Transcript PropagandaRevised

Propaganda
Deconstructing propaganda
Propaganda Denotation
• 1. Information, ideas, or rumors deliberately
spread widely to help or harm a person,
group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
• 2. The deliberate spreading of such
information, rumors, etc.
• 3. The particular doctrines or principles
propagated by an organization or movement.
What is Propaganda?
Biased information
Simplifies complex
issues or ideas
Created to shape
public opinion and
behavior
True, partially true, or
blatantly false information
Plays on emotions
Symbols, images,
words, or music
Directs human
action toward a
given goal
Advertises a cause,
organization, or
movement and its
opponents
Common Propaganda Techniques
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Bandwagon
Testimonial
Plain Folks
Transfer
Fear/Card Stacking
Logical Fallacies
Glittering Generalities
• Name-calling
Bandwagon
• An appeal to the subject to follow the crowd
Tries to convince the subject that one side is the
winning side and that winning is inevitable
Appeals to a person’s desire to be on the winning side
• Appeals to “in crowd” mentality
• Fear of being left out
• Undesirable traits
Examples: Bandwagon
Testimonial
• Quotations or endorsements which attempt to
connect a well-known or respectable person
with a product or ideal. The intent to better
“sell” the product or ideal
• Examples: Any celebrity endorsement: Weight
Watchers uses Jennifer Hudson, The
Kardashians for Pistachios; Jennifer Lopez for
Fiat, Michael Jordan for Fruit of the Loom
Examples: Testimonial
Plain Folks
• An attempt to convince the public that his or her
views reflect those of the “common person”
• I am “one of you” approach
The featured person tries to appear work for the benefit
of the “common person”
• Example: Sarah Palin is a “soccer mom”. Bush
clearing brush on his ranch. Joe the Plumber was a
regular guy, a prominent politician eats at
McDonald’s; an actress is photographed shopping for
groceries
Examples: Plain Folks
Transfer
• An attempt to make the subject view a certain
item in the same way as they view another item
• Used to transfer negative feelings for one object
to another
• In politics, this technique is often used to transfer
blame or bad feelings from one politician to
another or from one group of people to another
• Example: Mac vs. PC
Examples: Transfer
Fear/Card Stacking
• Only presents information that is positive to an idea
or proposal and omits information contrary to it
• While the information presented is true, other
important information is purposely omitted
• Ads for medicine relate the benefits of the drug but
fail to mention the negative or delivers them in a fast
and incomprehensible fashion. Weight loss products
do the same, they mention only success stories.
Examples: Card Stacking
Logical Fallacies
• An argument that sounds as if it makes sense
but the premises given for the conclusion do
not provide proper support for the argument.
• Example: Senator X wants to regulate the power
industry. All Communist governments regulate their
power industries. Senator X is a Communist.
• If the Supreme Court does not strike down
Obamacare, millions of people will go out of
business.
Examples: Logical Fallacy
Glittering Generalities
• Uses words that have different positive meaning for
individual subjects, but are linked to highly valued
concepts
• Words often used as glittering generalities are
democracy, patriotism, family, honor, glory, love of
country, and freedom
• Example: I stand for freedom: for a strong nation,
unrivaled in the world. My opponent believes we
must compromise on these ideals, but I believe they
are our birthright, the legacy of our family.
Examples: Glittering Generalities
Name-calling
• Uses derogatory language or words that carry a
negative connotation when describing an enemy or
foe
• Attempts to arouse prejudice by labeling the target
something that the public dislikes
• Example: commie, fascist, yuppie, academic.
• My opponent is a flip-flop man who cannot make up
his mind. He changes mind with the breeze! How
could anyone follow such a weak-willed flip-flopper?
Examples: Name Calling
Common Propaganda Traits
• Uses truths, half-truths, or lies
• Omits information selectively
• Simplifies complex issues or ideas
• Plays on emotions
• Advertises a cause
• Attacks opponents
• Targets desired audiences
Now It’s Your Turn
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Propaganda Project
50 Points
Groups of Three
Poster, PowerPoint, or
Video
• Due Monday 4/30 as a
presentation (use group
rubric)
Know the Techniques:
• Propaganda Techniques and
Classifications
• Bandwagon
• Testimonial
• Plain Folks
• Transfer
• Fear/Card Stacking
• Logical Fallacies
• Glittering Generalities
• Name-calling
Details: The Work
• Working with a group of three:
• Create a poster, a PowerPoint presentation, or a video that is
• A combination of words and visuals (the visuals should dominate and the
message should be clear) that uses one of the classifications from the list
above
• And several of the techniques outlined in the in-class PowerPoint (online
in 4/26 homework).
• Please make sure you identify the technique you are employing
somewhere inconspicuous on the work.
• Note: The idea is that you make this undesirable product desirable by
“selling” it using one/or a combination of the classifications and
techniques of propaganda.
• Make me want to buy it.
• You are not lying, you are manipulating, omitting, glorifying….
Topics
• So what are you advertising?
• That’s the difficult part – select an item, a place, a service that
no one would ever think about using. For example,
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a tourism poster for Bakersfield
A print ad for rocks
Pre-popped bubble wrap
Plastic surgery for pets
Lindsay Lohan’s Academy of Celebrity Behavior
Ms Gerber’s Charm School
• If your produce is currently advertised, you don’t want to
select that “thing.”
Research
• Look up your chosen technique on YouTube and see how
others have employed it. The internet is full of current and
past examples in a variety of media including television, print,
even online advertising.
You must provide a Works Cited in
hard copy form (submitted the
day of the presentation). You
must have at least FIVE sources in
proper form.
Presentation
• On Monday you will present. Everyone must speak for a
group total of 5 minutes.
• You have today and tomorrow to work in class.
Have fun
Be creative
Embrace the process and product.