Transcript Propaganda Techniques in Animal Farm File

Propaganda Techniques
Propaganda: Ideas or statements
that are often false or
exaggerated and that are spread
in order to help a cause, a
political leader, a government,
etc.
Merriam-Webster
Advertisements or Political Campaigns
Squealer
FEAR
• “They were all slain on the spot.”
• “Napoleon acted swiftly and ruthlessly. He ordered the
hens’ rations to be stopped, and decreed that any animal
giving so much as a grain of corn to a hen should be
punished by death.”
• “He carried a whip in his trotter.”
Real Life
• “The terrorist threat level moved to RED.”
• “I’ll have a side of wiggly thighs and a double-chin.” –
Subway commercial
Begging the Question
–When a person or speaker assumes that what
he/she thinks are the same feelings or
opinions of everyone else.
Begging the Question
Animal Farm
“…Snowball, who, as we know, was no better
than a criminal.”
“…all of the evils of this life of ours spring
from the tyranny of human beings.”
“…the only good human being is a dead one.”
Begging the Question
Real Life
Everyone thinks that Martha Stewart is innocent.
No sane person likes geometry.
Nobody believes we should have invaded Iraq.
Circular Reasoning
• When a person or speaker dances around their
subject by not giving examples or reasons to
prove his/her point.
Circular Reasoning
• Animal Farm
“…All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than
others.”
“Teaching and Organizing the others fell naturally upon the pigs, who
were generally recognized as being the cleverest of animals.”
“…that was part of the arrangement! I would show you in writing if
you were able to read it.”
Circular Reasoning
“Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important
part of your life.” –Brooke Shields
“It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the
impurities in our air and water that are doing it.” –Al Gore
“It’s no exaggeration to say that the undecideds could go one
way or another.” – George W. Bush
“Why did you fail English, Johnny?”
“Mom, I failed English because I made an F.”
“Why did you make an F?
“I made an F because I failed English.”
What did you fail English?
“I failed English because I made an F.”
Non Sequitur Reasoning
• When a person or speaker makes a
statement that has absolutely no relevancy
to his/her topic of discussion.
Non-Sequitur Reasoning
• Animal Farm
“ “It is for your sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.”….
“If we don’t eat the apples, Mr. Jones will come back.”
s, with all the
“I can tell you, comrades, with all the brainwork we have to do
nowadays. You would not rob us of our repose, would you,
comrades? You would not have us too tired to carry out our duties?
Surely none of you wishes to see Jones back?”
Non-Sequitur Reasoning
• Real Life Examples
“Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the
lowest crime rates in the country.”
– Mayor Marion Barry, Washington D.C.
“Your food stamps will be stopped effective March
1992 because we received notice that you passed
away. May God bless you. You may reapply if
there is a change in your circumstances.” – Dept. of
Social Services, Greenville, SC
Slogans, Images and Patriotic Language
• Short phrases used to short-circuit thinking and promote
particular action.
• Pictures all over the place
• Formalities and traditions
• “Animal Farm was proclaimed to be a Republic, and it was
necessary to elect a President. There was only one
candidate.”
Repetition
• Slogans
• Songs
• Pictures and Patriotic images
Repetition
• Napoleon is always right.
• “Four Legs Good. Two Legs Bad.”
• “It was surmounted by a portrait of Napoleon, in profile
executed by Squealer in white paint.”
• “Beasts of England”- than “Animal Farm”
• Old Major’s head and the hoisting of the flag
Real Life Examples
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“You deserve a break today.”
Just do it!
Build Ford Tough!”
Have a Coke & a smile.
Gatorade, the thirst quencher.
Manipulation of Language
• “Tactics, my friends.”
• “Squealer always spoke of it as a “readjustment,” never as a
“reduction.”
Real Life Manipulation of Language
and Loaded Words
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Pro- Life vs. Pro Choice
War on Terror vs. War in Iraq
Islamic Fascist
“Soup Nazi”
“Corporate Downsizing” vs. getting fired
Sanitation engineer vs. janitor
Rewriting History
• “Their bodies were buried in the orchard, and it was given
out that they had died of coccidiosis.” (the death of the
hens)
• “On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the
beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the
floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from
among Napoleon’s papers.”
Other Propaganda Techniques
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Name Calling
Glittering Generalities
Testimonials
Just Plain Folks
Appeal to Prestige
Repetition
Wishful Thinking
Metaphor & Simile
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Inconceivability
Tabloid Thinking
Emotional Terms
Rationalization
Casual Oversimplification
Prejudice
Scapegoating
• “Do you know who is responsible for this? Do you
know the enemy who has come in the night and
overthrown our windmill? SNOWBALL!?
•Do you think you’re too smart to be
outwitted by scapegoating?
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