Transcript propaganda - Greer Middle College

PROPAGANDA
WHAT IS PROPAGANDA?
• Definition: any information, ideas, or rumors used to help
or harm a particular group, person, movement, initiative,
institution, nation, etc.
• Background:
• Roman Catholic Church propagate (“spread”) doctrine/religious
messages after Protestant Reformation (16th century)
• Since WWI, taken on negative meaning of deceitful info meant to
persuade viewer/reader to do and/or believe something
GOALS OF PROPAGANDA
 Spread feelings of superiority over inferior
people/groups
 Exploit fears to demonize other people/groups
 Represent their beliefs as absolute truths
PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES

Word Play/ Name Calling- Using language to avoid stigma against your
group, and then referring to others with negative language to dehumanize
them
• Examples: Aryan Brotherhood is the name a white supremacist group
developed to create unity among their members; they use derogatory
and slang language against non-white people

Symbols and Imagery- The swastika quickly became known as a Nazi symbol
in the 1920s, and now is known for representing ideas of intolerance and
hatred (although that was not the original meaning of the symbol).

Religious Authority- Use of scripture or other religious terminology to
convey the idea that the group is sanctioned by God (i.e. “prophet,”
“commandments,” “Truth,” etc.)

Scientific Legitimacy (pseudo-scientific language)- Using “scientific
evidence” to borrow authority, in the way of citing studies/academic works,
using scientific language, etc. Nazis claimed that Jews and other groups of
people were biologically inferior to other races of people.
TECHNIQUES CONTINUED

Nationalism- Use of loyalty, heritage, nobility, etc. to get people to join the
cause

Fearmongering- Groups may present ideas that a particular group of people
is a danger to society by claiming that they are linked to disease, crime,
terrorism, etc.

Smoke and Mirror Tactics- Some groups will try to “hide” their true message
behind a screen that “looks good.” For example, white supremacist groups
might not claim that other people are inferior because of their race; instead,
they may suggest connections to crime/disease (fearmongering) to seem
more acceptable to the general public.

Historical Revisionism- Some people will “revise” historical events to
promote their own claims about history. One significant group of revisionists
are Holocaust deniers, who claim that the Holocaust was less horrific, or that
it never actually happened.
PROPAGANDA AND YOU
• How have you noticed the use of propaganda in
your daily life?
• In times of war, why might a government use
propaganda?
EXAMPLES OF PROPAGANDA
EXAMPLES OF PROPAGANDA
WAR PROPAGANDA
WAR POSTER ANALYSIS
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