Propaganda in WW IPropaganda in WW I

By Bridget Mahoney-By Bridget Mahoney-FernandesFernandes

Background and ContextBackground and Context First widespread and systematic use of propaganda by First widespread and systematic use of propaganda by

governments occurred during WWIgovernments occurred during WWI First time the word entered common usage in U.S.First time the word entered common usage in U.S. Used extensively by both sides to shape public opinion, Used extensively by both sides to shape public opinion,

procure men, money and resourcesprocure men, money and resources In U.S. Wilson established the In U.S. Wilson established the Committee on Public Committee on Public

Information (CPI) Information (CPI) headed byheaded by George Creel George Creel After war, there was widespread criticism of After war, there was widespread criticism of

government propaganda after many claims were government propaganda after many claims were exposed as false.exposed as false.

Professionals in advertising and public relations loved Professionals in advertising and public relations loved it- will use it to develop modern advertising in 1920sit- will use it to develop modern advertising in 1920s

Propaganda analysis- anti-propaganda movement in Propaganda analysis- anti-propaganda movement in 1920s and 30s to educate and expose manipulations of 1920s and 30s to educate and expose manipulations of governments and corporations (also reaction to Nazis!)governments and corporations (also reaction to Nazis!)

Definition of PropagandaDefinition of Propaganda

The spreading of ideas, information The spreading of ideas, information or rumor for the purpose of helping or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring a cause.or injuring a cause.

It’s intent is to convince, sell an idea It’s intent is to convince, sell an idea or product.or product.

Not merely biased: It is an intentional Not merely biased: It is an intentional “slanting” of truth. Distortions and “slanting” of truth. Distortions and falsehoods used to mislead audience.falsehoods used to mislead audience.

““They make us believe and do They make us believe and do something we would not believe or do something we would not believe or do

if we thought about it calmly and if we thought about it calmly and dispassionately”dispassionately”

It comes in many formats It comes in many formats (Speeches, (Speeches, posters, movies, pamphlets, music, posters, movies, pamphlets, music, jokes, commercials etc.) jokes, commercials etc.) and it can be and it can be tailored for a specific audience. tailored for a specific audience. Creel Creel committee had 19 sub-divisions!)committee had 19 sub-divisions!)

In general…In general…

It may use fact. It may use fact. Creel employee later admitted: “We Creel employee later admitted: “We

never told the whole truth”never told the whole truth” It may use false information. It may use false information.

Atrocity stories: Babies on Bayonets, Atrocity stories: Babies on Bayonets, Tub Full of Eyeballs, Ravished Women, Tub Full of Eyeballs, Ravished Women, Fake “German” diary accounts of Fake “German” diary accounts of melting bodies to obtain fatmelting bodies to obtain fat

Both sides printed fake newspapers to Both sides printed fake newspapers to drop behind enemy linesdrop behind enemy lines

In General…In General…

Typically relies on emotions and biases to Typically relies on emotions and biases to distort evidence- appeals to heart not mind.distort evidence- appeals to heart not mind.““Bleeding Belgium”Bleeding Belgium”

““The Criminal Kaiser”The Criminal Kaiser”

““Make the World Safe for Democracy”Make the World Safe for Democracy”

Visuals: German soldiers as aggressive, Visuals: German soldiers as aggressive, dangerous, Allies as noble fighters, patriotic dangerous, Allies as noble fighters, patriotic symbolssymbols

Use of color and fonts: blood red, dark sinisterUse of color and fonts: blood red, dark sinister

Use of musicUse of music

In General…In General…

It focuses on its own message, It focuses on its own message, doesn’t consider other positionsdoesn’t consider other positions (thus differs from “argument” or (thus differs from “argument” or

“persuasion” which consider other “persuasion” which consider other perspectives, offers facts and predicts perspectives, offers facts and predicts the results of accepting the argument)the results of accepting the argument)

8 Devices Commonly Used8 Devices Commonly Used

Word Games:Word Games:Name Calling DeviceName Calling DeviceGlittering GeneralitiesGlittering GeneralitiesEuphemismEuphemism

False Connections:False Connections:TransferTransferTestimonialTestimonial

Special Appeals:Special Appeals:Plain FolksPlain FolksBandwagonBandwagonFearFear

Word Game: Word Game: Name Calling Name Calling DeviceDevice

Very common form- Very common form- especially in politicsespecially in politics

Propagandist uses Propagandist uses negative labels for negative labels for those he wants us to those he wants us to reject without reject without examining evidence.examining evidence.WW I: Hun, Barbarian, All-WW I: Hun, Barbarian, All-

LiesLiesAllies called sub warfare: Allies called sub warfare:

“inhumane” but they “inhumane” but they used them too!used them too!

Today: Terrorist, Today: Terrorist, Extremist, Commie, Extremist, Commie, Queer, LiberalQueer, Liberal

Name Calling DeviceName Calling Device

In WW I and all wars In WW I and all wars the enemy is also the enemy is also “demonized“demonized” ” Visuals: Visuals: Spike helmets, blood, Spike helmets, blood, knivesknives

More subtle form: use More subtle form: use emotionally charged emotionally charged words: words: liberal, liberal, conservative, coward, conservative, coward, counter culture, flip-counter culture, flip-flopper, traitorflopper, traitor

Name Calling DeviceName Calling Device

A visual form of A visual form of “Name Calling”?“Name Calling”?

Or the Or the conservative radio conservative radio host who referred host who referred to him repeatedly to him repeatedly as “Barrack as “Barrack Hussein Obama”Hussein Obama”

Watch Out for Name Calling!Watch Out for Name Calling!

Ask yourself the following when you spot an Ask yourself the following when you spot an example of name-calling:example of name-calling: What does the name mean?What does the name mean? Does the idea in question have a legitimate Does the idea in question have a legitimate

connection with the real meaning of the name?connection with the real meaning of the name? Is an idea that serves my best interests being Is an idea that serves my best interests being

dismissed through giving it a name I don’t like?dismissed through giving it a name I don’t like? Leaving the name out of consideration, what Leaving the name out of consideration, what

are the merits of the idea itself?are the merits of the idea itself?

Word Game: Word Game: Glittering Glittering GeneralitiesGeneralities

Propagandist lowers our Propagandist lowers our resistance by identifying resistance by identifying his program with his program with “virtue”- words, “virtue”- words, symbols, ideas we hold symbols, ideas we hold dear and sacred.dear and sacred.

Opposite of Name Opposite of Name CallingCalling

Creates a favorable Creates a favorable image in our minds image in our minds without analysis of factswithout analysis of facts

Operation Iraqi FreedomOperation Iraqi Freedom

Glittering GeneralitiesGlittering Generalities

Common Generalities:Common Generalities:Civilization, Democracy,Civilization, Democracy,Christianity, MotherhoodChristianity, MotherhoodFatherhood, FreedomFatherhood, Freedom

Visual symbols: Visual symbols: Flags, Flags, Uncle Sam, Columbia, Uncle Sam, Columbia, Cross, Mothers, Cross, Mothers, Fathers, ChildrenFathers, Children

Glittering GeneralitiesGlittering Generalities

Problem! Words, symbols mean Problem! Words, symbols mean different things to different people! different things to different people!

In advertising, words sound good, but In advertising, words sound good, but don’t really mean anything: don’t really mean anything: “Lite”, “Lite”, “New and Improved”, “Change”“New and Improved”, “Change”

Watch out for Glittering Watch out for Glittering Generalities!Generalities!

When confronted with this device ask yourself:When confronted with this device ask yourself:What does the virtue word really mean?What does the virtue word really mean?Leaving the virtue word out of consideration, Leaving the virtue word out of consideration,

what are the merits of the idea itself?what are the merits of the idea itself?Does the idea in question really have a Does the idea in question really have a

legitimate connection with the real meaning legitimate connection with the real meaning of the word?of the word?

Is an idea that does not serve my interests Is an idea that does not serve my interests being “sold” to me merely through a name I being “sold” to me merely through a name I like?like?

Word Games: Word Games: EuphemismsEuphemisms Propagandist attempts to Propagandist attempts to

make unpleasant reality make unpleasant reality more palatable by using more palatable by using words that are bland and words that are bland and euphemistic- i.e. substituted euphemistic- i.e. substituted words that are less offensivewords that are less offensive

““Passed away” instead of Passed away” instead of “died”“died”

1940s we changed War 1940s we changed War Dept. to Dept. of DefenseDept. to Dept. of Defense

Reagan renamed MX- Reagan renamed MX- Missile “The Peacekeeper”Missile “The Peacekeeper”

Murder= liquidationMurder= liquidation Genocide = ethnic cleansingGenocide = ethnic cleansing

EuphemismsEuphemisms

Comedian George Carlin has noted that Comedian George Carlin has noted that after every war we have a new way to after every war we have a new way to describe battle traumatized veterans:describe battle traumatized veterans:Civil War- “Gun Shy”Civil War- “Gun Shy”WW I- “Shell Shock”WW I- “Shell Shock”WW II - “Combat Fatigue”WW II - “Combat Fatigue”Vietnam- “Post- Traumatic Stress Vietnam- “Post- Traumatic Stress

Disorder” (now completely disconnected Disorder” (now completely disconnected from the reality of war altogether)from the reality of war altogether)

Watch out for EuphemismsWatch out for Euphemisms

Ask yourself;Ask yourself; What is really being said here?What is really being said here? Why are they using this wording, Why are they using this wording,

what are they trying to hide?what are they trying to hide?

False Connections: False Connections: TransferTransfer

Propagandist uses Propagandist uses authority, sanction, authority, sanction, prestige of prestige of something we love something we love and respect to and respect to something he would something he would have us accept or have us accept or accept.accept.

Gets us to transfer Gets us to transfer feelings from one feelings from one thing to another. thing to another.

TransferTransfer My church supports My church supports

it, so will Iit, so will I Symbols constantly Symbols constantly

used:used: Cross=ChristianityCross=Christianity Flag=The NationFlag=The Nation Uncle Sam=The Uncle Sam=The

people and their people and their opinionopinion

Today, appeals to Today, appeals to Science and Science and Medicine-lab coats, Medicine-lab coats, glassesglasses

TransferTransfer

After the war had broken out, but After the war had broken out, but before we got into it, William before we got into it, William Jennings Bryan resigned as Secretary Jennings Bryan resigned as Secretary of State against the war for peace:of State against the war for peace:

“ “We are the greatest of the We are the greatest of the Christian nations…and the world Christian nations…and the world looks to us to lead the way from looks to us to lead the way from bloodstained precedents of the past bloodstained precedents of the past out into the larger and brighter out into the larger and brighter future.”future.”

TransferTransfer

Today the transfer Today the transfer device appeals to device appeals to sex appeal, love, sex appeal, love, power, popularity, power, popularity, and moneyand money

Watch out for TransferWatch out for Transfer

When confronted with this device ask When confronted with this device ask yourself:yourself:In the most simple and concrete terms, In the most simple and concrete terms,

what is the proposal of the speaker?what is the proposal of the speaker?Is there any legitimate connection Is there any legitimate connection

between the proposal and the revered between the proposal and the revered thing, person or institution?thing, person or institution?

False Connection: TestimonialFalse Connection: Testimonial

A famous person A famous person endorses an idea, endorses an idea, product or opposes product or opposes it.it.

The President said…The President said… My doctor said…My doctor said… Oprah says…Oprah says… Problem! Is the Problem! Is the

celebrity really celebrity really qualified to make the qualified to make the judgment? Dr. Jarvik!judgment? Dr. Jarvik!

TestimonialTestimonial

WW I Examples:WW I Examples:Brits released a report of supposed Brits released a report of supposed

German war crimes. Only a few facts German war crimes. Only a few facts proven- but widely accepted because proven- but widely accepted because report signed by well known scholars.report signed by well known scholars.

Brits published a book in the U.S. in Brits published a book in the U.S. in which 60 prominent Americans which 60 prominent Americans including 2 ex presidents urged the including 2 ex presidents urged the country to go to war.country to go to war.

Watch out for TestimonialsWatch out for Testimonials

Ask yourself:Ask yourself:Why should I regard this person (or Why should I regard this person (or

organization or publication) as having organization or publication) as having expert knowledge or trustworthy expert knowledge or trustworthy information on the subject in question?information on the subject in question?

What is the merit of the idea without the What is the merit of the idea without the testimonial?testimonial?

Special Appeals: Special Appeals: Plain FolksPlain Folks

Propagandist wins our Propagandist wins our confidence by confidence by appearing to be appearing to be people like ourselvespeople like ourselves

““Just one of the guys”Just one of the guys” ““Average Joe”Average Joe” Candidates kiss Candidates kiss

babies, eat local babies, eat local cuisine, put on hats, cuisine, put on hats, hang out in dinershang out in diners

Really prevalent in Really prevalent in political campaigns political campaigns and adsand ads

Plain FolksPlain Folks

Presidents all Presidents all millionaires BUT:millionaires BUT:

Clinton ate at Clinton ate at McDonald’s, George McDonald’s, George W. Bush uses W. Bush uses “folks” and cleans “folks” and cleans his ranch, jogs, has his ranch, jogs, has a dog. Bush senior a dog. Bush senior hated broccoli, hated broccoli, loved to golf.loved to golf.

Watch out for Plain FolksWatch out for Plain Folks

Ask yourself:Ask yourself:What is he trying to cover up with the What is he trying to cover up with the

plain-folks approach?plain-folks approach?Who’s really paying for this commercial? Who’s really paying for this commercial?

How plain are they?? How plain are they??What are the facts?What are the facts?

Special Appeals: Special Appeals: BandwagonBandwagon

Propagandist Propagandist appeals to our appeals to our desire to fit in, be desire to fit in, be part of the crowdpart of the crowd

Everyone is doing Everyone is doing it, so should you!it, so should you!

Be part of the Be part of the crowd, don’t be left crowd, don’t be left out!out!

Watch out for BandwagonWatch out for Bandwagon

Ask yourself the following:Ask yourself the following:Regardless of the fact that others are Regardless of the fact that others are

supporting this program, should I supporting this program, should I support it?support it?

Does the program serve or undermine Does the program serve or undermine my individual and collective interests?my individual and collective interests?

Special Appeals: Special Appeals: FearFear Propagandist warns Propagandist warns

audience that disaster will audience that disaster will result if they do not follow result if they do not follow a course of action.a course of action.

Plays to deep seated fearsPlays to deep seated fears Examples: Insurance ads Examples: Insurance ads

show terrible accidents, show terrible accidents, destroyed homes, dead destroyed homes, dead teenagersteenagers

WMD-Weapons of Mass WMD-Weapons of Mass DestructionDestruction

Hillary Clinton : “Who do Hillary Clinton : “Who do you want to answer the you want to answer the phone at 3:00 a.m.”phone at 3:00 a.m.”

Watch out for FearWatch out for Fear

Ask yourself:Ask yourself:Is the speaker exaggerating the fear or Is the speaker exaggerating the fear or

threat in order to obtain my support?threat in order to obtain my support?How legitimate is the fear that the How legitimate is the fear that the

speaker is provoking?speaker is provoking?Will performing the recommended Will performing the recommended

action actually reduce the supposed action actually reduce the supposed threat?threat?