Topic: Propaganda
Propaganda: information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument,...
... which are broadcast, published or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions.
That definition is taken from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
Propaganda typically took forms of poster, film, radio broadcast, or other media.
Example of propaganda poster: PRC encouraged people to destroy the Four Olds in 1960s. pic.twitter.com/6NJjmEZbnA
Example of propaganda film: (Note: Propaganda targets everyone, including children and young people.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqMVpcbhpqw …
Propaganda is used to promote one's ideology or criticize other's ideology. pic.twitter.com/KbF7dIiR1K
Propaganda is also used to encourage or discourage people to do something. pic.twitter.com/BD9ftSL6Rv
(Note: The left image is from UK and the original one. The 'Uncle Sam' poster is the imitation one.) pic.twitter.com/Fh2TlajqVR
Propaganda is also used to build cult of personality. pic.twitter.com/leMCEvM1dy
Propaganda sometimes contains offensive material in order to deliver its message. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x11zcpx_bugs-bunny-nips-the-nips-mm_fun …
Propaganda also contains achievement. pic.twitter.com/l5Yes3QoMh
However, propaganda is not only used for political purposes.
If propaganda is used to encourage or discourage people to do something, is a simple anti-drugs banner a propaganda? pic.twitter.com/P2r9sL62af
If propaganda uses achievements, is a simple ads about the success of the government in fixing the economy a propaganda?
Is the history lesson in your school a propaganda?
In a perspective, the answer to all of those question is yes, they are propaganda.
In other perspective, people will say that they are not propaganda, but public relation, or they are education.
Are propaganda, public relation, and education the same thing?
Edward L. Bernays said that the only difference between propaganda and education is the point of view.
When people promote something that you believe in, you call it education, or public relation.
When people promote something that you are against with, you call it propaganda.
What if propaganda doesn't only take forms of poster, film, or broadcast, but also advertising, TV show, or story about celebrities.
Company creates advert so that you want to buy their product. Advert *encourage* you to buy.
Advert only gives you one part of an argument (My product is the best!). Does that mean that advert is a form of propaganda?
How about reality show on this day? It shows you how rich people live their life or how people live freely.
Think about it. Reality show or other TV shows influence you to become consumerist, hedonist, or whatever they want you to be.
Story about what celebrities are doing makes you want to live like celebrity, right? Basically you are influenced to become a celebrity.
Does that mean TV shows are propaganda. Story about celebrity is propaganda?
Conclusion: Propaganda takes *many* forms and sometimes.. you don't realize it's a propaganda. -the end-
