PROPAGANDAIntro to Film & Entertainment

“The great masses of the people will more easily fall victim to a big lie than to a small one.” -Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf

What is propaganda? It’s one of those words we still have a hard

time agreeing on completely There is some disagreement about whether all

persuasive communication is propagandistic or whether the propaganda label can only be applied to dishonest messages

Overall: Propaganda is biased information designed to shape public opinion and behavior. For good & not so good purposes

What is propaganda? Webster says…

the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

In other words, emphasizing information that helps a cause, and/or deemphasizing information that doesn’t help/hurts the cause Sometimes lies and misleading information

are used to get the desired effect

It goes way back… Propaganda is considered to have

started in the 17th century with the Catholic church The Propaganda Fide spread the Catholic

doctrine throughout the world Began being used in politics in the mid

19th century World War I was a major event for

propaganda; propaganda was produced worldwide

Propaganda Techniques Name Calling

Exactly what it sounds like! Tearing down someone/something by giving

them a negative stigma. Ex: Commie

Glittering Generalities Linking the goal to some sort of general,

positive word Ex: Do it for freedom! Show your

patriotism!

Name Calling & Glittering Generalities

Propaganda Techniques Transfer

Taking something we respect/accept/think highly of, and connecting it to the goal somehow

Could also be transfer of blame (think politics) Ex: Uncle Sam to represent public opinion

Testimonial Endorsement/quote out of context to make a

connection between a famous person & the idea/thing

Very close to transfer technique Ex: Politics

Transfer & Testimonial

Propaganda Techniques Plain Folks

Convince audience that they or their idea(s) reflect that of the common man

Ex: POLITICS! Bandwagon

Everyone else is doing it, why aren’t you?! Ex: Modern advertising

Plain Folks & Bandwagon

Propaganda Techniques Fear

If something isn’t done, this disaster will occur!

Ex: Wartime propaganda Euphemisms

Using less loaded words to calm a situation Ex: Renaming War Department to the

Department of Defense

Fear

Euphemism

Education v. Indoctrination Education

Unbiased; teaching of facts Indoctrination

Teaching with a slant/agenda During wars, indoctrination was used in

many countries to influence children especially If you learn it at school, would you question

it?

War & Propaganda World War I

Increase public approval of involvement of the war (Especially Britan & Germany)

Encourage people to volunteer to fight Demonize the other side (goes back to first

goal of improving public opinion)

War & Propaganda World War II

Germany: Hitler indoctrinated many with his verbal & visual propaganda

U.S.: Focused on war efforts Rationing War Bonds Some demonizing the enemy

Cold War U.S.

Radio, film, print ads, television Demonized Soviet Union (name calling…) Offered skewed perspective on what life in

communist countries was like

More modern wars Still propaganda, but how has it

changed? Less in-your-face (more subtle) Television! Use of important people talking

about it Some print stories Some films used

Now it’s your turn! Get ready to analyze a piece of wartime

propaganda