Download What is Propaganda?

Name: ____________________________________________________
Block: _____
English 10- F451, Censorship, TBQs
Date: _____
Propaganda and Censorship
Directions: While you read the following information, please take notes and
contemplate the following essential questions:
1. What is the purpose/end goal(s) of propaganda?
2. What techniques are used in propaganda?
3. When is propaganda used?
4. How are propaganda and censorship connected?
propaganda
Propaganda is the organized promotion of a doctrine, cause, or view by those
with an interest in its success. The term usually refers to a biased viewpoint
regarding a government, religion, ideology, or person and is often designed for its
power to evoke emotion rather than to appeal to reason.
"propaganda." American Government. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 21 Dec. 2011.
What is Propaganda?
Propaganda is an evocative word that brings to mind images of dictatorships and
wartime misinformation. Although not as widespread as conspiracy theorists might
have us believe, it is still in use daily in virtually every country.
The ideological goal
The basic defining goal of propaganda is that it seeks to control what people believe that is, the ideas they consider to be unquestionably true. Hence propaganda is about
ideology, which may be political, religious, philosophical.
In some senses, all ideologies use propaganda when they promote their ideas as being
the only real truth and denigrate other belief systems as bad, evil or just plain wrong.
The hidden quality
Another defining quality of perfect propaganda is that it is hidden, such that the
recipients perceive it and communications about it as a simple truth. The subject
matter just becomes what is normal and the communicator of the message is not
perceived as trying to persuade or manipulate.
In brief, then, propaganda is covert persuasion of large groups of people.
At the other end of the realization scale, if people perceive themselves as victims of
manipulative machinations, then they will feel betrayed and hence rebel against the
manipulator. This rebellion may be open or, if the manipulator has other power (such
as military), then it may become subverted and covert.
Basic conditions
For propaganda to happen, there must be a person or persons in positions of power
where they have significant control over mass-communication media. This can include
presidents, governments and media moguls. At a smaller scale, it also includes
company bosses, head teachers and parents.
The person in control must have a need either that a significant group of people
believe something to be true or perceive something in some way.
A Brief History of Propaganda
Religious propagation
The term 'propaganda' first appeared in 1622 when Pope Gregory XV established the
Sacred Congregation for Propagating the Faith. Propaganda was then as now about
convincing large numbers of people about the veracity of a given set of ideas.
Of course, propaganda is as old as people, politics and religion. People with ideas will
always want to persuade others about them and, if they have the power, they will pull
every string they have to persuade everyone.
Propaganda and war
Wars have always been a good reason to use propaganda, as governments seek to
persuade populaces of the justness of their cause as well as hide the horrors and failures
of the front line. Misinformation and disinformation are widely used to distract people
from the truth and create new realities.
Entry into the first world war was apparently accompanied with many stories of
atrocities that were false. Things have not changed and more recent wars have also had
more than their fair share of propaganda and false excuses.
Nazi propaganda
In 1933, Hitler realized the potential of propaganda and appointed Joseph Goebbels as
Minister for Propaganda. Goebbels was remarkably effective and much of the
propaganda literature discusses in detail the methods they used.
The Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA)
In 1936 Boston merchant Edward Filene helped establish the short-lived Institute for
Propaganda Analysis which sought to educate Americans to recognize propaganda
techniques. Although it did not last long, they did produce a list of seven propaganda
methods that have become something of a standard.
Bandwagon: Pump up the value of 'joining the party'.
Card-stacking: Build a highly-biased case for your position.
Glittering Generalities: Use power words to evoke emotions.
Name-calling: Denigrating opponents.
Plain Folks: Making the leader seem ordinary increases trust and credibility.
Testimonial: The testimony of an independent person is seen as more trustworthy.
Transfer: Associate the leader with trusted others.
The modern world
Propaganda and manipulation of reality continues to be used in large quantities in the
modern world. Governments continue to tell their constituencies what they think they
need to know. Advertisers use the whole gamut of propagandist techniques. And
although some people can see the reality (and some theorize about improbable
conspiracies), most people are taken in and see nothing of how they are manipulated.
Bandwagon
Method
Make it appear that many people have joined the cause already, and that they are
having lots of fun or getting significant advantage.
Show that those who join early will get the better prizes, such as positions of authority
or other advantages.
Link it to morality and values, showing that those who join sooner are more moral and
pretty much better people all around.
Make a loud noise. Use bright colors. Play a fanfare. Become impossible to miss. Be inyour-face until they join up.
Example
A political party holds a rally with much flag-waving and razz-a-ma-tazz.
A new religious group ensures all of its members attend services and become
active participants in recruiting new members.
Discussion
The Bandwagon uses social evidence to legitimize itself and become attractive. It plays
heavily on the need for belonging, making the group a desirable place to be. It may
also use the scarcity principle, showing that it is better to join sooner or later.
The term 'bandwagon' came from the Temperance movement, where an open wagon
would literally have a band on it and drive around town picking up drunks who would
symbolically 'get on the wagon' of alcohol-free (and religious) living.
Card-stacking
Method
In 'card-stacking', deliberate action is taken to bias an argument, with opposing
evidence being buried or discredited, whilst the case for one's own position is
exaggerated at every opportunity. Thus the testimonial of supporters is used, but not
that of opponents.
Coincidences and serendipity may be artificially created, making deliberate action
seem like random occurrence. Things 'just seem to happen' whilst you are 'in town'.
Example
A politician just happens to be in town when a new school is opening - so they
just drop in, hi-jacking the press for their own means.
During election periods, political parties will often gag their loose cannons,
who might open their mouths and say the wrong things.
A minister of a new church sect sets up in a poor area, feeds people who will
listen, tells them of how the poor will be saved, and so on.
Discussion
Card-stacking makes significant use of the evidence principle, whereby we find
evidence to be particularly persuasive.
Card stacking, particularly with testimonials, works when we confuse real statistics
with availability, leading us to assume that just because there appears to be
overwhelming support from other people, then this is a representative sample of the
whole population.
Advertising makes great use card-stacking, including repeated adverts that seek to
batter their audiences into submission.
The term 'card-stacking' comes from the world of gambling, where accomplished
players will stack the deck in their favor, even as they are shuffling the card!
Glittering Generalities
Method
Use attractive, but vague words that make speeches and other communications sound
good, but in practice say nothing in particular.
Use linguistic patterns such as alliteration, metaphor and reversals that turn your
words into poetry that flows and rhymes in hypnotic patterns.
Use words that appeal to values, which often themselves are related to triggering of
powerful emotions.
A common element of glittering generalities are intangible nouns that embody ideals,
such as dignity, freedom, fame, integrity, justice, love and respect.
Example
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is with the greatest pleasure that I welcome you to
this most auspicious of occasions. We are gathered here on the brink of a
challenge to which we must all rise in concert, for not to do so would be to
accept despair, which I will never do and I know you will never accept.
Discussion
Generalization is a common process whereby we take one thing and apply it to others.
Glittering generalities use this principle in seeking to evoke emotions without making
any commitments or putting the speaker in a position where they may be challenged
or criticized. If people are taken to a place where they accept vague statements, then
suggestion can be used to replace rational argument and clear evidence.
Hypnotic talk puts people into a light trance, where they become carried away by the
situation and are more suggestible. When accompanied by comfortable surroundings,
darkened rooms and flashing lights, the effect is accentuated further.
Nouns give the sense of substance, but when they are intangible, they lack actual
substance. This allows the speaker to credibly apply then to broad domains.
Name-calling
Method
Call them names
Laugh at what targeted others say. Criticize their lack of Values. Denounce their ideals.
Turn around their words and actions, taking them out of context and amplifying them
to drown out any denial (making denial seem like admission of guilt). Use other
double-binds such that whatever they say or do only mires them more deeply.
Find a name that trivializes them and use it at every opportunity, with a smirk on your
face and the laughter of your supporters.
Show up opponents
Make your opponents appear stupid, immoral or otherwise undesirable. Besmirch
their untarnished reputation, holding it down in the mud, rubbing it in with the
knowledge that much of the mud will stick. Be careful about the person retaliating. As
necessary, ensure they are isolated and disempowered first.
Make an example of someone
Take a random person and denigrate them. Show that you can and will do this any
opponents.
You can do it to an apparently strong person, to demonstrate that you are not afraid
and will take on and defeat even the powerful. You can do it to a weak person, to
show that nobody is safe from your ire. You can do it to an ordinary, guy-next-door
person, to show that 'people like you' are not safe either.
Example
My opponent is a flip-flop man who cannot make up his mind. He changes
mind with the breeze! How could anyone follow such a weak-willed flipflopper?
Discussion
Mud sticks, as we all known. Name-calling associates the other person with something
that is despised or is inferior in some way. Now, if anyone associates with that person,
the mud will also stick to them. The more the other person is socially isolated, the
more that others will avoid the person. The results is a spiral of isolation that
neutralizes opponents and sends a chilling warning to those who might follow in that
person's path.
Note how, especially in wartime, the other side gets given a whole slew of derogatory
names. In the second world war, the Germans were called Huns, Krauts, the Boche,
etc. The Japanese were called Nips, Japs, Slant-eyes, and so on.
Name-calling happens also in activism. Calling the police 'pigs', for example, is not just
a derogatory term, it also frames the whole structure of state authority as dirty and
unprincipled, hence making them unworthy and legitimizing attacks on them.
Note also political elections, and how easily debates can descend into name-calling from which
there is no recovery.
Plain Folks
Method
Make the leaders look just like mom'n'pop-style 'plain folks'. Things you can do to
achieve this include:
Dress
Wear ordinary clothes. Especially avoid designer gear. When you must be formal, be
plain, so you clothes do not send 'flashy' messages. When you are seen in 'informal'
settings, wear jeans and other 'relaxed' clothing (but do make sure they are always
clean).
When visiting particular groups, you can dress to show you are like them. When
'down on the farm', wear bibbed denims. When visiting the troops, wear simple
fatigues (careful not to show rank here).
Speech
Use simple words, simple grammar and short sentences. Pause, as if you have to think
hard about words before speaking.
When talking with a particular group of people, use their language, but with care not
to appear that you are aping them (be careful with local dialects and professional
jargon). Perhaps use just a few of their words, or use parallel words that say 'I may not
be you, but I'm so like you it is the same thing, anyway'.
A subtly is to use minor speech errors and incorrect grammar. If you are a linguist, this
can be painful. But it sends the basic message: 'I'm an ordin'ry person, jus' like you.' Do
this carefully: you want to appear ordinary, not foolish.
Action
When you are shown doing things, do normal things. Be seen doing chores around the
house. Go out running. Walk the dog. Play with your kids. Appear interested in things
and people. Be surprised. Be normal.
Just as with dress and speech, you can copy body language, sending 'I'm like you'
signals.
Like speech errors, you can make simple action mistakes. Drop things. Knock things
over. Slip up a bit. Again, be careful to look ordinary, not a fool.
Example
Visiting a church, the President dresses in a dark suit and blue shirt. He walks
slowly and with hands together in front of him. He talks gravely with people.
He sings with joy and prays with fervor. Later that day, he has changed into
denims and fleece top to take the dog for a walk. Along the way, he meets
another dog owner and exchanges cheery pleasantries.
Discussion
When you dress, speak and act like other people, you say 'I am like you'. When they
see you as like them, they are more likely to like and trust you in return. Once they
have decided that you are trustworthy, they will accept what you say without
question.
Appearing ordinary also makes you appear uncomplicated and very unlikely to tell
lies. As a result, people are more likely to trust you further and believe more of what
you say.
This is a method that is often used by people aspiring to (and working in) high office.
It is easy for such people to lose track with the ordinary person -- or at least appear to
do so. Using the 'Plain Folks' method helps mitigate this risk.
Testimonial
Method
If your words might lack credibility in some way, borrow the credibility of others by
getting the testimony of trusted others.
Use celebrities and public personalities who have well established and trusted public
brands. Use experts, clerics, police, scientists and others whose title is respected, even
if the people themselves are unknown. Use people who are like the people whose
support you need.
Get them to stand up and support your case with vigor. Get them on stage with you.
Get them on TV shows and into political debates. Help with with words, if you can
(but do not alienate them by being too pushy).
Example
In my last movie, I saved my family from terrorists and I'm supporting this
party because they will save you from terrorists!
I am a doctor and I say this man would have died had he not got the right
medicine in time. And I ask you, where did that medicine come from?
Discussion
Political parties know that a celebrity testimonial is worth many votes. They also make
great use of testimonials from ordinary people to show that people like your and me.
Advertisers, too, make great use of celebrities and credibly ordinary folks.
Celebrity testimonial works when people associate with the celebrity, connecting
identities together.
With 'experts', listeners often do not know of their real credentials, yet still accept the
expert's authority. They will seldom question this matter, particularly when the
content distracts them from this questioning. Claims of expertise are thus often used to
boost credibility of statements.
Actors, perhaps unsurprisingly, often do testimonials particularly well. It is hence
common to see actors supporting political parties and others who are using this
method.
Testimonials need not be true or honest. You can pay people to say pretty much
anything, and some will be happy to say whatever you like for a suitable sum. Be
careful about paying, even for genuine support, as if it is found out then it will devalue
the testimonial and possibly be seen in a very negative way.
Transfer
Method
Associate with other people or groups that already have high trust and credibility.
Show that you aspire to similar ideals. Become a member of auspicious organizations.
Be seen with trustworthy people. Name-drop and quote them. Show that you have
friends in high places. Show how you are like them.
Also show your differences and how you are unique. How you are perhaps better in
some ways than those high credibility people. How perhaps they are like you more
than you are like them. How you have helped them and how they now admire you. Be
careful with this that, in standing on the other person, you do not push them down too
far.
Example
As I was saying to the President, it is so important that we bring our forces
together. He agreed, of course and we will be taking it forward next week.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce my good friend Brad Pitt. Brad and
I go way back and he's kindly come here today to tell you what I'm really like.
Discussion
When you show yourself to be like a known and respected person, then you are
encouraging the other person to categorize you in the same way, such that they will
then attribute all of the characteristics of the other person onto you (including trust).
Showing yourself to be better then uses the other person's values and abilities as a base
on which you have built. There are dangers in this, as it may seem that you are
criticizing someone that the other person has idealized.
World War II: U.S. propaganda poster
[National Archives]
In an effort to galvanize public support for the war, the United States often used propaganda
tools. This poster, depicting a menacing German soldier who could potentially be lurking
anywhere, dramatizes the threat to national security.
"World War II: U.S. propaganda poster." Image. National Archives. American Government.
ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 21 Dec. 2011.
World War I poster
[National Archives]
World War I poster created by the U.S. government encourages the general
public to purchase liberty bonds to help finance the war. The United States
produced numerous propaganda posters in support of the war effort, often using
fear of the enemy to support its message.
"World War I poster." Image. National Archives. American Government. ABCCLIO, 2011. Web. 21 Dec. 2011.