Propaganda

Propaganda

By definition “Propaganda is a systematic process of information management geared to promoting a particular goal and to guaranteeing a popular response as desired by the propagandist” (Kallis 1).   To put things in simpler terms, I believe that propaganda is a tool to make people believe or do what you want them to.   But really, what is the difference between the good and bad propaganda?   I think that just depends on what side you are on and what your morals are regarding about the subject.   For example, during World War II both the Americans and the Germans used propaganda to recruit war efforts.   Propaganda is also used in movies, advertisements, posters, and etc.   “Everyday we are bombarded with one persuasive communication after another.   These appeals persuade not through the give-and-take of argument and debate, but through the manipulation of symbols and of our most basic human emotions.   For better or worse, ours is an age of propaganda” (Delwiche).
I think that propaganda is everywhere and in everything, but it’s not that easy to spot.   There are many different types of propaganda techniques.   Some of them are name-calling, lesser of two evils, bandwagon, pinpointing the enemy, assertion, false dilemma, and plain folk.   “Name-calling is the use of derogatory language or words, that carry a negative connotation when describing and enemy” (ThinkQuest).   “Lesser of two evils is to convince us of an idea or proposal by presenting it as the least option… to convince people of the need for sacrifices or to justify difficult decisions”(ThinkQuest).   Bandwagon is one of the most common types of propaganda techniques.   “Bandwagon is an appeal to the subject to follow the crowd, to join in because others are doing so as well.   Bandwagon propaganda is essentially, trying to convince the subject that one side is the winning side, because more people have joined it”(ThinkQuest).
  Pinpointing the enemy is another propaganda technique.   “Pinpointing...