Transcript What is Propaganda Powerpoint

What is
Propaganda?
And why do we care?
Communication Applications
Jane Boyd
Definition
 propaganda: a Latin word that was first
used by Pope Gregory XV in 1622, when
he established the Sacred Congregation
of Propaganda, a commission designed
to spread the Catholic faith worldwide.
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 Political Dictionary, Fast Times, Inc.
 Modern much broader meaning: refers
to any technique, whether in writing,
speech, music, film or other means, that
attempts to influence mass public
opinion..."
 any technique that attempts to
influence the opinions, emotions,
attitudes, or behavior of a group in order
to benefit the sponsor.
TV, Radio, political
candidates…
 Not just one message into a piece of
propaganda - they put lots of messages
into each piece!
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Techniques of propaganda used daily:
military,
media,
advertising,
politics,
all sorts of human relationships.
Ask yourself these
questions:
 Who does this benefit?
 Why did they do that?
 According to whom?
5 Types of Propaganda
used in advertising
 Bandwagon: persuading people to do
something by letting them know others
are doing it
 Testimonial: using the words of a famous
person to persuade you.
More types
 Transfer: using the names or pictures of
famous people, but not direct quotations.
 Repetition: the product name is repeated at
least four times.
 Emotional words: words that will make you feel
strongly about someone or something.
WW II Propaganda
 Commercial advertising usually takes the
positive note in normal times . . . But these
are not normal times; this is not even a
normal war; it's hell's ideal of human
catastrophy [sic], so menace and fear
motives are a definite part of publicity
programs, including the visual.
--Statement on Current Information Objective
Office of Facts and Figures
 Words are ammunition. Each word an
American utters either helps or hurts the
war effort. He must stop rumors. He must
challenge the cynic and the appeaser. He
must not speak recklessly. He must
remember that the enemy is listening.
--Government Information Manual for the Motion
Picture Industry
Office of War Information
Don’t buy it – get media
smart.
 http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/
Magazine Ads
Political Ads
http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/election/index.php?nav_action=election
&nav_subaction=overview&campaign_id=178
 1988 Willie Horton
 1988 Bush’s false advertising
 2000 Rats
 2000 Baby
When a commercial comes
on, ask yourself these
questions
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What sound effects or music does the commercial use? Do the sounds
make it more exciting?
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How do the actors using the product look? Do you think the product could
make you happy or popular?
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Are there celebrities in the commercial? Do you think the celebrity really
uses the product?
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When watching a toy commercial, is the toy pictured in a group with other
toys that are all sold separately?
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What propaganda technique are they using to make me buy the product?
Questions to Ask After
You Buy
 Does the product look bigger or better on
TV than in real life?
 Does it work the same at home as it did
on the commercial?
Television Ads
http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/advertisingtricks/what
sinanad.html
Pepsi
Levis
Philip Morse