Download design appreciation - justAjar Design Press

DESIGN ARTH 162
APPRECIATION
PROPAGANDA
Description Propaganda: The art of persuasion
Propaganda deliberately disseminates information intended to sway the opinion of its target
audience—it can be factually true or false. Propaganda is intended to make us accept or
approve something without looking closely at the evidence. Most of the propaganda devices
utilize emotion and avoid critical thinking.
During our lecture you have learned the history and use of propaganda–it is used to
change people’s minds, or confirm their beliefs. In order to fully understand the process of
creating effective propaganda, the class will create propaganda posters and present them
to the class. The issues each student chooses to address is up to them, with suggestions
below. Each student should research their topic, and be informed on the issue.
An additional challenge is to leave your political opinions out the project. Address the
issue by relating to the specific wants and needs of society, rather than using political
affiliations.
Possible Issues (but not limited to): Spending money to boost economy, Buy local, Buy
products made in USA, Climate Change, Vote, Get Exercise, Read to your kids, Get annual
check-ups, Stop Smoking, Eat Vegetables, Put Down Your Phone, etc.
Objectives • Demonstrate how writing and graphics can effectively be used to communicate
an intended message.
• Exhibit your knowledge of Propaganda Techniques
• Create a design that persuades or affirms the viewer’s opinion
Poster Deliverable POSTER:
11” wide x 17” high (Vertical Orientation Only)
You can create this poster by any means: hand-drawn or computer-rendered.
Printing may be made in any Computer Lab capable of printing Color 11 x 17 sheets
(HFAC 314, Mass Media Lab), at the UPS Store, as well as at the MC Print Shop (email file
to Jeff Moyers [email protected]).
Process Consider what the differing opinions are on the subject matter
For example, on the topic of Buying American-made Products, one side would claim they
are too expensive to buy and the other side would claim it is our responsibility to create
local jobs and buy American.
1. Determine the objective of your poster—what do you want the audience to do or
believe?
2. Decide which Propaganda Technique you will utilize—
• Consider the consequences if the audience does NOT do something or change
their mind—can you exaggerate that consequence to use as inspiration for
messaging and visual graphics?
• Consider what type of messaging or graphics might catch the audience attention
• Remember that the Anatomy of an effective Propaganda poster includes:
(1) Hyperbolic Message—gets attention of audience
(2) Dramatic Graphic—gets attention of audience
(3) Call to Action—communicates what audience should do/believe
Page 1
DESIGN ARTH 162
APPRECIATION
PROPAGANDA
Written Deliverable A written explanation of the propaganda technique you utilized is required and attached
to the back of the poster. This explanation shall explain:
• Who is your target audience?
—Try not to be too broad, the more specific you are the more effective your
message can be
• What you’re trying to persuade the audience to do?
—What is your Call to Action?
—How are you communicating what the Call to Action is? Website, message, etc.
• How your design achieve its objective?
—How does the image grab the attention of the audience?
—How is the image appropriate for the topic?
> Include Name, Class, Date, Assignment Name in Header
> Include the sources of any images you obtained that you do not own the rights to on your
written explanation (listed on bottom)
Presentation Each student will present your poster(s) to the class and explain the rationale of the
decisions you made when you designed the poster. You should be prepared to explain the
research you did on the subject, as well as how you think your poster serves
as propaganda.
Grading Grading will be based on the quality of the following:
• Fulfilled project objectives
• Articulation of design process (why you designed it the way you did—that way I can
keep that in consideration if your design/message was not effective at persuasion)
Timeline >> Presentations are Tuesday, October 18
Page 2
DESIGN ARTH 162
APPRECIATION
PROPAGANDA
Propaganda Techniques NAME CALLING – links a person, or idea, to a negative symbol or connotation.
Examples: commie, fascist, yuppie
GLITTERING GENERALITIES – use of virtue words; the opposite of name calling; links a
person, or idea, to a positive symbol or connotation. Examples: democracy, patriotism,
family
TRANSFER – a device by which the propagandist links the authority or prestige of
something well respected and revered, such as church or nation, to something he would
have us accept.
Example: a political activist closes her speech with a prayer
TESTIMONIAL – a public figure or a celebrity promotes or endorses a product, a policy, or a
political candidate. Examples: an athlete appears on the Wheaties box; an actor speaks at a
political rally
PLAIN FOLKS – attempt to convince the audience that a prominent person and his ideas
are “of the people.” Examples: a prominent politician eats at McDonald’s; an actress is
photographed shopping for groceries
BANDWAGON – makes the appeal that “everyone else is doing it, and so should you.”
Examples: an ad states that “everyone is rushing down to their Ford dealer”
FEAR – plays on deep-seated fears; warns the audience that disaster will result if they do
not follow a particular course of action. Example: an insurance company pamphlet includes
pictures of houses destroyed floods, followed up by details about home-owners’ insurance.
BAD LOGIC – an illogical message is not necessarily propagandistic; it can be just a logical
mistake; it is propaganda if logic is manipulated deliberately to promote a cause.
Example: Senator X wants to regulate the power industry. All Communist governments
regulate their power industries. Senator X is a Communist.
UNWARRANTED EXTRAPOLATION – making huge predictions about the future on the basis
of a few small facts. Example: If the U.S. approves NAFTA, thousands of jobs and factories
will move to Mexico.
Page 3