Propaganda revisited

I. United States: World War II poster

Propaganda revisited

Propaganda uses art to illustrate a political point of view; usually in the support of one view and at the expense of another.

Cited

‘Selected information, true or false, which is promoted with the aim of persuading people to adopt a particular belief, attitude or course of action. During the 20th Century all the major political ideologies have employed propaganda and made use of modern media to reach a mass audience. It has an important role in modern warfare and by WWII separate bureaus and ministries were established to promote morale and subvert the enemy. The Nazi Ministry of Propaganda, headed by Goebbels was one of the most effective. In the West there has been an increase in professional propagandists such as people in public relations and advertising.’ Concord (1982: 995).

Stanford.edu

Cited

'A working definition of propaganda is the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person. While propaganda has been around for almost a thousand years, only recently (last 100 years) with the advent of technologies that allow us to spread information to a mass group has it evolved to a scientific process capable of influencing a whole nation of people. While propaganda is most evident in times of war as in the poster, it is constantly being used as a political and social means in even less obvious ways to influence peoples attitudes. This is currently evident with all the election commercials on TV, where the candidates are using propaganda techniques to elevate themselves above their competitor. Another place propaganda is being exploited is by the use of the media in its portrayal of countries that have nuclear technology.

Modern propaganda uses all the media available to spread its message, including: press, radio, television, film, computers, fax machines, posters, meetings, door-to-door canvassing, handbills, buttons, billboards, speeches, flags, street names, monuments, coins, stamps, books, plays, comic strips, poetry, music, sporting events, cultural events, company reports, libraries, and awards and prizes. It is most likely that some of these media uses are surprising, but that only serves to show how easy it is to not even recognize propaganda as such.'
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Politically, I would consider myself a moderate conservative. Acknowledging that in war especially, all sides use propaganda, this does not mean I equate all political systems as being equally evil, in general terms. I do not support politically or militarily totalitarian regimes. I support Western political democracy and within a fallen world it is the best system to preserve human rights and freedoms. I also support Western policing and military action when it concerns maintaining law and order. Romans 13 gives the state the right to maintain law and order.

Propaganda posters may be considered historical art. In agreement with Concord, propaganda can present true or false information, but as it is presented from one side, one worldview, it is not what I would consider an attempt at objective world history. Propaganda, in general terms, appeals to subjective feelings in order to convince people of a perspective, as opposed to presenting highly rational premises and arguments for an attempt at an objective perspective.

Within the Christian Church, an attempt at an objective presentation should be made, acknowledging the truth of divinely inspired Scripture and the gospel, while acknowledging problems within the present fallen reality.

As a Christian I would not use propaganda as a ministry tool.

THE CONCORD DESK ENCYCLOPEDIA (1982) New York, Concord Reference Books, Inc, Time.

February 19 2008 Propaganda
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I. An animated character from Walt Disney is used by the American War effort. How can Mickey Mouse be bad? He is entertainment for children.

II. Notice with the Canadian poster that in the World War II era; Canada had closer political ties to the United Kingdom. In the poster Canada is like Robin, to the United Kingdom as Batman. Today in Canada, the country would be represented as more independent and equal.

III. The Norwegian poster is documented as in support of Nazi-Germany. Notice that the image is equated as being both of the Klu Klux Klan and Jewish, as if affiliated. Mr. Damsleth, if he would have cared to do more research would have realized that historically the Klu Klux Klan has not only been racist against non-whites but also anti-semitic. Notice, also the native American.

This is an example where factual history does not matter, according to the propaganda poster. This poster was made to appeal to the biases of its audience (s) which were both skeptical and fearful of the hooded Klu Klux Klan and as well had anti-semitic aspects within the culture (s).

IV. The 'divine', 'Christ-like' (imagery) Mao Zedong.

II. Canada: World War II poster from Time Magazine

III. By Harald Damsleth: Norwegian pro-Nazi Germany poster

IV. Chinese Civil War propaganda poster