Propaganda (Week 15 EOTO2)
Propaganda is defined by The Oxford Dictionary as "information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view." For as long as humans have plotted to gain power and influence over one another, propaganda has existed. Although it has taken many different forms throughout history, propaganda has always been a tool of persuasion, especially for leaders or aspiring leaders in societies. Propaganda even spans back as far as the 20 BC days of the Roman Empire when it was used by leaders such as Augustus. In most cases propaganda is employed in matters of politics. Propaganda is often used to elicit a response from the viewer that is based more so on emotions than facts and critical thinking, as propaganda often works to exaggerate and embellish in order to manipulate an audience. Throughout history propaganda has proven to be effective at manipulating the masses. Especially within societies where other opinions or opposing ideas are silenced. Many authoritarian and totalitarian leaders have used propaganda as a means to gain control, power, and influence over their nations.
Leaders such as Mao Zedong, Vladimir Lenin, and Adolf Hitler, relentlessly imposed propaganda on their societies as constant reminders that they were in control and that they were going to lead their nations into the promise land of prosperity, or away from an evil enemy. However, propaganda is not exclusive to authoritarian or totalitarian regimes. Leaders of democratic nations have used propaganda to influence their populations as well, especially during times of national movements, crisis, and adversity, such as going to war with another nation. The United States has provides some clear examples of this. One of the most famous uses of propaganda as far as the US is concerned, was used during World War I. This piece of propaganda came in the form of a poster ad which displays a German soldier in the form of an ape, savagely carrying a woman is his left arm. The woman, who represents "lady liberty" appears to be helpless and distressed. Notice how this ad dehumanizes the German soldier by depicting him as a ferocious ape, and then shows that ape attempting to take away something that is near and dear to the hearts of Americans. These are age-old propaganda strategies. Propaganda often aims to dehumanize its target through the use of caricatures, metaphors, or divisive language.
Although many may be under the impression that propaganda is a thing of the past, especially in the western world, we should remember to never let our guard down as propaganda can still be used to influence us. Americans in the twenty-first century are more aware of the obvious forms of propaganda, and know what it looks like. For this reason, new propaganda efforts are likely to take on a more subtle form than the propaganda of the past. If propaganda will be more subtle in today's world, how can we spot it? As citizens it is important that we follow the facts and not our emotions when viewing any content. Whether that content is produced by companies, journalists, or even the government. Almost all forms of propaganda aim to impact and attach itself to the emotions of its audience through powerful language, unproven claims, or generalizations. If we allow propaganda do to persuade and influence us based on the emotional effects it has on us as a society, we could easily be led down a dangerous path of thought and action that is designed to increase the power and control of a person or group who may not have our best interest at heart. It is our job as citizens to remember that propaganda will never die, it will only take on new forms.
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