What is Propaganda?

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What is Propaganda?
Propaganda comes in many forms, but it always has
the following characteristics
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What is Propaganda?

• Propaganda is a kind of persuasive and widespread
  message designed to represent the interests of a
  particular group.
• It attempts to bypass logic through faulty
  reasoning and emotional appeals.

The same approach that convinces us to buy a
certain brand of toothpaste one day may be used
the next day to incite nuclear war. That is why
it is important to know how to recognize and
analyze propaganda.
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Part 1 Assertion
Assertion is the simplest form of propaganda. It
consists of simply stating a debatable idea as a
fact, with no explanation George Orwells
fictional study of propaganda and mind control,
1984, contains an example of the assertion
technique. In the novel, the following three
slogans of the Party are emblazoned on the
walls of the Ministry of Truth building
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Part 2 Bandwagon
The phrase jumping on the bandwagon was used to
describe this phenomenon, and eventually the term
was used outside the political realm.
In modern usage, the term bandwagon effect
refers to any situation in which people attempt
to be part of a successful or popular endeavor
merely for the sake of its popularity.
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Part 3 Card Stacking
This poster illustrates the card-stacking
technique. It emphasizes the travel and adventure
involved in serving in the Marine Corps, while
de-emphasizing the considerable sacrifice
required.
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Part 3 Card Stacking
In this example, in addition to revealing the
womans weight loss, the after photograph also
reveals card-stacking efforts. In the second
photo, the subjects hair is styled differently,
and she is wearing makeup and jewelry.
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Part 4 Glittering Generalities
Glittering generalities is a colorful term for
the appealing but vague words that often appear
in propaganda.
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Part 5 False Dilemma
In this kind of propaganda
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Part 6 The Lesser of Two Evils
In order to make the choice more appealing, an
even worse alternative is presented as the only
other option. It is argued that an imperfect
option is, at any rate, better than the
horrendous alternative.
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Part 6 The Lesser of Two Evils
The lesser of two evils technique is most
effective when one of the possible choices is
truly awful, as in this poster, which pits
frugality against fascism.
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Part 7 Name-Calling
Consider the words above, each of which is used
as a derogatory term for a certain type of
person. Do any of the words evoke an emotional
response?
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Part 8 Pinpointing the Enemy
This 1854 painting by William Holman Hunt, The
Scapegoat, illustrates the origins of the
termthe ancient Hebrew tradition of driving a
goat into the wilderness on Yom Kippur to carry
away the peoples sins.
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Part 9 Plain Folk
Common techniques include
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Part 10 Testimonials
Testimonials are a form of propaganda that is
familiar to nearly everyone. Almost everything
that is advertised comes with some sort of
testimonial, from music to hair gel to
politicians.
Testimonials take advantage of the fact that
there are certain people we tend to trusteven
if that trust is based on mere recognition,
rather than true credibility.
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Part 10 Testimonials
Movie stars and models are often paid to give
testimonials in which they attribute their beauty
or success to a given product.
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Part 11 Transfer
Also known as association and false
connection, transfer is closely related to the
testimonial technique.
In this method, the propagandist encourages the
transfer of feelings and associations from one
idea, symbol, or person to another.
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Part 11 Transfer
Some symbols are fairly straightforward.
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