Download (Handout 3.1) Propaganda! What is Propaganda!? Propaganda is a

(Handout 3.1)
Propaganda!
What is Propaganda!? Propaganda is a type of message aimed at influencing the
opinions or behavior of people. Instead of impartially providing information,
propaganda is often deliberately misleading, using logical fallacies, which, while
sometimes convincing, are not necessarily valid. (www.duggmirror.com)
**Question: Do you think that our current government participates in the creating
of Propaganda? How about music and movies? Can you give any examples?**
***Can you think of any examples of messages aimed at influencing opinions or
behavior of the people in 1984?
American Propaganda! in WWII
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When it was suggested that World War II was approaching, Americans did not
want to go to war. However, the government recognized that American
participation was necessary, and quickly stepped up pro-war propaganda.
This was not extremely successful until after Pearl Harbor, when the war no
longer seemed comfortably distant but very close to home. At this point, it
was necessary for the American propagandists to continue to convince the public
that war was close at hand. As the war began in earnest, America increased the
flood of propaganda, utilizing especially the radio and visual media, most
specifically posters.
**Question: Can we think of any current kinds of visual media propaganda? When
do you think the most current wave of propaganda started?**
Posters such as this one which implies that a man is dying
because of “careless talk” were also very common. They
implied that enemy spies were everywhere and that, in the
words of a similar poster, "loose lips can sink ships." Although
spies were no great threat to America during World War II,
it was said that even small amounts of information would
help the Germans. These posters and others like it also
served to bring home the reality of war to many of the
citizens of America. When viewers realized that there was a
danger of spies around them and that people were actually
dying, they began to realize that actual warfare was going on in
the world around them and that America was at threat.
**Question: Are the American people currently dealing
with a war crisis that “is closer to home than we think?”
What happens when soldiers die in Iraq? What kinds of
images do we see in the news coverage?**
*How is war portrayed in 1984? How does the government get people to get “on
board” with the war?
This poster which urges viewers to conserve
gasoline by joining a car-sharing club, also belonged
to a common type of wartime poster. Since materials
and supplies for the war effort were scarce,
conservation was encouraged by propaganda. This
poster is a fairly typical example of this type, with the
common suggestion that waste will aid the
enemy. Hitler is often mentioned by name
instead of referring to the Nazis or the Reich,
because propaganda tended to personify the evil
of the Nazis in Hitler. The American is shown to be
unaware that he is aiding the enemy, which implies
that those who drive alone are also uninformed. The
poster claims to correct that by urging the average
viewer to quickly join a car-sharing club to conserve
gasoline.
This poster informs women that fighting for their country will not
only help the country and the war effort but would also help gain
more rights for women. This was part of an ongoing campaign to
get more women involved in the armed forces and in wartime
production industries. As the war continued, more and more
military personnel and laborers were necessary, and it was
suggested to women to volunteer for these jobs in order to
advance the cause of feminism. They were encouraged by the
idea that by aiding their country, they would also be aiding themselves, although
no substantial guarantee is made.
**Question: Why are women and children found in so much of the visual
propaganda?**
Pictures and text found at:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/ww2/american/amerprop.htm
"The U.S. news media covered the war in Iraq the same way they cover the Olympics—with red, white,
and blue trappings, human interest stories, bombastic theme music, and an almost total focus on American
accomplishments at the expense of any international context. Around the clock coverage gave the illusion
of telling and showing everything and made us forget how little we actually knew."
http://www.classroomtools.com/propworks.htm
(Handout 3.2)
Types of Propaganda!
BANDWAGON: The basic idea behind the bandwagon approach is just that, "getting on the
bandwagon." The propagandist puts forth the idea that everyone is doing this, or everyone
supports this person/cause, so should you. The bandwagon approach appeals to the conformist in
all of us: No one wants to be left out of what is perceived to be a popular trend. EXAMPLE?
TESTIMONIAL: This is the celebrity endorsement of a philosophy, movement or candidate. In
advertising, for example, athletes are often paid millions of dollars to promote sports shoes,
equipment and fast food. In political circles, movie stars, television stars, rock stars and athletes
lend a great deal of credibility and power to a political cause or candidate. Just a photograph of a
movie star at political rally can generate more interest in that issue/candidate or cause thousands,
sometimes millions, of people to become supporters. Example?
PLAIN FOLKS: Here the candidate or cause is identified with common people from everyday
walks of life. The idea is to make the candidate/cause come off as grassroots and all-American.
TRANSFER: Transfer employs the use of symbols, quotes or the images of famous people to convey
a message not necessarily associated with them. In the use of transfer, the candidate/speaker
attempts to persuade us through the indirect use of something we respect, such as a patriotic or
religious image, to promote his/her ideas. Religious and patriotic images may be the most
commonly used in this propaganda technique but they are not alone. Sometimes even science
becomes the means to transfer the message.
FEAR: This technique is very popular among political parties and PACs (Political Action
Committees) in the U.S. The idea is to present a dreaded circumstance and usually follow it up
with the kind of behavior needed to avoid that horrible event.
LOGICAL FALLACIES: Applying logic, one can usually draw a conclusion from one or more
established premises. In the type of propaganda known as the logical fallacy, however, the
premises may be accurate but the conclusion is not. example: Premise 1: Bill Clinton supports
gun control. Premise 2: Communist regimes have always supported gun control. Conclusion: Bill
Clinton is a communist.
GLITTERING GENERALITIES: This approach is closely related to what is happening in
TRANSFER (see above). Here, a generally accepted virtue is usually employed to stir up
favorable emotions. The problem is that these words mean different things to different people
and are often manipulated for the propagandists' use. The important thing to remember is that in
this technique the propagandist uses these words in a positive sense. They often include words
like: democracy, family values (when used positively), rights, civilization, even the word
"American."
NAME-CALLING: This is the opposite of the GLITTERING GENERALITIES approach.
Name-calling ties a person or cause to a largely perceived negative image.
http://turnerlearning.com/cnn/coldwar/cw_prop2.html