Introduction to Propaganda 2012

7/29/2019 Introduction to Propaganda 2012

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P O S I T I V E A N D N E G A T I V E M E S S A G E S F O R

S O C I E T Y

PROPAGANDA


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Propaganda- Definition

Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of acommunity toward some cause or position.

Not impartial

Presents information primarily to influence an audience.

Presents facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particularsynthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational responseto the information presented.

Desired result is a change of attitude toward subject in target audience to further apolitical agenda. Propaganda can be used as a form of political warfare.

While the term propaganda has acquired a strongly negative connotation by associationwith its most manipulative and jingoistic examples, propaganda in its original sense wasneutral, and could refer to uses that were generally benign or innocuous, such as public

health recommendations, signs encouraging citizens to participate in a census or election,or messages encouraging persons to report crimes to the police, among others.

How? With words, images, usually through mass media (posters, tv, movies, internet,radio)


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Propaganda in the Past

Propaganda became a negative tool used by theNazis before and during WWII. Hitler used it toachieve power, maintain control, and manipulate

ideas. Hitler understood the power of propaganda,devoting two chapters to it inMein Kampf (hisbook).


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Propaganda in the Present

In the twenty-first century, the use of propagandahas accelerated as we are bombarded with negative,neutral and positive images from many sources.


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Why is this important?

It is imperative that we can tell the difference betweenfact vs. opinion and education vs. indoctrination.

More importantly, we must understand that negativeor politically motivated propaganda can promote

bias and, on a large scale, racism.

Questions:

How can propaganda be a tool for good?

How can it be misused?


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Advertising and Propaganda

Advertising is considered a mild form ofpropaganda.

Companies try to sell a product through ads

Some ads are truthful, but others can be misleading. Many of the same techniques are used- you have to

recognize them.


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Task

Find 1-3 examples of propaganda in the media; look forvisual examples.

In your journal, record your observations about theseexamples; include a copy in the journal.

For each journal entry:

1. Name the topic

2. Identify the target audience

3. Describe each example by visual and language content.4. How effective is the example?

5. What is the emotional feeling of each?

Documents

Introduction to Propaganda 2012