Propaganda

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Propaganda

• OR
• How do you know what you want, if they dont tell
  you what to want?

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WHAT IS PROPAGANDA?

• The art of persuasion
• Spreading an idea, information or rumor for the
  purpose of helping or injuring an institution,
  cause or person
• Intending to make people accept or approve
  something without looking closely at the evidence
• The manipulation of public opinion

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Does it make a difference if the outcome is
good or bad?

• Is all persuasive communication propaganda?
• Or is it only that which changes political
  opinions?
• Or is it a promotion that seeks bad ends?
• But the same effort on behalf of the public for
  good is not??

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For this class

• Propaganda is the deliberate, systematic
• attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate
  cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a
  response that furthers the desired intent of the
  propagandist
• In other words, it is done on purpose, it is
  organized, it is an attempt to form the way you
  see things, control what you think, and get you
  to do what they want you to do , so they get what
  they want .

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Most common form in our lives?
ADVERTISEMENTS
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Why Do We Need to Understand Propaganda?

• Since it is
• carefully designed to influence our opinions,
  emotions, attitudes and behavior
• purpose is to persuade us to believe in something
  or to do something that we would not normally
  believe or do.
• designed to benefit someone, and that someone may
  not be you

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Why Do We Need to Understand Propaganda?

• The best way to counter propaganda is to
  understand the techniques and how they are used.
  The more you know about propaganda techniques
  and how they work, the less likely it is that
  someone will sneak something by you!
• To protect yourself against the techniques of
  propaganda, three good questions to ask yourself
  are
• 1. Who does this benefit?
• 2. Why did they do that?
• 3. According to whom?

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Types of Propaganda

• False Connections
• Special Appeals
• Word Games
• Logical Fallacies

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Sub-categories of False Connections

• Transfer -Linking the authority/prestige of
  something well respected to the item to be
  accepted.
• Authority Figure - the use of some authority
  figure to lend credence to claims made about the
  subject of the propaganda
• Sex Appeal - the use of sex to sell the idea or
  item
• This could be you- uses the idea that using this
  product could make you fit into the picture
• Testimonial/Endorsements - uses a popular figure
  to promote the cause

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Authority figure
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Sex appeal
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This could be you
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Testimonial/ Endorsement
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Sub-categories ofSpecial Appeals

• Plain folks- attempt to convince the audience
  that a prominent person is one of the people.
• Bandwagon- everyone else is doing it, so you
  should too
• Fear/Urgency-plays on the deep seated fears or a
  sense of it has to be done NOW.
• Emotional Language - uses strong words to appeal
  to or fire up your emotions
• Snob Appeal- plays on the desire for the good
  life
• Something for Nothing- plays on peoples desire
  for a good buy, or to get something for nothing

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Plain folks
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Bandwagon
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Fear/Urgency
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Emotional Language
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Snob Appeal
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Something for nothing
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Sub-Categories ofWord Games

• Name Calling- links a person or idea to a
  negative symbol
• Glittering Generalities- uses virtue words, links
  a person or idea to a positive symbol
• Euphemisms - attempts to pacify the audience by
  using bland words
• Repetition- repeating the information over, and
  over , and over
• Slogan- A memorable phrase is used in a campaign
  or a series of commercials.

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Name Calling
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Glittering Generalities
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Euphemisms
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Repetition
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Slogan
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Sub-categories of Logical fallacies

• Bad Logic - messages with deliberate illogical
  messages
• Unwarranted Extrapolation-making whole
  predictions about the future basic on small
  amount of facts
• Stereotyping -a simplified and standardized
  conception or image invested with special
  meaning and held in common by members of a group
• Card Stacking - carefully choosing to present
  only those facts that support one side of the
  argument while attempting to lead the audience
  into believing the facts are the conclusion

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Bad Logic
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Unwarranted Extrapolation
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Stereotyping
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Card Stacking
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What Kind is this?
Testimonial/endorsement Combined with Slogan
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What Kind is this?
Snob Appeal
"Buy Bally and feel wealthy and formal."
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What Kind is this?
Glittering Generalities
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HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

• Watch 3 ads on tv
• Write a brief propaganda discription of each ad.
• What is it for
• What happens in the ad
• Which techinque does it use