MACS 110 | Introduction to Mass Communication Theory translate
Strains of Analysis back to MACS 110 Week 5
So, the goal of propaganda is control over culture through influencing people vis a vis thought, feelings and action. The use of emotional manipulation is common. The message can either be true, false, or a combination. Attempts at persuasion may have the desired effect or backfire depending upon the audience.
Let's now briefly look at propaganda and persuasion from first, the standpoint of some academic disciplines.
Academic Disciplines
- history: We need to understand propaganda in relation to the interplay of historical forces. A useful exercise might be to consider key examples of propaganda in the 20th century and list what merits recognition, and explain why. Re. resources, propaganda is best understood when using, primary resources because these tend to provide a more immediate sense of the times. Life Magazines, for example.
- geography: Along with time period, location is everything. Consider what type of propaganda might be effective in one location and completely ineffective in another, and why ?
- art: The interrelationship between art and propaganda is longstanding. How does propaganda co-opt art for its purposes ? For example, iconic images from high culture are often incorporated into advertisements to help persuade us to buy consumer products. Consider an example of high culture being used to promote a product or service. How does this technique contribute to persuasiveness.
- psychology: What is 'emotional transfer' and how does it work ? See: To Sell a War and Hijacking Catastrophe
- language: Consider sense, feeling, tone, and intention in terms of the use of emotive language, imagery, and effective persuasion.
- politics I: To what extent is Canadian nationalism and cultural sovereignty reliant on government funded propaganda ?
- politics II: Propaganda is essential to a democracy, but only provided there are sufficient alternate viewpoints expressed and they are accessible.
- economics: The centralization of media ownership and control affect the role of media in society. Some believe that corporate controlled media are a form of propaganda that undermine democracy ? What are the concerns of the media democracy movement ?
- philosophy: What are some of the most common techniques used to make claims to truth ? How might critical thinking techniques be used to dissuade critical thinking on the part of the audience ?
Consider further examples of how these and other academic disciplines contribute to an understanding of propaganda and persuasion ?
Some Different Expressions of Propaganda
- GayProp
- RacistProp
- PCProp
- FemProp
- NationalistProp
- PeaceProp
- MilitarismProp
- SloganProp
- JingleProp