Propaganda or Persuasion

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Propaganda or Persuasion? David Wm. Trenholm 2007-03-22 SOCI 1006

description

A short presentation on the sociology of propaganda. The presentation is very basic, and is intended to merely survey the base material.This was prepared for a 1000-level Sociology course available at Acadia University.Copyright (C) 2006 David TrenholmAll Rights Reserved

Transcript of Propaganda or Persuasion

Page 1: Propaganda or Persuasion

Propaganda or Persuasion?

David Wm. Trenholm

2007-03-22

SOCI 1006

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Propaganda – A Quick Primer

• Propaganda has been in use since the dawn of recorded history.– Behistun Inscription and the

Achaemenid, Darius I.

– Roman Propaganda and Statism—Livy.

– William III of the Dutch Republic and his claim to the English Throne.

The Behistun Inscription

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The Evolution of Propaganda

• In the past one hundred years, the use of propaganda has evolved drastically.

• Considered a somewhat useful tool in the past, recent advancements in communication technology has now made it a necessary implement of war and subversion.

• The definition of propaganda is dynamic—it is a social phenomena that runs parallel with social progress.

William Joycea.k.a. “Lord Haw-Haw”

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“Spreading the Word”

• Propaganda can take many forms, be it domestic or foreign.– Radio broadcasts.

– Television.• Cable News, State

Sponsored Media, “Mass Media”.

– Print.• Newspapers, Magazines,

Leaflets, etc.

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A New Era: WW1 & WW2

• Propaganda was widely used in both World Wars.

– Allied forces dropped over 60 million leaflets on German troops in WW1.

– German hammered the Allies with hundreds of English radio broadcasts.

• William Joyce, “Lord Haw-Haw”.

• “Onward Conscript Army.”WW1 German

Leaflet

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“In Psychological warfare we have an inexpensive, effective weapon that is bound to prove more effective as we continue to learn to perfect

our techniques.” Interim Report on Propaganda in North Korea

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Does It Work?

• Hitler’s “Big Lie” propaganda earned him the loyalty of a nation—men like Joseph Goebbels reinforced it.

• The use of leaflet bombs can accelerate the end of armed conflict, and can also save lives—enemy and allied life.

• It’s cheap, it’s easy, and it works.

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The Posters

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The Posters, continued

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The Posters, continued

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The Posters, continued

“The Sowers”

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Propaganda Today

• Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman in “Manufacturing Consent”.

• The modern Propaganda Model, and propaganda today in the Mass Media.

• Both the book and the video available at the Vaughan Memorial Library.

• Check it out!

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Propaganda Today, continued

• The Propaganda Model– Ownership

– Funding

– Sourcing– Flak– Anti-Communist Ideology /

Anti-Terrorism Ideology

Noam Chomsky linking arms at an Anti-War

Demonstration

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Propaganda Today, continued

• Ownership– Where does this information come from? From

what company?– Who owns that company?– Is that company owned by another company?– Is it state-sponsored?

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Propaganda Today, continued

• Funding– What kind of advertisements are involved?– Are there any official sponsors? Who are they?– Is there government money involved?– Is it state-sponsored?– “Public Broadcasting”

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Propaganda Today, continued

• Sourcing– Who is presenting this information?– Are there any listed sources?– What are these sources?– If it is a company or organization, what is the

ownership like?– See - > Ownership.

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Propaganda Today, continued

• Flak– Disciplining the medium, voicing disapproval.– Revocations of advertisements, programs.– Does the program or message interfere with the

ownership or the funding?– Government interference.– Lobbying.

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Propaganda Today, continued

• Anti-Communist / Anti-Terrorism / Anti-Ideology– The exploitation of public fear / distrust.– Means to silence members or groups of society.– Gain support and favour—silence opposition,

critics.

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The News Today

• Centralized News– Many local news stations, Chomsky contends,

feed off of the AP wire, or the New York Times.

– Replication of AP and Times news across the country.

– Result: “news” as decided by one company, replicated for over 300 million people.

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Propaganda and Persuasion

• Legitimate Elements– Attracting attention

and rapport.

– Building credibility.

– Appealing to emotions / motives.

– Involving action.

• Questionable Elements– Lying.

– Innuendo.

– Presenting opinion as fact.

– Deliberate omissions.

– Implied obviousness.

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Propaganda and Persuasion

• Propaganda (or “persuasion”) then, can be used ethically—so long as illegitimate, questionable elements are not incorporated.

• Meshing of legitimate and questionable elements tend to result in “Big Lie” propaganda as seen in Nazi Germany.

• “Accidental Propaganda”—misinformation can be an act of innocence, and it generally is.

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Conclusion

• Propaganda will continue to change, alongside society and technology as it, too, evolves.

• The identification and definition of Herman and Chomsky’s Propaganda Model as an intellectual self-defense against Propaganda.

• Propaganda is in use today. Be it purposeful or accidental, subtle or obvious—it is in use today, and will be tomorrow.

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Questions to Consider

• Can Propaganda be used for good? Where is the “line in the sand”?

• How has the Internet changed Mass Media and the filtering of information?

• With the advent of the Internet and the new at which information changes hand, does Propaganda have a secure future?