PROPAGANDA

What is Propaganda? Information, ideas or rumors deliberately spread to help or to harm a person, a group, or a movement Advertises a cause, organization, or movement and attacks its opponents Anything that is meant to convince you to feel or to act in a certain way Created to shape public opinion Targets a specific audience

Common Propaganda Traits Truths Bias Half-truths Lies Selective omissions Simplification of complex issues or ideas Play on emotions Symbols Images Words Music

Name-Calling  Uses derogatory language or words that carry a negative connotation when describing an enemy  Attempts to arouse prejudice among the public by labeling the target something that the public dislikes  Opposite of glittering generalities

Name-Calling

Glittering Generalities Linking a person or a product to positive symbols, values or ideals Opposite of name-calling Examples: democracy, family, ideals, peace, freedom, the common good, honor, glory, love, quality

Glittering Generalities

Transfer Transferring blame or bad feelings from one group of people to another Linking the authority or prestige of something people respect and revere to the thing/idea/person being promoted

Transfer Example: “American Flag” – Many Americans respect the American Flag – Leaders frequently pose in front of a flag – They are trying to transfer that respect onto themselves

Testimonial Quotations or endorsements which attempt to connect a well-known or respectable person with a product or ideal with the intent to better “sell” the product or ideal When a celebrity, public figure, or expert promotes or endorses a product, idea, or candidate

Testimonial

Plain Folks An attempt to convince the public that his or her views reflect those of the “common person” Attempting to convince the audience that somebody is “of the people”—that he/she is “just like you” The candidate tries to appear to be working for the benefit of the “common person”

Plain Folks This guy is just a regular guy… He likes what you like, his life is a lot like yours… He’s just a normal person, JUST LIKE YOU! YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR HIM!

Snob Appeal Something that appeals to a sense of luxury Rich and proud of it! Example: You don’t deserve anything less than NORDSTROM!

Snob Appeal

Bandwagon An appeal to the subject to follow the crowd Tries to convince the subject that one side is the winning side and that winning is inevitable Appeals to a person’s desire to be on the winning side Makes the claim that “Everybody else is doing it, and so should you!

Bandwagon

Fear Playing off of people’s deepest fears Warning the audience that disaster will result if you don’t do things this way

Logical Fallacies An argument that sounds as if it makes sense but the premises given for the conclusion do not provide proper support for the argument Bad Logic: putting together two or more facts to make a faulty conclusion Unreasonable Predictions: making HUGE predictions about the future based on only a few facts

Logical Fallacies Example: Samantha is a vegetarian. Samantha plays soccer. All soccer players are vegetarians. Example: o Teenagers‘cell phone use is at an all time high and growing o If this keeps up, teenagers in America will not know how to have a normal, in-person conversation with anyone.

Beautiful People / Sex Appeal Uses good looking models or sexual tension to attract our attention Tries to make you believe that if you use this product, or way of thinking, you are more beautiful and more sensual Kia

Bribery / Special Offer Promises to give us something else or something in return Tries to “sweeten” the deal Examples: discounts, rebates, coupons, “free gifts,” sales, special offers, contests, sweepstakes

Humor Uses humor to grab our attention Makes us feel good Includes transfer of the “feel good” to the product Evian

Flattery Persuaders love to flatter their intended audience. Flattery works because we like to be praised and we tend to believe people we like or people that like us. Examples: You know a good deal when you see one! You deserve it! You work hard for a living!

Rhetorical Question Questions designed to get us to agree with the speaker The answer is obvious agreement Examples: Do you want quick relief from headache pain? Should we leave our nation vulnerable to terrorist attacks?

Slippery Slope Argues against an idea because it is the first step down a slippery slope towards something the target audience obviously opposes Not that there's anything wrong with A, mind you, but A will lead to B and then C, and before you know it we'll be up to our armpits in Z. Example: Colin Closet asserts that if we allow same-sex couples to marry, then the next thing we know we'll be allowing people to marry their parents, their cars, and even monkeys.

Urgency Creates the impression that you have to act fast Plays on our emotions and fears of missing out Examples: Act now! Supplies are limited! Everything must go! Order now and receive this free toaster oven!

Happy Family / American Dream The idea that the nuclear family is superior A national idea of success and happiness

What Kind Is It? The pigs take the milk and apples because “Science” proves that they need them Transfer

What Kind Is It? If the pigs don’t get apples and milk, they won’t be able to think straight, and JONES WILL COME BACK!!! Fear

What Kind Is It? Four legs good! Two legs bad! Name-Calling

What Kind Is It? The flag of Animal Farm: –Green for the fields of England –The hoof and the horn to symbolize the future Republic of Animals Glittering Generalities Transfer

What Kind Is It? “Ribbons should be considered clothes, which are the mark of a human being.” Name-Calling

What Kind Is It? After hearing that “All animals go naked,” Boxer throws away his straw hat… Bandwagon

What Kind Is It? The animals sing “Beasts of England” after every Sunday meeting Transfer