular group of people is a danger to society by claiming that they are linked to disease, crime, terrorism, etc.

Smoke and Mirror Tactics- Some groups will try to “hide” their true message behind a screen that “looks good.” For example, white supremacist groups might not claim that other people are inferior because of their race; instead, they may suggest connections to crime/disease (fearmongering) to seem more acceptable to the general public.

Historical Revisionism- Some people will “revise” historical events to promote their own claims about history. One significant group of revisionists are Holocaust deniers, who claim that the Holocaust was less horrific, or that it never actually happened.

PROPAGANDA AND YOU

• How have you noticed the use of propaganda in your daily life?

• In times of war, why might a government use propaganda?

EXAMPLES OF PROPAGANDA

EXAMPLES OF PROPAGANDA

WAR PROPAGANDA

WAR POSTER ANALYSIS

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