Whats next During this unit you will Explore

What’s next? During this unit, you will… *Explore more propaganda *Learn how to identify it *Learn its techniques (this is today’s goal) *Learn its history *Understand how it shapes world history *Create your own propaganda *Argue for or against propaganda

Propaganda: The Nuts & Bolts

Yesterday, we learned that propaganda is… “the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person. ” From: http: //www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/propaganda

And we learned it can appear on or in… Posters… And bumper stickers…

You’ll find it in newspapers:

It can appear on television: Daisy And radio: Hanoi Hannah And certainly in movies:

In fact, it’s almost impossible to avoid propaganda. What can we do about it? We can learn to recognize and understand it. There are many techniques involved in making or using propaganda. We won’t look at them all, but here are some of the most common…

*Appeal to Authority *Half Truths *Appeal to Prejudice *Glittering Generalities *Appeal to Fear *Name-Calling *Assertion *Oversimplification *Bandwagon *Black and White Fallacy *The Big Lie *Cult of Personality *Demonizing the Enemy *Flag Waving *Plain Folks *Repetition And did I mention *Repetition? *Scapegoating You need to know these…yes, there will be a test!

Appeal to Authority This is when you mention someone famous in order to bolster your argument. For instance: As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Only the foolhardy eat root vegetables. ” Sounds impressive, huh? Only, Lincoln never said that. I made it up! Let’s make up another one!

And it was the great Nelson Mandela who said… “No one is truly free who does not own a Harley. ” Based on these examples and our conversation, please take a moment to write down what YOU think “Appeal to Authority” means.

Appeal to Prejudice Plays on people’s stereotypical fears. For instance, why did they use this picture instead of… Appeal to Prejudice And more. . . Please write YOUR definition of “Appeal to Prejudice. ” This one?

Appeal to Fear And more… And even more. . . Please take a moment to write down your Definition of “Appeal To Fear. ” What are your thoughts on…

Assertion is when you simply say or state something as if it were true. Example: Everyone knows that football is better than baseball. Example: “The American people have spoken, and they demand a reduction in government spending. ” Example: “It always rains in Seattle. ” Your definition of “Assertion, ” please.

Bandwagon Hey, Merle… What’s up, Earl? Some crazy feller just told me the moon is made of green cheese… For reals? That’s what he said. Cheese? In the sky? I dunno, Earl. Well, no, Earl. I don’t want folks pointin’ at me and callin’ me stupid! If they say it’s cheese, I say it’s cheese! But everyone else believes it, too. You don’t wanna be the only one who doesn’t, do ya?

So, Bandwagon is believing (in) something, just because everyone else does. Yep, time to write your own definition.

Black and White Fallacy The Black and White Fallacy suggests that there is only one right answer, and everything else is wrong, that is there is only good or bad, only for or against. Sith With Us or Against Us Discussion: Do you agree there are only two choices, two options in every issue? Why or why not? Your definition, please.

The Big Lie We will go into this in more depth tomorrow, but you may remember from your study of the Holocaust that Hitler used the Big Lie, which, in his case, was that the Jews were the root of all evil, the cause of all Germany’s woes leading up to World War II. It was one, gigantic lie upon which he and the Nazis could blame everything. What are some of the “Big Lies” we hear nowadays?

How about the idea that Muslims only want do destroy us? How about the idea that this – or any country – is the greatest on Earth? How about the idea that the President is a Socialist? How about the idea of “clean coal? ” Or the idea of “safe” nuclear energy? What about the idea that illegal immigrants are stealing all our jobs? Write down your definition of “The Big Lie. ”

Be honest, now… If he were running, and you were old enough to vote, would you vote for Chuck Norris for President? Think I’m kidding…? Well… Chuck Norris

Actor/Director Clint Eastwood was once elected Mayor of Carmel, California. Sonny Bono, the male half of Sonny & Cher was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives. And Professional Wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota. And…

We had Da Governator in California. And…

…of course, actor Ronald Reagan, whose most famous acting partner was a chimpanzee, was twice elected President of the United States.

This is not to say that these men weren’t worthy, but they did have tremendous personalities. So, this next technique is called… Cult of Personality This is a bit like “Appeal to Authority, ” but, in this case, we’re drawn to the person’s star power, charm and/or physical beauty. After all, if celebrities say it, it must be important! Star Power! So, when Chuck Norris endorses someone else, you can bet it’s important! Chuck Norris!

Did you forget this little guy? Write your definition of “Cult of Personality. ”

Demonizing the Enemy

Demonizing Slaves… American Troops being demonized by North Korea.

We even talked about this a bit in class yesterday…now… Write your definition of “Demonizing the Enemy. ”

Flag Waving The assertion that your actions or behavior makes you more patriotic – and therefore more right – and those who disagree less patriotic. You will hear this one A LOT (two words!) in politics. Your definition? Example: Disagreeing with the war in Afghanistan is made to look as if you don’t support the troops and are thus unpatriotic. What is the counter-argument, anyone?

Half-Truths Here’s a half-truth: blondes have killed countless people over the centuries. Kokoras is the best Greek restaurant within a mile of my house. Let’s see if you’ll argue with this one: the founding fathers believed all men are created equal. Why are these called “half-truths? ” Your thoughts? Because they reveal only part of the truth and allow the listener or receiver to possibly arrive at a false conclusion.

Again, Politics is a good place to find half-truths. A common trick is… “Senator Cripps says she supports our troops. Senator Cripps says she loves our country. But four times in a row, Senator Cripps voted against funding for combat armor to protect our troops! Tell Senator Cripps to step aside and let a real American represent our state!” The truth is something like this: yes, she voted against the money to fund combat armor, but only because it was part of a bill that also allowed for Oil Rigs in Puget Sound, Coal Mining in the Cascades and doubled taxes on unmarried people. You see? She couldn’t accept three bad things just to fund one good thing. But the ad leaves that part out.

Your definition of “Half-Truth”

Glittering Generalities For this one, I’m going straight to the video: It's the Real Thing! You know what to do!

Right Wing Nutjob! Corporatist! Knuckle-Dragger! Socialist! Blue Dog! Trickle-Down Conservative! Name-Calling Red Neck! War Monger! Blue-Stater! Elitist! Terrorist Sympathizer! Freeloader! Tax-and-Spend Liberal! Welfare Queen! Tree Hugger! Red-Stater! Leftist Radical!

Well, everyone knows what name-calling’s all about: Attaching an unpleasant label to someone or something that acquires or brings with it unpleasant associations. Racial slurs are the ultimate example, and some of them carry literally hundreds of years of bad memories with them. In the past couple of years, the President’s opponents have taken to calling him a “Socialist, ” as if that were a dirty word. He’s been called so many names, it has resulted in this kind of scene: Arab!

Think that’s as bad as it gets? Think again. Obama Just think of all the negative associations THAT creates! And if you begin to believe it, there’s nothing you WON’T believe about the victim of such name-calling. The purpose of name-calling is…

Oversimplification A very simple answer to a situation that sounds correct, but overlooks the complexity of that situation. For example, it is an oversimplification to suggest that all the U. S. needs to do is bring democracy to an Arab country and everything will work out fine. If this were true, we would have gotten out of Iraq and Afghanistan long ago.

It is also an oversimplification to suggest that we can solve all of Haiti’s problems simply by rebuilding its cities and villages.

Uh-huh. Time to write your definition of “Oversimplification. ”

Plain Folks Sometimes, the speaker of propaganda has an image problem to overcome:

If he looks too wealthy or educated, the fear is, his audience won’t be able to relate to him, because he’s just not… Plain Folks

CEOs and Politicians are particularly aware of this and are constantly trying to appear ordinary…

But that doesn’t always work for them, so sometimes they borrow an “ordinary” person… To make it seem like their words are YOUR words, their feelings and concerns are YOUR feelings and concerns.

Define “Plain Folks. ”

Repetition Stay the Course! If you say something often enough, it becomes accepted belief. Like the story of George Washington chopping down his father’s cherry tree… It never happened.

Scapegoating This is blaming someone else for your problems. Again, you know that Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany’s economic woes… Blaming Illegal Immigrants Blaming Victims of Earthquakes. . . What is scapegoating? Blaming ALL Muslims for 9/11.

Sources: http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Propaganda http: //propaganda. mrdonn. org/techniques. html http: //library. thinkquest. org/C 0111500/proptech. htm http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=9 j-OTn. PTce. Y http: //kentonville. net/archival/myths/george-washington-did-not-chop-down-a-cherry-tree-or-say-i-cant-tell -a-lie-pa. html