Download WW II Propaganda

PROPAGANDA
What is - Propaganda?
Broadly speaking, propaganda is any rumor, idea, or fact which is spread in order to convince
someone of something. Propaganda may be truthful....or not. It is often one-sided.
Advertisers, politicians, actors, preachers, teachers, parents, and mends all use propaganda to
gain your support, your money, or to sway your opinion. Most techniques rely on you becoming
emotionally involved and ignoring reason and logic.
In a democracy where the people rule, it is important to be up on 'baloney detection'. "We the
people" must make decisions for our country. We are bombarded with hundreds of appeals from
elected officials and advertisers. They use flattery, pity, vagueness, folksy approaches and halftruths. But if you learn their techniques, you will be on your way to making decisions more
rationally. The following are 10 different types of propaganda techniques.
Propaganda Techniques
1. Glittering Generality: Some words or phrases glitter, stand out, and draw your attention. When
a speaker uses words or phrases which are attractive but he does not mention specific details, he
is using the glittering generality technique. The words are often so general it is difficult to argue
with them...democracy, freedom, loyalty, miracle.
2. Bandwagon: The main idea of the bandwagon technique is "join the group". The propagandist
would have you believe that everyone else is doing it so you should too or you will be left out. The
appeal is based on our desire to be part of a group.
3. Testimonial: The testimonial technique is used when a famous person or a person in a position
of prestige speaks in favor of an idea or product.
4. Positive Transfer: The transfer technique is being used when the speaker or advertisement
hopes to get your positive feelings about one thing transferred to another thing. A bikini clad
woman washing her shiny new red convertible she just bought from John Doe's Automotive is an
example of a positive transfer.
5. Negative Transfer: In using the negative transfer, the speaker or advertiser hopes will transfer
negative feelings into positive ones. An restaurant owner shows a family sitting in a competitors
restaurant - the tables and dishes are dirty, it is dimly lit, and there seems to be no service. He
hopes those negative feeling will transfer into strong positive feelings when you see his sparkling
clean, well lit, and fully staffed restaurant.
6. Plain Folks: The plain folks technique tries to appeal to your desire to be just an average
person. Sometimes politicians who are wealthy and famous try to disassociate themselves with
their past and appeal to the everyday person. Watch out for phrases like "my fellow Americans".
7. Name Calling: Name calling is a technique that appeals to our hates and fears. The
propagandist places a bad label on an individual, group, nation, race, policy, or belief, hoping that
by associating the 'bad name' we would condemn or reject it Name calling is designed to stop your
thinking processes and get you to react emotionally instead of logically.
8. Card Stacking: This technique is used when only one side of an Issue Is presented. You may
only get half the truth; many other important pieces of information are selectively 'dealt out' so you
never see or hear them.
9. Repetition: The repetition technique uses repeated words, phrases, sentences, or thoughts
hoping you will remember it when the message is finished. The hope is that if you hear something
long enough, you'll believe its true.
10. Exigencv: The exigency technique is being used whenever the speaker or the advertisement
tries to make you think there is good reason to take favorable action within a definite (usually
short) length of time. The object is to make you feel you cannot take time to stop and really think
about the action to be taken or the product to be purchased. (Exigency is defined as needing
immediate action - urgent)
Name: _______________________________ Period: ________________ Row: _____
Directions: Read each example and place the number of the propaganda technique being
used in the space provided.
____ A. "Most high school students drink Classic Coke. Join the now generation."
____ B. "Do you want a clean bathroom? Use Magic Clean! Do you want a clean kitchen? Use
Magic Clean! Do you want a clean garage? Use Magic Clean! Do you want a clean mouth?
Use Magic Clean!!"
____ C. "Bonnie Beautiful, the internationally famous soap queen, uses Exotic Scent".
____ D. "You'll never beat this low price!! This offer may never again be made to the public! Call
us right now - do not delay!"
____ E. "How could you ever vote for those pinko, commie geeks? ! !"
____ F. "Here is the new cereal you've been waiting for. It tastes better, looks better, smells
better, is more nourishing, and less expensive!"
____ G. "Everyone should have a college education. Those who do make 3 times more money
than high school grads, have fewer heart attacks, smell better, and drive nicer cars."
____ H. "Why me and Elmer here plan to vote for Ronnie. He's a cowboy just like us chopping
wood on T.V. and saying lots or 'yeps' and 'nopes' -- he's our man!"
____ I. Scene 1 - we see a man doing yard work. His yard is full of weeds and dead plants. He is
sweaty and hot and having a hard time tying his trash bag.
Scene 2 - we see another man lying peaceful in his hammock under a shady tree. He has
a tall glass of iced tea, his children and wife are picnicking nearby, and his dog lies below
him. Announcer says "Hire Harry the handy gardener and have some time to relax."
____ J. A tanned, muscled surfer struts along a white, sandy beach with his surfboard. Three foxy
chicks follow behind. He glances over his shoulder, looking at the girls, then turns to face
the camera saying, "I use A & Z Income Tax service".
PROPAGANDA
What is - Propaganda?
Broadly speaking, propaganda is any rumor, idea, or fact which is spread in order to convince
someone of something. Propaganda may be truthful....or not. It is often one-sided.
Advertisers, politicians, actors, preachers, teachers, parents, and mends all use propaganda to
gain your support, your money, or to sway your opinion. Most techniques rely on you becoming
emotionally involved and ignoring reason and logic.
In a democracy where the people rule, it is important to be up on 'baloney detection'. "We the
people" must make decisions for our country. We are bombarded with hundreds of appeals from
elected officials and advertisers. They use flattery, pity, vagueness, folksy approaches and halftruths. But if you learn their techniques, you will be on your way to making decisions more
rationally. The following are 10 different types of propaganda techniques.
Propaganda Techniques
1. Glittering Generality: Some words or phrases glitter, stand out, and draw your attention. When
a speaker uses words or phrases which are attractive but he does not mention specific details, he
is using the glittering generality technique. The words are often so general it is difficult to argue
with them...democracy, freedom, loyalty, miracle.
2. Bandwagon: The main idea of the bandwagon technique is "join the group". The propagandist
would have you believe that everyone else is doing it so you should too or you will be left out. The
appeal is based on our desire to be part of a group.
3. Testimonial: The testimonial technique is used when a famous person or a person in a position
of prestige speaks in favor of an idea or product.
4. Positive Transfer: The transfer technique is being used when the speaker or advertisement
hopes to get your positive feelings about one thing transferred to another thing. A bikini clad
woman washing her shiny new red convertible she just bought from John Doe's Automotive is an
example of a positive transfer.
5. Negative Transfer: In using the negative transfer, the speaker or advertiser hopes will transfer
negative feelings into positive ones. An restaurant owner shows a family sitting in a competitors
restaurant - the tables and dishes are dirty, it is dimly lit, and there seems to be no service. He
hopes those negative feeling will transfer into strong positive feelings when you see his sparkling
clean, well lit, and fully staffed restaurant.
6. Plain Folks: The plain folks technique tries to appeal to your desire to be just an average
person. Sometimes politicians who are wealthy and famous try to disassociate themselves with
their past and appeal to the everyday person. Watch out for phrases like "my fellow Americans".
7. Name Calling: Name calling is a technique that appeals to our hates and fears. The
propagandist places a bad label on an individual, group, nation, race, policy, or belief, hoping that
by associating the 'bad name' we would condemn or reject it Name calling is designed to stop your
thinking processes and get you to react emotionally instead of logically.
8. Card Stacking: This technique is used when only one side of an Issue Is presented. You may
only get half the truth; many other important pieces of information are selectively 'dealt out' so you
never see or hear them.
9. Repetition: The repetition technique uses repeated words, phrases, sentences, or thoughts
hoping you will remember it when the message is finished. The hope is that if you hear something
long enough, you'll believe its true.
10. Exigencv: The exigency technique is being used whenever the speaker or the advertisement
tries to make you think there is good reason to take favorable action within a definite (usually
short) length of time. The object is to make you feel you cannot take time to stop and really think
about the action to be taken or the product to be purchased. (Exigency is defined as needing
immediate action - urgent)
Name: _______________________________ Period: ________________ Row: _____
Directions: Read each example and place the number of the propaganda technique being
used in the space provided.
__2__ A. "Most high school students drink Classic Coke. Join the now generation."
__9__ B. "Do you want a clean bathroom? Use Magic Clean! Do you want a clean kitchen? Use
Magic Clean! Do you want a clean garage? Use Magic Clean! Do you want a clean mouth?
Use Magic Clean!!"
__3__ C. "Bonnie Beautiful, the internationally famous soap queen, uses Exotic Scent".
__10_ D. "You'll never beat this low price!! This offer may never again be made to the public! Call
us right now - do not delay!"
__7__ E. "How could you ever vote for those pinko, commie geeks? ! !"
__1__ F. "Here is the new cereal you've been waiting for. It tastes better, looks better, smells
better, is more nourishing, and less expensive!"
__8__ G. "Everyone should have a college education. Those who do make 3 times more money
than high school grads, have fewer heart attacks, smell better, and drive nicer cars."
__6__ H. "Why me and Elmer here plan to vote for Ronnie. He's a cowboy just like us chopping
wood on T.V. and saying lots or 'yeps' and 'nopes' -- he's our man!"
__5__ I. Scene 1 - we see a man doing yard work. His yard is full of weeds and dead plants. He is
sweaty and hot and having a hard time tying his trash bag.
Scene 2 - we see another man lying peaceful in his hammock under a shady tree. He has
a tall glass of iced tea, his children and wife are picnicking nearby, and his dog lies below
him. Announcer says "Hire Harry the handy gardener and have some time to relax."
__4_ J. A tanned, muscled surfer struts along a white, sandy beach with his surfboard. Three foxy
chicks follow behind. He glances over his shoulder, looking at the girls, then turns to face
the camera saying, "I use A & Z Income Tax service".