Learning about Propaganda Posters

What is a Propaganda Poster?

• A Propaganda Poster is usually created by an existing government or a political party trying to gain control of the government.

• It uses patriotism and nationalism to glorify an idea or plan.

• It is meant to convince the people to support the idea or plan.

• It focuses either on the positives and ignores the negatives or focuses on the negatives and ignores the positives.

What is Propaganda?• Propaganda: what it means.• Propaganda is a specific type of message

presentation aimed at serving a particular purpose.• It means to propagate (actively spread) a

philosophy or point of view (which may be true but often is not).

• The most common use of the term (historically) is in political contexts; in particular to refer to certain efforts sponsored by governments or political groups.

• In most countries propaganda has negative connotations, but this is not universally true.

Propaganda Purpose• The aim of propaganda is to influence people's opinions

actively, rather than to merely communicate the facts about something.

• For example, propaganda might be used to gather either support or disapproval of a certain position, rather than to simply present the position.

• What separates propaganda from "normal" communication is in the subtle, often insidious, ways that the message attempts to shape opinion.

• For example, propaganda is often presented in a way that attempts to deliberately evoke a strong emotion, especially by suggesting non-logical (or non-intuitive)relationships between concepts.

Importance of teaching students the techniques of propaganda

• The PBS election guide Web site “By The People” makes the following argument for why political advertisements should be looked at more carefully:

• “The bottom line, then, is that it's important for citizens to look carefully at political ads. Certainly the truth or falsity and, regardless of ‘truth’, the deceptiveness of ad content is important to examine. Many newspapers and television analysis programs provide the citizen a good opportunity to learn more about the quality of the verbal content of political commercials. Although a majority of Americans are not aware of this, government closely controls the truth-value of national product advertising on television. But because of the principle of free speech, a principle protected by the U.S. Constitution, there is no control whatsoever on the content of a political commercial. Basically, a politician can say anything she or he wishes in a political ad. The only ‘control’ over content in a political ad is media and public response to that content.”

Features of Propaganda• There is a hidden motive which is not made obvious in all

propaganda.• The methods used are generally insidious (wicked).• Propaganda are generally costly and carried out at a

national scale.• When presenting the idea, there is always a bias.• Religious, national or political interests are usually sources

of propaganda.• All forms of media and a lot of repetition are used to

propagate the message.• The intention of propaganda is for the people to accept

one idea and exclude any alternative ideas.

Guarding Against Propaganda

• Always question what you see or hear no matter where or how you see it or who

• says it.• Weigh ideas against everything you know and

can find out.• Always look for a hidden motive.• Ask the person why he/she thinks that it is

true and why.

Adapted from the Propaganda Critic Web site. For more detailed definitions and additional examplessee www.propagandacritic.com.PROPAGANDA – the use of a variety of communication techniques that create an emotional appeal to accept a particular belief or opinion, to adopt a certain behavior or to perform a particular action.There is some disagreement about whether all persuasive communication is propagandistic or whether the propaganda label can only be applied to dishonest messages.NAME CALLING – links a person, or idea, to a negative symbol. Examples: commie, fascist, yuppieGLITTERING GENERALITIES – use of virtue words; the opposite of name calling, i.e., links aperson, or idea, to a positive symbol. Examples: democracy, patriotism, family

Propaganda Strategies

Name-Calling• This technique links a person or idea to a

negative image.• It is hoped that association with this negative

symbol will cause the viewer to reject it outright. • A derivative of this technique involves carefully

selecting descriptive words. • Compare the connotations word determined

and aggressive. • This is the opposite of glittering generalities.

Name-calling•A negative word or feeling is attached to an idea, product, or person. • If that word or feeling goes along with that person or idea, the implication is that we shouldn’t be interested in it.

For example:Do we want a mayor who will leave us in debt?

Spending grew 100%

under Mayor Moneybags!

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Name-Calling

Name-Calling

"The Jew: The inciter of war, the prolonger of war."

Glittering Generalities• Use of words and images that generally carry a

favorable meaning to everyone; including liberty, democracy, freedom, and civilization

• It hopes to associate a person, idea, or group with a positive feeling, but no direct evidence.

• The largest problem with this technique is that all of these words mean different things to different people.

Glittering Generality•A commonly admired virtue is used to inspire positive feelings for a person, idea, or product.•Words like truth, democracy, beauty, timeless are examples of those general terms.

For example:

If you want to be brighter, you’ll support Bill Brite.

Look on the bright side!

Vote for Bill Brite !

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Glittering Generalities

"Open the door to freedom! Put a strong man at the helm! Out of the swamp! Forward with the powers of renewal!”

Glittering Generalities

The next two are ways of making false connections:TRANSFER – a device by which the propagandist links the authority or prestige of something wellrespectedand revered, such as church or nation, to something he would have us accept. Example: apolitical activist closes her speech with a prayerTESTIMONIAL – a public figure or a celebrity promotes or endorses a product, a policy, or a politicalcandidate. Examples: an athlete appears on the Wheaties box; an actor speaks at a political rally

Propaganda Strategies

Transfer• Propagandists transfer the fame, prestige, or

reliability of something or someone to an issue that may or may not be related.

• Any politician who publicly says a prayer is transferring religion to their image.

• Use of a flag or patriotic leader is also commonly utilized.

• The Nazis justified treatment of the Jews by “proving” their inferiority through their own science.

Transfer•Symbols, quotes, or images of famous people are used to convey a message.•The message may not necessarily be associated with them.

For example:

Joe uses symbols of America to tie his restaurant to American values for Independence Day.

Celebrate the American Way this 4th of July-

Eat at Joe’s

Joe’s Barbeque

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Transfer

Testimonial• A celebrity or expert who endorse a

product, candidate, or idea. • Think about all of the commercials

with celebrities. • The celebrity may not always be

qualified to speak on the subject.

al

Testimonials

•If someone famous uses this product, believes this idea, or supports this candidate, so should we.•A famous person endorses an idea, a product, a candidate.

For example:

If we drink milk we will all be as famous as Milly the model.

Milly the Model asks, “Got Milk?”

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Testimonial

Testimonial

Appeal to Authority

• Appeals to authority have important and powerful people supporting a candidate or idea.

• Similar to testimonial.

Appeal to Authority

"One People, One Reich, One Führer."

The following three constitute special appeals:PLAIN FOLKS – attempt to convince the audience that a prominent person and his ideas are “ofthe people.” Examples: a prominent politician eats at McDonald’s; an actress is photographed shopping forgroceriesBANDWAGON – makes the appeal that “everyone else is doing it, and so should you.” Examples: anad states that “everyone is rushing down to their Ford dealer”FEAR – plays on deep-seated fears; warns the audience that disaster will result if they do not followa particular course of action. Example: an insurance company pamphlet includes pictures of housesdestroyed floods, followed up by details about home-owners’ insurance.

Propaganda Strategies

Bandwagon

• Hop on the bandwagon or else you don’t fit in. Everyone is doing it, so you should too. This technique is contrived peer pressure – no one wants to be left out or behind.

Bandwagon•Everybody is doing this.

•If you want to fit in, you need to “jump on the bandwagon” and do it too.•The implication is that you must JOIN in to FIT in.

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

For example:

If the whole world uses this VISA card, you must need one too.

Bank of the World Visa Card-You can use it from Tennessee to

Timbuktu-anywhere you travel in whole wide

world !!

Sign up today at www.bowvisa.com

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Bandwagon

• Everyone listens to the Fuhrer

Fear

• During wartime this technique is used often.• It informs people that personal

danger is imminent if they do or do not do some specific action.

Fear•Our fears are displayed.•Ideas, candidates, or products are shown to put our fears to rest.

For example:If you use Safety Ware it will people from stealing your identity-or will it?

Guard against Identity theft

Use Safety Ware

www.safetyware.com

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Fear

Emotional words•We associate those words and, therefore, those positive feelings with the product. •Words that leave us with positive feelings are used to describe a product, person, or idea.

For example:What feelings are inspired by the words “true love”? If you wear this cologne will someone fall in love with you?

True Love

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

The next two are types of logical fallacies:BAD LOGIC – an illogical message is not necessarily propagandistic; it can be just a logical mistake;it is propaganda if logic is manipulated deliberately to promote a cause. Example: Senator X wants toregulate the power industry. All Communist governments regulate their power industries. Senator X is aCommunist.UNWARRANTED EXTRAPOLATION – making huge predictions about the future on the basisof a few small facts. Example: If the U.S. approves NAFTA, thousands of jobs and factories will move toMexico.

Propaganda Strategies

Logical Fallacies

• Drawing a conclusion from a series of premises. • For example: Religion is good.

Wars are fought over religion. • Therefore, religious wars are

good.

Faulty Reasoning•Factual supporting details are used though they do not support the conclusion. It works like this:•Christians believe in God. •Muslims believe in God.•Christians are Muslims.

For example:

Does this mean that teachers need medication to keep their cool during the school day ?

More teachers recommend Calm-me to help them make it through the day

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Euphemisms

• The use of words or statements that deter from the meaning, to make it not as bad, and more tasteful to the general public.• The Nazis used the term

resettlement to describe the mass murder of the Jews.

Plain Folks

• This technique has a person or cause being associated with regular people.• Candidates who are just like you

– they put their pants on one leg at a time too.

Plain-folks appeal

This idea, product, or person is associated with normal, everyday people and activities.

For Example: We want a Jim Smith, a mayor who supports the regular American worker.

Vote for SmithClipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Plain Folks

"We are for Adolf Hitler!"

Plain Folks

Other Techniques *

• Misery - Appeals to pity or sympathy to gain support.

• Fancy Words - Use of elegant or technical sounding words to persuade and camouflage the truth.

• Word Magic - Uses emotional or catchy words to create a positive feeling and makes it easier to remember the product or idea.

Other Techniques *

• Black and White - Presents an issue as having only two choices. If you don’t like one choice, you must choose the other

• Simplicity and Repetition - Keep it simple and say it often enough so people will remember it and believe it

How do we make sure that we are making informed choices,

instead of allowing others to sway us in our decision-making?

Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

We make our own choices when …•we read and listen to reliable

sources,•we watch for combinations of truths and lies,•we check for hidden messages,•we watch for use of propaganda techniques,

and, most importantly,

www.scottish.parliament.uk/ educationservice

WHEN WE LISTEN TO OUR OWN VOICES !

Document Analysis for Argument, Persuasion, or Propaganda

Purpose

• What is the message that this document communicates? What is the document’s purpose?

• Why is it important for this message to be delivered to this audience at this moment in time?

• How does the document communicate its message? Think about its use of language, color, space, and symbols.

Document Questions when Analyzing a Propaganda Poster

Audience

• Who is the audience for this document?

• What does the message suggest about the audience’s beliefs and values?

• How accurate are these beliefs about the audience?

Document Questions when Analyzing a Propaganda Poster

Document Author

• Who wrote the message?

• What are the writer’s motives for creating this message? How might the writer personally benefit from the audience’s acceptance of this message?

Document Questions when Analyzing a Propaganda Poster

Evidence, Support, and Outcomes

• What facts and specific details does the document use? Are the facts verifiable and believable?

• What emotions does the document use to communicate its message? How is the audience likely to feel when they read this message?

• What ethical or moral values does the document use to communicate its message? What relevant values are not supported by this message?

• What will happen if the audience accepts this message?

• What would happen if everyone in the world accepted this message?

Document Questions when Analyzing a Propaganda Poster

Overall Impression and Conclusions

• What is the overall impression of this message? Summarize the details that you have gathered in your analysis.

• How would you categorize this poster—argument, persuasion, or propaganda? Explain your choice.

Propaganda Poster Analysis from National Archives and Record Administration

1. What are the main colored used in the poster? Why?2. What symbols, if any, are used in the poster? Why?3. If a symbol is used, is it: clear and easy to interpret, memorable,

and dramatic? Why?4. Are the messages in the poster primarily visual, verbal, or both?5. Who do you think is the intended audience for the poster? Why?6. What does the government hope the audience will do?7. What government purpose (s) is served by the poster?8. The most effective posters use symbols that are unusual, simple,

and direct? Is this an effective poster? Why or why not?

Examining Historical Propaganda from World War Two

• For each poster, identify what propaganda strategy was used and record it on the lesson plan.

• Be sure to provide the strategy and the evidence from the poster.

• Also identify the goal for each poster.

Credits• American Propaganda Posters courtesy of Northwestern

University Library (http://www.library.northwestern.edu/govpub/collections/wwii-posters/index.html)

• German Propaganda Posters courtesy of German Propaganda Archive (http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/)

• * Techniques courtesy of Bryan Ross, West Hills High School.