| Propaganda |
Article Index for Propaganda |
Shopping Propaganda |
Articles about Propaganda |
Website Links For Propaganda |
Information AboutPropaganda |
|
. Translation: "Smash the old world, establish a new world."]] Propaganda modern Latin: 'Propaganda Fide', literally “propagating the faith” is a concerted set of messages aimed at influencing the opinions or behavior of large numbers of people. Instead of Impartially providing information, propaganda in its most basic sense presents information in order to influence its audience. The most effective propaganda is often completely truthful, but some propaganda Presents Facts Selectively to encourage a particular synthesis, or gives loaded messages in order to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the Cognitive narrative of the subject in the target audience. ETYMOLOGY In 1622, shortly after the start of the Thirty Years' War , Pope Gregory XV founded the '' Congregatio De Propaganda Fide '' ("Congregation for Spreading the Faith"), a committee of Cardinal s with the duty of overseeing the propagation of Christianity by Missionaries sent to Catholic countries. Therefore, the term itself originates with this Byzantine Catholic Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (''sacra congregatio christiano nomini propagando'' or, briefly, ''propaganda fide''), the department of the pontifical administration charged with the spread of Catholicism and with the regulation of ecclesiastical affairs in mission territory, which is how the Vatican referred to non-Catholic territories. The Latin stem ''propagand-'' conveys a sense of "that which ought to be spread". Originally the term was not intended to refer to misleading information. The modern sense dates from World War I , when the term evolved to be mainly associated with politic. sheet music to "We Are All Loyal Klansmen", 1923]] movement]] PURPOSE OF PROPAGANDISM The aim of propagandism is to influence people's opinions or behaviors actively, rather than merely to Communicate the facts about something. For example, propaganda might be used to gather either support or disapproval of a certain position, rather than to simply present the position, or to try to convince people to buy something, rather than to simply let them know there is some thing on the market. What separates propagandism from "normal" communication is in ways by which the message attempts to shape opinion or behavior, which are often subtle and insidious among other characteristics. For example, propagandism is often presented in a way that attempts to deliberately evoke a strong emotion, especially by suggesting illogical (or non-intuitive) relationships between concepts or objects (for instance between a “good” car and an attractive woman or a sex symbol). on the cover of '' Master Comics '' #21 (1941), flanked by his American patriotic enemies Captain Marvel (left) and Bulletman . Art by Mac Rayboy . ]] An appeal to one's emotions is, perhaps, a more obvious, and more common propagandism method than those utilized by some other more subtle and insidious forms. For instance, propagandism may be transmitted indirectly or implicitly, through an ostensibly fair and Balanced debate or argument. This can be done to great effect in conjunction with a broadly targeted, broadcast news format. In such a setting, techniques like, " Red Herring ", and other ploys (such as Ignoratio Elenchi ), are often used to divert the audience from a critical issue, while the intended message is suggested through indirect means. This sophisticated type of diversion utilizes the appearance of lively debate within what is actually a carefully focused spectrum, to generate and justify deliberately conceived assumptions. This technique avoids the distinctively biased appearance of one sided rhetoric, and works by presenting a contrived premise for an argument as if it were a universally accepted and obvious truth, so that the audience naturally assumes it to be correct. By maintaining the range of debate in such a way that it appears inclusive of differing points of view, so as to suggest fairness and balance, the suppositions suggested become accepted as fact. Here is such an example of a hypothetical situation in which the opposing viewpoints are supposedly represented: the hawk (see: Hawkish ) says, "we must stay the course", and the dove says, "The war is a disaster and a failure", to which the hawk responds, "In war things seldom go smoothly and we must not let setbacks affect our determination", the dove retorts, "setbacks are setbacks, but failures are failures." In this example, the actual validity of the war is not discussed and is never in contention. One may naturally assume that the war was not fundamentally wrong, but just the result of miscalculation, and therefore, an error, instead of a crime. Thus, by maintaining the appearance of equitable discourse in such debates, and through continuous inculcation, such focused arguments succeed in compelling the audience to logically deduce that the presupposions of debate are unequivocal truisms of the given subject. The method of propaganda is essential to the word's meaning as well. A message does not have to be untrue to qualify as propaganda. The message in modern propaganda is often not blatantly untrue. But even if the message conveys only "true" information, it will generally contain partisan bias and fail to present a complete and balanced consideration of the issue. Another common characteristic of propaganda is volume (in the sense of a large amount). For example, a propagandist may seek to influence opinion by attempting to get a message heard in as many places as possible, and as often as possible. The intention of this approach is to a) reinforce an idea through repetition, and b) exclude or "drown out" any alternative ideas. In English , the word "propaganda" now carries strong negative (as well as political, mainly) connotations, although it has not always done so. It was formerly common for political organizations, as it had started to be for the advertising and public relations industry, to refer to their own material as propaganda. Because of the negative connotations the word has gained, today it is uncommon to admit producing propaganda, although opposing parties sometimes accuse each other of producing propaganda. Other languages, however, do not necessarily regard the term as derogatory and hence usage may lead to Misunderstanding In Communications with non-native English speakers. )]] Public relations pioneer Edward L. Bernays in his classic studies eloquently describes propaganda as the purpose of communications. In ''Crystallizing Public Opinion'', for example, he dismisses the semantic differentiations (“Education is valuable, commendable, enlightening, instructive. Propaganda is insidious, dishonest, underhanded, misleading.”) and instead concentrates on purposes. He writes (p. 212), “Each of these nouns carries with it social and moral implications... The only difference between ‘propaganda’ and ‘education,’ really, is in the point of view. The advocacy of what we believe in is education. The advocacy of what we don’t believe in is propaganda.” The reason propaganda exists and is so widespread is because it serves various social purposes, necessary ones, often popular yet potentially corrupting. Many institutions such as media, private corporations and government itself are literally propaganda-addicts, co-dependent on each other and the fueling influence of the propaganda system that they help create and maintain. Propagandists have an advantage through knowing what they want to promote and to whom, and although they often resort to various two-way forms of communication this is done to make sure their one-sided purposes are achieved. TYPES OF PROPAGANDA Propaganda shares techniques with Advertising and Public Relations . Advertising and public relations can be thought of as propaganda that promotes a commercial product or shapes the perception of an organization, person or brand, though in post-World War II usage the word "propaganda" more typically refers to political or Nationalist uses of these techniques or to the promotion of a set of ideas, since the term had gained a pejorative meaning, which commercial and government entities couldn’t accept. The refusal phenomenon was eventually to be seen in politics itself by the substitution of ‘political marketing’ and other designations for ‘political propaganda’. Propaganda was often used to influence opinions and beliefs on religious issues, particularly during the split between the Catholic Church and the Protestants . Propaganda has become more common in Political contexts, in particular to refer to certain efforts sponsored by governments, political groups, but also often covert interests. In the early 20th century the term propaganda was also used by the founders of the nascent Public Relations industry to describe their activities. This usage died out around the time of World War II, as the industry started to avoid the word, given the pejorative connotation it had acquired. Literally translated from the Latin Gerundive as "things which must be disseminated", in some cultures the term is neutral or even positive, while in others the term has acquired a strong negative connotation. The connotations of the term "propaganda" can also vary over time. For example, in Portuguese and some Spanish Language speaking countries, particularly in the Southern Cone , the word "propaganda" usually refers to the most common manipulative media — "advertising". In English, "propaganda" was originally a neutral term used to describe the dissemination of information in favor of any given cause. During the 20th century, however, the term acquired a thoroughly negative meaning in western countries, representing the intentional dissemination of often false, but certainly "compelling" claims to support or justify political actions or ideologies. This redefinition arose because both the Soviet Union and Germany 's government under Hitler admitted explicitly to using propaganda favoring, respectively, Communism and Fascism , in all forms of public expression. As these ideologies were antipathetic to liberal western societies, the negative feelings toward them came to be projected into the word "propaganda" itself.
Roderick Hindery argues that propaganda exists on the political left, and right, and in mainstream centrist parties. Hindery further argues that debates about most social issues can be productively revisited in the context of asking "what is or is not propaganda?" Not to be overlooked is the link between propaganda, indoctrination, and terrorism/counterterrorism. She argues that threats to destroy are often as socially disruptive as physical devastation itself. Propaganda also has much in common with Public Information campaigns by governments, which are intended to encourage or discourage certain forms of behavior (such as wearing seat belts, not smoking, not littering and so forth). Again, the emphasis is more political in propaganda. Propaganda can take the form of Leaflet s, posters, TV and radio broadcasts and can also extend to any other Medium . In the case of the United States, there is also an important legal (imposed by law) distinction between advertising (a type of overt propaganda) and what the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an arm of the United States Congress, refers to as "covert propaganda." Journalistic theory generally holds that news items should be objective, giving the reader an accurate background and analysis of the subject at hand. On the other hand, Advertisements evolved from the traditional commercial advertisements to include also a new type in the form of paid articles or broadcasts disguised as news. These generally present an issue in a very subjective and often misleading light, primarily meant to persuade rather than inform. Normally they use only subtle Propaganda Techniques and not the more obvious ones used in traditional commercial advertisements. If the reader believes that a paid advertisement is in fact a news item, the message the advertiser is trying to communicate will be more easily "believed" or "internalized." Such advertisements are considered obvious examples of "covert" propaganda because they take on the appearance of objective information rather than the appearance of propaganda, which is misleading. Federal law specifically mandates that any advertisement appearing in the format of a news item must state that the item is in fact a '''paid advertisement'''. The Bush Administration has been criticized for allegedly producing and disseminating covert propaganda in the form of television programs, aired in the United States, which appeared to be legitimate news broadcasts and did not include any information signifying that the programs were not generated by a private-sector news source.1 Propaganda, in a narrower use of the term, connotates deliberately false or misleading information that supports or furthers a political (but not only) cause or the interests of those with power. The propagandist seeks to change the way people understand an issue or situation for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group. Propaganda, in this sense, serves as a corollary to Censorship in which the same purpose is achieved, not by filling people's minds with approved information, but by preventing people from being confronted with opposing points of view. What sets propaganda apart from other forms of advocacy is the willingness of the propagandist to change people's understanding through Deception and confusion rather than persuasion and understanding. The leaders of an organization know the information to be one sided or untrue, but this may not be true for the rank and file members who help to disseminate the propaganda. More in line with the Religious roots of the term, it is also used widely in the debates about New Religious Movement s (NRMs), both by people who defend them and by people who oppose them. The latter pejoratively call these NRMs Cult s. Anti-cult Activists and Countercult Activists accuse the leaders of what they consider cults of using propaganda extensively to recruit followers and keep them. Some social scientists, such as the late Jeffrey Hadden, and CESNUR affiliated scholars accuse ex-members of "cults" who became vocal critics and the Anti-cult Movement of making these unusual religious movements look bad without sufficient reasons.23 Propaganda is a powerful weapon in war; it is used to dehumanize and create hatred toward a supposed enemy, either internal or external, by creating a false image in the mind. This can be done by using derogatory or racist terms, avoiding some words or by making allegations of enemy atrocities. Most propaganda wars require the home population to feel the enemy has inflicted an injustice, which may be fictitious or may be based on facts. The home population must also decide that the cause of their nation is just. Wants You!" poster]] Propaganda is also one of the methods used in Psychological Warfare , which may also involve False Flag operations. The term propaganda may also refer to false information meant to reinforce the mindsets of people who already believe as the propagandist wishes. The assumption is that, if people believe something false, they will constantly be assailed by doubts. Since these doubts are unpleasant (see Cognitive Dissonance ), people will be eager to have them extinguished, and are therefore receptive to the reassurances of those in power. For this reason propaganda is often addressed to people who are '''already sympathetic''' to the agenda. This '''process of reinforcement''' uses an individual's predisposition to self-select "agreeable" information sources as a mechanism for maintaining control. Propaganda can be classified according to the source and nature of the message. White Propaganda generally comes from an openly identified source, and is characterized by gentler methods of persuasion, such as standard public relations techniques and one-sided presentation of an argument. ''' Black Propaganda '''is identified as being from one source, but is in fact from another. This is most commonly to disguise the true origins of the propaganda, be it from an enemy country or from an organization with a negative public image. ''' Grey Propaganda ''' is propaganda without any identifiable source or author. In scale, these different types of propaganda can also be defined by the potential of true and correct information to compete with the propaganda. For example, opposition to white propaganda is often readily found and may slightly discredit the propaganda source. Opposition to grey propaganda, when revealed (often by an inside source), may create some level of public outcry. Opposition to black propaganda is often unavailable and may be dangerous to reveal, because public cognizance of black propaganda tactics and sources would undermine or backfire the very campaign the black propagandist supported. arm-in-arm with , Marketing , Advertising TECHNIQUES Common media for transmitting propaganda messages include news reports, government reports, historical revision, Junk Science , books, leaflets, Movies , radio, television, and posters. In the case of radio and television, propaganda can exist on news, current-affairs or talk-show segments, as advertising or public-service '''announce "spots"''' or as long-running '''advertorials'''. Propaganda campaigns often follow a strategic transmission pattern to indoctrinate the target group. This may begin with a simple transmission such as a leaflet dropped from a plane or an advertisement. Generally these messages will contain directions on how to obtain more information, via a web site, hot line, radio program, et cetera (as it is seen also for selling purposes among other goals). The strategy intends to initiate the individual from information recipient to information seeker through reinforcement, and then from information seeker to Opinion Leader through indoctrination. A number of techniques which are based on Social Psychological research are used to generate propaganda. Many of these same techniques can be found under Logical Fallacies , since propagandists use arguments that, while sometimes convincing, are not necessarily valid. Some time has been spent analyzing the means by which propaganda messages are transmitted. That work is important but it is clear that information dissemination strategies only become propaganda strategies when coupled with ''propagandistic messages''. Identifying these messages is a necessary prerequisite to study the methods by which those messages are spread. Below are a number of techniques for generating propaganda:
, urging Americans to buy Liberty Bond s]]
- personification of Finnish nationalism]]
''See also:'' Doublespeak , Cult Of Personality , Spin , Demonization , Factoid MODELS OF PROPAGANDA Herman and Chomsky's propaganda model era showing a Caricature of Kaiser Wilhelm II biting the world]] The Propaganda Model is a theory advanced by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky that alleges systemic Bias es in the Mass Media and seeks to explain them in terms of structural Economic Cause s. "The 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: the growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy." First presented in their 1988 book '''', the Propaganda Model views the private media as businesses selling a product — readers and Audiences (rather than News ) — to other businesses (advertisers). The first three (ownership, funding, and sourcing) are generally regarded by the authors as being the most important. Although the model was based mainly on the characterization of United States media, Chomsky and Herman believe the theory is equally applicable to any country that shares the basic economic structure and organizing principles which the Model postulates as the cause of Media Bias es. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Chomsky stated that the new filter replacing communism would be terrorism and Islam. Ross' epistemic merit model The , Alfred Lee , F.C. Bartlett , and Hans Speier . Insisting that each of their respective discussions of propaganda are too narrow, Ross proposed her own definition. To appropriately discuss propaganda, Ross argues that one must consider a threefold communication model: that of Sender-Message-Receiver. "That is... propaganda involve the one who is persuading (Sender) [who is doing so intentionally, target for such persuasion (Receiver) and [the means of reaching that target (Message)." There are four conditions for a message to be considered propaganda. Propaganda involves the intention to persuade. As well, propaganda is sent on behalf of a sociopolitical institution, organization, or cause. Next,the recipient of propaganda is a socially significant group of people. Finally, propaganda is an epistemical struggle to challenge other thoughts. Ross claims that it is misleading to say that propaganda is simply false, or that it is conditional to a lie, since often the propagandist believes in what he/she is propagandizing. In other words, it is not necessarily a lie if the person who creates the propaganda is trying to persuade you of a view that they actually hold. "The aim of the propagandist is to create the semblance of credibility." This means that they appeal to an Epistemology that is weak or defective. False statements, bad arguments, immoral commands as well as inapt metaphors (and other literary Tropes ) are the sorts of things that are epistemically defective... Not only does epistemic defectiveness more accurately describe how propaganda endeavors to function... since many messages are in forms such as commands that do not admit to truth-values, it also accounts for the role context plays in the workings of propaganda. Throughout history those who have wished to persuade have used art to get their message out. This can be accomplished by hiring artists for the express aim of propagandizing or by investing new meanings to a previously nonpolitical work. Therefore, Ross states, it is important to consider "the conditions of its making {Link without Title} the conditions of its use."... HISTORY OF PROPAGANDA Ancient propaganda cartoon entitled "The Cruel Practices of Prince Rupert " (1643)]] Propaganda has been a human activity as far back as reliable recorded evidence exists. The Behistun Inscription (c. 515 BC) detailing the rise of Darius I to the Persian throne, can be seen as an early example of propaganda. The '' Arthashastra '' written by Chanakya (c. 350 - 283 BC), a professor of Political Science at Takshashila University and a prime minister of the Maurya Empire , discusses propaganda in detail, such as how to spread propaganda and how to apply it in War fare. His student Chandragupta Maurya (c. 340 - 293 BC), founder of the Maurya Empire, employed these methods during his rise to power.Boesche, Roger. "Kautilya’s Arthasastra on War and Diplomacy in Ancient India", ''The Journal of Military History'' 67 (p. 9–38), January 2003. The writings of Romans such as Livy (c. 59 BC - 17 AD) are considered masterpieces of pro-Roman Statist propaganda. 19th and 20th centuries as foolish.]]. Hitler's '' Mein Kampf '' is heavily influenced by Le Bon's theories. Journalist Walter Lippman , in '' Public Opinion '' (1922) also worked on the subject, as well as psychologist Edward Bernays , a nephew of Freud, early in the 20th century. During World War I, Lippman and Bernays were hired by then United States President, Woodrow Wilson , to participate in the Creel Commission , the mission of which was to sway popular opinion in favor of entering the war, on the side of the United Kingdom. The Creel Commission provided themes for speeches by "four-minute men" at public functions, and also encouraged censorship of the American press. The Commission was so unpopular that after the war, Congress closed it down without providing funding to organize and archive its papers. The war propaganda campaign of Lippman and Bernays produced within six months such an intense anti-German hysteria as to permanently impress American Business (and Adolf Hitler , among others) with the potential of large-scale propaganda to control public opinion. Bernays coined the terms "group mind" and "engineering consent", important concepts in practical propaganda work. on a British First World War recruiting poster]] The current Public Relations industry is a direct outgrowth of Lippman's and Bernays' work and is still used extensively by the United States government. For the first half of the 20th century Bernays and Lippman themselves ran a very successful public relations firm. World War II saw continued use of propaganda as a weapon of war, both by Hitler's propagandist Joseph Goebbels and the British Political Warfare Executive , as well as the United States Office Of War Information . In the early 2000s, the United States government developed and freely distributed a video game known as '' America's Army ''. The stated intention of the game is to encourage players to become interested in joining the U.S. Army . According to a poll by I for I Research, 30% of young people who had a positive view of the military said that they had developed that view by playing the game. Russian revolution Russian revolutionaries of the 19th and 20th centuries distinguished two different aspects covered by the English term ''propaganda''. Their terminology included two terms: (agitatsiya), or ''agitation'', and , or ''propaganda'', see Agitprop (agitprop is not, however, limited to the Soviet Union, as it was considered, before the October Revolution , to be one of the fundamental activity of any Marxist activist; this importance of agit-prop in Marxist theory may also be observed today in Trotskyist circles, who insist on the importance of Leaflet distribution). Soviet ''propaganda'' meant dissemination of revolutionary ideas, teachings of Marxism, and theoretical and practical knowledge of Marxist Economics , while ''agitation'' meant forming favorable public opinion and stirring up political unrest. These activities did not carry negative connotations (as they usually do in English) and were encouraged. Expanding dimensions of state propaganda, the Bolsheviks actively used transportation such as trains, aircraft and other means. Josef Stalin 's regime built the largest fixed-wing aircraft of the 1930s, Tupolev ANT-20 , exclusively for this purpose. Named after the famous Soviet writer Maxim Gorky who had recently returned from Fascist Italy , it was equipped with a powerful radio set called "Voice from the sky", printing and leaflet-dropping machinery, Radiostation s, Photographic Laboratory , Film Projector with sound for showing movies in flight, library, etc. The aircraft could be disassembled and transported by railroad if needed. The giant aircraft set a number of world records. |
Image:World October Revolution Posterjpg"Long Live World
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/October_Revolution" class="copylinks">October (revolution) !" |
|
Image:ANT-20jpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Tupolev_ANT-20" class="copylinks">ANT-20 "Maxim Gorky" propaganda aircraft in the Moscow sky |
|
Image:Nazi Poster Der Ewige Judejpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/The_Eternal_Jew_(film)" class="copylinks">"The Eternal Jew" poster for a movie |
|
Image:EnthanasiePropagandajpgPoster Promoting
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/eugenics" class="copylinks">Eugenics and Euthanasia of disabled people |
|
Image:dovejpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/National_Socialist_German_Workers_Party" class="copylinks">Nazi poster portraying Adolf Hitler Text: "Long Live Germany!" |
|
Image:What Is An AryanjpgA 1941 Poster By
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Boris_Efimov" class="copylinks">Boris Efimov countering Nazi propaganda about the Aryan Race |
|
Image:PropagandaNaziStabsBiblegifUS Propaganda Poster From WWII Depicting A Nazi Stabbing A
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bible" class="copylinks">Bible --> |
|
|
|
|